tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65883933631151611192024-03-13T15:12:47.431-07:00THE KING'S YOUTHTKYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11588104416635487788noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-61985195144859703762015-11-02T14:08:00.000-08:002015-11-02T14:09:17.811-08:00Searching<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Where are you looking for God? </i></span></h2>
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I've been challenged over the past year of how I'm living my life, and my faith. </div>
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Am I only feeling God's presence when I'm listening to Christian music, or saving bible verses to my phone to set as backgrounds? Is reading the blog posts on here, and other Christian forums where I'm getting my dose of faith? Is my quick prayer to God in the moments that I need a little extra, or the bible verses I post as my status on Facebook, or as my caption or bio on Instagram where I convince myself and others of my belief? </div>
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In our life, it is so normalised to live so many aspects of <i>your</i> life through the apps on our phone, and the various websites we are a part of. It's a platform for our opinions and ideas and thoughts and feelings. </div>
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It's also a place where we are most influenced. Our thinking is challenged, but in a way where it is very easy to be influenced. Things we used to find inappropriate or wrong, become normalised and acceptable. </div>
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"Oh, it's part of life; this is 2015! We don't have to be confined by the traditions and rules of the past." </div>
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YES. TRUE. But where have you drawn the line? </div>
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Are you modernising the Bible to what you want to believe?</div>
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Where have you placed God:</div>
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Have you put Him in Church, in your Christian music, in your Bible, in your prayer times?</div>
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And, have you left Him there? </div>
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God is not another that we can confine to certain areas of our life.</div>
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We leave Him out of our social lives; Social Media is <i>our</i> space, we have made it a platform for <i>our</i> promotion. </div>
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But sometimes I get this sudden realisation that not every one of my friends will end up in heaven with me. Instead, they will be in hell, forever. </div>
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<b><i>WHAT.</i></b></div>
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That scares me. It should scare all of us into an urgency to use all we can to challenge others to question the life they are living, and find the one who gave us this life. </div>
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I started this post off aiming to question the various areas we are searching for validation of our faith, and the places we are looking to find God, but I seem to have strayed from that slightly. So here's to veering back towards that:</div>
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Something that humans look for is validation. Ask anyone, and you'll find out that somewhere along their journey, they have sought for acceptance, confirmation, <i>affirmation. </i>Our number of followers on Tumblr, Instagram; our likes on Facebook, our views on Snapchat; all a source of validation of ourselves, but only for a moment. </div>
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The validation of who we are that lasts forever, comes only from one thing, and that is God. </div>
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Only God.</div>
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Whenever I need to 'get a dose of Jesus' I go outside, into the hills, fields, around His natural creation. Yet I spend hours inside, on my phone, on tv, on so many things where God isn't. </div>
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Why?</div>
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It's more comfortable for us to delve into things we <i>know</i> rather than a God who is so powerful. </div>
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I know how to edit a photo, upload it, write a quirky caption, and how to get likes. </div>
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I don't know where god is taking me with my life, or what he wants me to do. </div>
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God knows us inside and out and outside and in. Basically, He knows so so so much about us, our lives, who we are <i>truly</i> and that is scary. </div>
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Online, we can make ourselves be the people we want to be. </div>
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I want to be known as a carefree spirit, only sharing positivity and creativity. But that's only part of me. I don't want to share my days where I feel ugly, and sick, and down and just plain crap. </div>
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Online, I can portray the side of me I want to be known as. And not many people know the other side.</div>
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However, God does. The affirmation we so desperately long for can be found so easily in <i>one source</i> yet we continue to search and spend time on a variety of social media looking for that one thing that's right there in front of us; in God.</div>
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I guess what I'm challenging is <i>where are you turning to, to distract yourself from God.</i></div>
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Where is it that you choose to lose yourself in to block out the little voice that encourages you to pursue Him?</div>
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What can you change about your daily life, to find Him and in turn, find yourself?</div>
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Here are some verses I find particularly relevant to this: </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I set my heart and mind on things above, not earthly things. This gives me peace. </span><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Col 3.1-2" data-version="nlt" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nlt/Col%203.1-2" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6ebe43; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Colossians 3:1-2</a></div>
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I guard my heart because it determines the course of my life. <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Prov 4.23" data-version="nlt" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nlt/Prov%204.23" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6ebe43; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Proverbs 4:23</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">As I lose my life for Jesus’ sake, I find it. </span><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Matt 10.39" data-version="nlt" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nlt/Matt%2010.39" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6ebe43; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Matthew 10:39</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I experience true life when I deny myself, turn from my selfish ways and follow Jesus. </span><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Matt 16.24-25" data-version="nlt" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nlt/Matt%2016.24-25" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6ebe43; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Matthew 16:24-25</a></div>
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Turn your face from your screen, and to the God who holds more light than your LED iPhone. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288412265620290212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-38176757189346096782015-09-16T01:01:00.002-07:002015-09-16T01:01:11.652-07:00The Little Things In Life<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes we have bad times in life, we go through seasons where everything is hard and the stress just gets to us. A lot of us will be looking in the face of exams and other pressures that come with the wind up of the year, life can be hard and stress amounts. However this week as I was walking down the road after a tough and busy week, I was listening to this song as the sun shone on my face and I realised that even though sometimes life can be tricky, God doesn't abandon us. I look at my life and the circumstances I was born into and the grace that has been given to me by the living God and I cannot help but smile. While looking up this video of the song to link it in this post, I watched the video for the first time and was so struck about how lucky I am to live in Christichurch New Zealand, with a house to live in and a family to love me, and despite what I am going through I have been so blessed and have so much to be thankful for, and sometimes we can lose sight of that when times are tough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Big Daddy Weave - Overwhelmed</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14227667492724392819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-76792759612588479722015-09-01T21:55:00.000-07:002015-09-01T21:55:28.526-07:00Are We Restricting Our Worship?<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: large;">How are we restricting our worship to God?</span><br />
<br />
</u>I’ve been pondering this recently whilst reading the book <i>‘unceasing worship’</i> by <i>Harold M.Best</i> (which I highly
recommend!). <br />
Harold articulates so very well that<br />
“addiction to a style inevitably leads to a fear of variety. Are we afraid to
assume that God is the Lord of continuous variety & first-day newness?
“Not in my style, therefore I cannot worship”. Represents this particular idol,
I realize that style is important. I realize further that each local assembly
must make conscience-based choices about style. And I ultimately realize that
no style can begin to capture the grace & glory of the subject and object
of it’s expression. The foolishness of style-centered worship is exposed by the
nature of God’s creatorhood namely that he does not confine himself to one
vocabulary or one language.”</div>
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The way he expresses this way in which we confine our heart of worship to
particular styles really made me think. We do tend to adopt our favourite
styles of worship and begin to limit our experience of God’s spirit to the
times we worship in this style. I’m a culprit myself of this mindset, falling
so in love with some very free contemporary worship styles , that some hymns and
old Chris Tomlin songs don’t seem to thrill
me anymore. Visa, versa, I’ve seen many reject the new worship styles of
Bethel, Hillsong etc. Because they don’t fit their model of how worship should
be. Or even their preference of how they experience God’s presence. I can
understand this to an extent, as we all have particular preference when it
comes to musicality and worship atmosphere, and lyrical content. What I have
been challenged on is that God’s presence is not limited to musical expression,
and it sure doesn’t only turn up when oceans starts playing, or when your
favourite hymn is belted out. God’s presence is available to you whether you
like the worship set or not, so reach for it!</div>
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Call on God to break the
stylistic preference barriers that restrict you in giving him the worship he
deserves. I had one of the most intimate experiences in God’ presence the other
Sunday morning after reflecting on the restrictions I’ve been placing on his
presence during worship. The worship time was by no means seamless, and I knew
only about a 3<sup>rd</sup> of the songs being played. But I trusted that God’s
presence was in the room, and I was thirsty to experience it tangibly. He took
me to a wide open space, and I felt fully refreshed and reminded of the expanse
of his love. </div>
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Amidst these reflections on worship, I have been yearning to learn more about
how to worship God with the truths of his word. I have found a new love in old
hymns, as they carry such truth grounding in the word of God, they so
magnificently serve as a tool to give God to worship he deserves. I also still
hold such a love and joy for the new worship songs coming out that invite us to
take time to dwell in God’s presence and sing our own hearts song to him. I
guess most of all I am excited to see a church that incorporates all styles of
worship, modern or traditional, from all countries, all ages, because that is
the worship God deserves! Our own personal heart cry woven into a beautiful
offering of worship to the God most high. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09666812931214545627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-8554038645192548872015-08-24T18:00:00.003-07:002015-08-24T18:00:19.472-07:00Worry, Faith and Seed<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Worry, Faith and Seeds<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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If faith as small as a
mustard seed can move mountains, can it make those same seeds germinate (grow)?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://consciouslifenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sprouting-seed-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://consciouslifenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sprouting-seed-1.jpg" width="200" /></a>This
is a question that has plagued many a Year 13 student at Middleton Grange over
the past few weeks. The task was simple: grow radish seeds in different salt
solutions and see which ones grow faster. At the time it seemed more like your
year 5 science project than a Year 13 assessment. I could not have been more
wrong. Dying seeds, spilt salt solutions and irregular growth were only three
of the disasters that happened to our class in the space of two weeks. No
growth, no results, no chance of getting anything above an achieved. The stress
began.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“<span class="text"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;">Don’t <b>worry</b>
about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and
thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which
exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus.”</span></span></i><span class="text"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;"> <u>(Philippians 4:6-7)</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;">Despite the lack of natural resources in our world, worry
still manages to come by the bucketful. If there is a rare moment of peace in
your life, it is not long before stress manages to rear its ugly head. In fact,
when I do feel relaxed, the stress of others makes me wonder why I am so calm…
so I start looking for reasons to worry. Whether it’s your school, work, friends or
family (or in my case radish seeds), we always have something reserved to be
worried about. “<i>I’m okay, just stressed,”</i>
is the new norm. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;">“</span></i></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This is the <b>confidence</b> we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything
according to his will, he hears us.” </span></i><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(1 John
5:14)</span></u><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But as Christians we are set apart. We are
called to be different and show the confidence that we have in our Father. We
trust God to save us from our sins, to deliver us from the evil one, to love us
despite our constant mistakes… yet believe helping our work situation is beyond
his jurisdiction. Sure I can believe Christ died on the cross to save my sins,
but that he can speak into *insert problem here*… not so much. How come we
trust God in the extraordinary but not the everyday?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> “For I am <b>convinced</b>
that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,</span></i><span class="nivfootnote"><b><i><sup><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #0066aa; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></sup></i></b></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>neither height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” </span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(<u>Romans
8: 38-39)<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.centerpointselma.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/world-in-hands-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://www.centerpointselma.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/world-in-hands-cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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Can you think of any problems in your life
that are more powerful than death? Life? Angels or demons? Anything in
creation? No? Then God can handle it. This does not mean that everything will
go well all the time, but rather that nothing will ruin God’s plan for us. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My seeds may not grow perfectly. But I am
convinced that if life nor death, neither angels nor demons can stop God’s love
and plans for me, then a couple of radish seeds won’t stand a chance. This is
the assurance I have in Christ. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09666812931214545627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-2008911097190865712015-07-26T19:00:00.000-07:002015-07-27T01:20:58.441-07:00Who's in control, God or you?<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Many are the plans in the mind of a
man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.<u> – Proverbs 19:21</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, it sure has been a while since
any of us have written on here and so today I thought I’d share with you
something that’s challenged and has also had a large role in my life; the idea of control. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s hard to admit this, but I am
someone who loves to have control. It’s how I am wired. Assessing every
situation that comes in my way whether that be past, present or future and how
these affect me is something that I subconsciously do. I love analysing how situations
that present themselves to me could work out against or for my benefit and how
these situations will affect others. Ultimately
when something different, out of the ordinary or challenging arises I try to
rein in the situation and see how I, Beth Walters can attain power over such issues.
In doing this I can stay in my comfort zone; feeling safe and secure and at
ease because I am in control of everything. This pleases me, because when
everything is in my reach and going smoothly life seems pleasurable, enjoyable…
but I’ve noticed that such peace doesn’t remain long and soon I go back to
scrambling everything together so I can once more feel… safe, secure and at
ease. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The more things go out of my control the more I try to be in control. It’s
a terrible cycle that soon began to rule my life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The moment of realisation came when I
felt God was calling me to step out of my comfort zone. Which meant stepping
out of this self-constructed box of safety, security and easiness. Which is
hard, very hard especially when you are someone who loves to be in control. My whole life
I’ve mostly been able to control situations. But I started to wonder how control, God’s plans for my life, and him calling me to step out of my comfort
zone go hand in hand with one another?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer I soon learnt was they don’t really.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well not as easily as I thought, they
don’t exactly mix together well like when I bake a batch of biscuits. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://moniquecaissie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Stressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://moniquecaissie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Stressed.jpg" height="186" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because the more I try to be in control the more I block God out; which results in me being more stressed, overwhelmed and worried. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It took me so long to realise
this. Realise that I am a child of a father that created me, a
child of a father who guides my every step…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Psalm 139:13 </u>‘For you created my inmost
being; you knitted me together in my mothers womb’<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So surely he knows what is best for me
and he knows my breaking point, my limit and he will never push me past that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3bh31duWxXJ2omZgC1QXyQImi0mF1Nj-nTtPYYlZLuhH5lJCEuA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3bh31duWxXJ2omZgC1QXyQImi0mF1Nj-nTtPYYlZLuhH5lJCEuA" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See the thing was I knew what God wanted me to do. He wanted me to step out of my comfort zone, to
take up new opportunities and to embrace challenges. And of course I wanted to
do that! Wanted to follow God and yet every time I tried to the result would be
that I’d end up overwhelmed and tired. I
knew that outside these walls were far greater things, far more exciting and
thrilling opportunities; that yes- excited me but also scared me. Although I wanted
to remain inside my box because the unknown and uncontrollable meant that I
wouldn’t be able to be in control what it did mean was that I would have to fall into God’s
arms and trust him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God soon showed me though that when I
let go and let him be in control of the unknown, when I let God lead my so desired
footsteps; spectacular things can occur.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://blog.katescarlata.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/magic-happens3.jpg" height="166" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Like<b><i> </i></b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><i><u>Proverbs 16:19 says</u> ‘The
heart of man plans his way, but the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="sc">Lord</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>establishes
his steps.’ </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://heart4children.org/upload/2feet.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://heart4children.org/upload/2feet.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You see God establishes our steps, we have hearts and desires and
the Lord knows them. However when we present them to God and willingly let go and
let God, we allow him to open doors that we’d never been able to open in our
own strength. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As I began to let God carry me in
our same desired direction instead of trying to get to the destination by
myself, things started happening that I could never have </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">dreamed</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> of. Doors that I could only dream of opening started to open. For example, speaking opportunities, opportunities to go to conferences and even </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">down to every day conversations. Instead of seeing my hand trying aimlessly to
control situations I began to see God’s. Such so that I became so much
more at peace when situations arose because I knew that I didn’t have to worry
for we have a God that can take worry and turn it into a deep peace. It was a peace so different to the self-attained peace that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">occurred</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> when I had finally controlled an arisen
situation.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>John 16:33</u><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>I have said these things to you,
that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take
heart; I have overcome the world.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus died so that we could spend eternity with God, he died for our sins and he also carried our burdens on the cross. Jesus died so that we could be free, free of stress, free of worry, free of wanting to control.</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see I still do overthink at times. I may have many plans for my life but ultimately God is good, God is there and God is my guidance, my anchor and my rock. He is my director. God knows you, knows me; more than anyone else ever could. He knows our desires, what our passions are and what we want to do with our lives. </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxf9x3_ASFCO1qe5HBpWBVx4_LhfgJIvRhpYlzSy1uroHYTTHl" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for diamond" border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxf9x3_ASFCO1qe5HBpWBVx4_LhfgJIvRhpYlzSy1uroHYTTHl" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://altitudeacquisitions.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/5142c41184c49f1e2493b057.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://altitudeacquisitions.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/5142c41184c49f1e2493b057.jpeg" height="130" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beauty to the story is that when we let go and offer these to God we allow him to turn beautiful dreams into spectacular circumstances. We allow him to knock down our self built comfort walls. We allow him to guides us into the unknown. There's something beautiful about the territory outside of our comfort zone. Something so marvelous. That's where character building happens,where God sculpts,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> refines, challenges, stretches and grows us. We allow him to open up our hearts and refine us into diamonds. And yes the fire may be tough but diamonds can't occur without heat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u><b>Job 23:10</b></u></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>'But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold'</b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u><b>Psalm 66:10-12</b></u></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>'For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried... we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.</b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God never promised walking hand in hand with him would be easy, but boy is it worth it.</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<i><u><b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> 41:10 </span></b></u></i></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fear not,
for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I
will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span></b></i></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so,</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My question is who's in control?</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><strike>You</strike></b> or <b><i><u>God</u></i></b>?</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09666812931214545627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-56559861202849544112015-04-14T20:03:00.002-07:002015-04-14T20:25:47.134-07:00Waiting for the next season to come.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I’ve been pondering the milestones of life recently, and how
knitted into society it is to reach certain goals. Next year I turn 20, and
although it is commonly said that <i>‘age is
just a number’</i>, there seems to be many underlying goals that come along
with this new number I’m going to adopt. Whether we like to admit it or not,
there are certain age brackets that link to certain achievements as we pass
through the years. I feel they’re kind of like little fires that burn away unnoticed
until a friend ties the knot with their partner, or scores their dream job, and
we suddenly catch sight of them and are burned with the feeling of failure. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpHwshOiTTjGRqhyphenhyphenQ6DYvelqoe_o_YxehNuGuRXWZpaKVFfwZgrAuc6Xd-0cJO6GwoG_eAGH58uBzDNYfcHbEgC5jBsxkWlujjgJmGVJPLI8fQ79BpLTT5PigQ-brbwCLCMSjhLYo4mA/s1600/915698_572950362827242_1027890222_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpHwshOiTTjGRqhyphenhyphenQ6DYvelqoe_o_YxehNuGuRXWZpaKVFfwZgrAuc6Xd-0cJO6GwoG_eAGH58uBzDNYfcHbEgC5jBsxkWlujjgJmGVJPLI8fQ79BpLTT5PigQ-brbwCLCMSjhLYo4mA/s1600/915698_572950362827242_1027890222_a.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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As I ponder these achievements I see myself reaching one day, questions start
to bubble up about when I will find the eyes of my husband, or the job offer
that fits, when will I feel content with my figure, or travel to a new place?<br /> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">
I often present these questions to God, and he gently tells me to have
patience, and that things will come in their due time when I am ready for them.
Now patience isn’t something we hold to dearly in the society we live in, with
fast food and speedy technology, we find ourselves expectant that God will
deliver at the same rate, right?<br /> </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3hYRG7YI7jFPIcuE0rYdfdduJ_sNkxFFhIXYNg1aksLtntniMhYMRhw-Yl-X1uODL0_dqx5MhV0f7NFKLAkKoLp5Z-GYgQMpuXQpy19rwKjr1FCEDFefb3QGGKwQufvVjrPhtmoAPEg/s1600/Be-Present-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3hYRG7YI7jFPIcuE0rYdfdduJ_sNkxFFhIXYNg1aksLtntniMhYMRhw-Yl-X1uODL0_dqx5MhV0f7NFKLAkKoLp5Z-GYgQMpuXQpy19rwKjr1FCEDFefb3QGGKwQufvVjrPhtmoAPEg/s1600/Be-Present-pic.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">
It’s a harsh reality I’ve only been coming to grips with recently, and it may
not be something you’ve come to think about. As I look back on the decisions I
made and the paths I’ve taken I’ve come to notice that where I’ve seen the most
fruit, is where I’ve patiently waited on God. One thing I’d like to address it
that often waiting doesn’t mean literally sitting by your bedside in hope that
God will magically give you the ability to run a company and you’ll be rich
within the following month.</span><br /><span style="line-height: 150%;">The same goes for women, in that waiting for a
husband </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> often mean sitting in your room digging into song of songs in
hope that one day God will bring a man who’ll recite verses such as</span><i style="line-height: 150%;"> 'You are altogether </i><i><span style="line-height: 24px;">beautiful</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">, my darling; there is no flaw in you.' (Song of Songs 4:7) </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br />I feel like when God instructs you to be patient, he wants you to work within
the parameters he has currently allowed you to work in, and hold faith that in
his timing he will extend those parameters and you’ll be able to step into the
new season he has for you. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Whether this be faithfully serving in your worship team, until you are able to
step into leading, or involving yourself in social circles that will allow you
to mingle with people until God anoints a time of particular growth in
friendship with one person. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">I’d encourage you to cast off the worries you once held, the burdens from the
past, and don’t become anxious or impatient about the future plans God has for
you either, but instead direct all or your energy into the present season God
has placed you in. Begin working really hard in your workplace, your school,
you friendship circles, and God will honour this and bring blessing upon you. You’re
in this particular season for a reason; I’d challenge you to ask God how he can
use you in it. What skills has he given you to impact the people around you?
Are pushing too hard to move onto the next stage, or are you becoming sluggish
because of your fear of the future? Seek God in your current season and have faith that you are there for a reason, how is God wanting to use you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i>‘For
everything there is a season, and</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>a
time for every matter under heaven:</i></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><i><sup>2 </sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i>a
time to be born, and a time to</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>die;</i></span><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">a
time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</i><span class="text"><b><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-ESV-17363" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">3 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i>a
time to kill, and a time to heal;</i></span><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">a
time to break down, and a time to build up;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</i><span class="text"><b><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-ESV-17364" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">4 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i>a
time to</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>weep,
and a time to laugh;</i></span><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">a
time to mourn, and a time to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">dance;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</i><span class="text"><b><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-ESV-17365" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">5 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i>a
time to</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>cast
away stones, and a time to</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>gather
stones together;</i></span><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">a
time to embrace, and a time to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">refrain from embracing;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</i><span class="text"><b><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-ESV-17366" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">6 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i>a
time to seek, and a time to</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>lose;</i></span><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">a
time to keep, and a time to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">cast away;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</i><span class="text"><b><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-ESV-17367" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">7 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i>a
time to</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>tear,
and a time to sew;</i></span><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">a
time to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">keep
silence, and a time to speak;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</i><span class="text"><b><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-ESV-17368" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">8 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i>a
time to love, and a time to</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>hate;</i></span><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">a
time for war, and a time for peace.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i> (Ecclesiastes 3:1-22)</i></span><i style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<!--[endif]--></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057632035843054069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-12579499136054609392015-03-23T23:29:00.000-07:002015-03-23T23:32:20.769-07:00Relevance, and the Integrity of the Gospel<div class="p1">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Christians, once sinners, saved by Grace though Jesus on the cross, we long to see others come to know God and be saved also. Jesus dwells within us, we are his holy people and because of that we are filled with love for others and a desire to see them be given the same gift of eternal life that we have been given by God. Our true home is no longer here on earth, but we are citizens of heaven, adopted children of God. In our now relatively short time left on this earth Jesus commissions us to make disciples of all nations. So in a culture that seems to be drifting further and further away from the desired created order of God, a culture that is self serving, full of temptation, pleasures and false fulfilment -"water" if you like - that will only leave one thirsty again, how do we guide people towards Gods river of living water, which will never leave them thirsty again? (John 4:13-14)</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Should we take the approach of people like Rob Bell? Mega church pastor in the US who's recently made some very controversial claims about the church and culture in regards to the issue of homosexuality. Claiming that because modern culture has moved on and changed, so should the church. He was recently quoted on Oprah as saying "I think culture is already there, and the church will continue to be even more irrelevant when it quotes letters from 2,000 years ago as their best defence”. Is this the right approach? I would strongly argue no, the bible clearly shows itself to be the true living word of God, all scripture being God breathed and useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). The bible, when studied and understood is also very clear on the way God created things and the way in which man disrupts this creative order through sin, of which the wages are death (Romans 6:23) and Jesus is the only way back to God (John 14:6-7). I’ve only recently begun to study the bible for all it’s worth, understanding it’s entire narrative sweep and context. it's Reliability, authorship, relevance, authority and application and already it’s very clear to me that Scripture pulls no punches in laying out what’s holy to God and what isn’t.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So instead should we take the Westboro Baptist church kind of approach? Holding big judgemental and condemning signs up, preaching a message of Gods judgement, wrath, hatred and hell? Well no, Jesus clearly taught to love thy neighbour as thyself (Mark 12:31), that them without sin should cast the first stone (John 8:7), that it was the job of the Holy spirit to convict people of their sins (John 16:8), and for us to not Judge others (Matthew 7:1-2). Jesus was also known to spend time “reclining” in fellowship with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10). </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So as young Christians, battling and seeking to see souls won for christ against the tide of modernity, where is the balance between relevance and integrity, popularity and truth, scriptural application and modern culture? Here’s a few things based on my experience and thought that I’ve found helpful in having meaning conversations with people about the things that matter, from good close friends, to strangers I’ve met for the first time. By no means are they gospel and I’d be keen to here others thoughts in the comments below.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No two conversations or relationships are the same, God has created everybody different for a reason and with that I think we have to always look to be sensitive to where people are at before we decide how to best show them the love of Christ through the things that we say. Things like peoples personalities, backgrounds, family life, education and current situations or struggles are important for us to gauge in order to know what is going to draw them towards Gods truth and love, and be able to avoid what might push them away all together. The level of relationship you have with that person often determines how well they are going to respect what you have to say and it’s going allow you to know what areas of their life need truth and love spoken into them. Remember that first and foremost Jesus called us to Love thy neighbour, not Judge them. He is the ultimate Judge and one day we will all stand before him and be Judged according to our sins. Those of us covered by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus will inherit his kingdom, that’s the only criteria. Jesus said “Nobody comes to the father except through me” (John 14:6). With this in mind, I believe it’s important to above all, always show love to others in the things that we say, understanding we aren’t above them because they are in sin and we aren’t, or we’re christians and they aren’t, but understand we were ALL once sinners in need of grace too. God will deal with the sin in his own time through his own means, we are called to love the sinner and that’s what leads people to want to be in relationship with God in the first place.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So does all that mean we compromise on Gods holiness? Absolutely not, The bible is very clear on what pleases God and what doesn’t, but before anything we should be seeking to apply that Holiness to our own lives through relationship with Jesus and allowing him to change and mould us to be more like him, We should remove the log from our own eye before seeking to remove the speck from our brothers eye (Matthew 7:3-5). God hates sin, he grieves when the wonderfully perfect world he created becomes warped and imperfect through the choices of his created beings to turn away from him (Genesis 6:6). But telling people about their sin that God so hates isn’t the command the Jesus has asked us to follow. That’s a job for the convicting power of the Holy spirit, not us. There’s a time and a place for correction and guidance away from sin and towards God, one I believe primarily belongs between believing christians, in strong relationship with one another, within the church.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what does this look like lived out, in our everyday conversations? One big thing I’ve learned is that whether they are your best friend since kindergarten or you’ve just met them at the bus stop, one thing that really helps, and I can’t stress this enough, is LISTEN. Listen to where people are at, hear what they have to say, hear their opinions and views even if they may clash with our own. Do this first and you’d be amazed how much more willing people will be to hear what you have to say about the truth and love of Jesus. It’s so easy at times to just jump straight to that bible verse, or to our own views, what we believe God says about what’s right and whats wrong. I’ve learned the hard way through my years as a young christian when I was in high school that this very, very rarely, it fact pretty much never, leads to fruitful and meaningful conversations. We must also remember that the gospel message is not a pre written script, and although as I said earlier the truth of it shouldn’t ever be compromised, there is still a unique and sensitive way of sharing it for every single conversation and every single relationship. God speaks to us in our own way, his relationship with us is unique and unlike any other. Therefore the way in which God uses us to share the gospel and make disciples of all nations is unique and personal to every situation and individual too. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all this in mind, Above all we should pray. Pray for our friends, pray for our family that are yet to know God, pray for meaningful encounters with people and chances to show Gods love and compassion, pray for the right words to say and not to say, pray for prophetic insight and sensitivity to the holy spirit in everything we do. Pray for our nations and our Governments, rejoice with God in break through, and battle alongside him through trials. Our time on this earth is to short to waste so get out there into the fields, they are ripe for harvest! (John 4:35)</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-56840752098567516092015-03-15T01:57:00.000-07:002015-03-15T01:57:44.781-07:00The Mystery of Suffering<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the most mysterious topics that one may try to examine is the presence of great suffering in this world. The El-Shaddai is (wrongfully) assumed to be evil or unwilling to intervene because of such suffering. It seems apparent that a God who is omnipotent and omnipresent should be able and willing to prevent such suffering, shouldn't He?</div>
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Most suffering can be traced back to a source, and this suffering is not hard to understand. When people suffer at the hands war, evil people, or human greed, it makes sense. God gave man the ability to make his own decisions, and man has used this freedom for evil. Likewise, when we suffer persecution it is understandable as we live in a fallen world, fighting against the power of darkness which attempts to fight us back. Both of these situations make sense, and although hard and painful at times, they can be understood. But what about suffering that is easily preventable by a God who is all-powerful and in control of all things? What about those situations where God could have warned you to walk a different path and not get yourself into a mess? Or those preventable accidents we fall victim to? I'm sure we can all think of times where we think that God could have made things turn out differently to help us avoid suffering, but I am boldly going to suggest that there are times when God wants us to suffer.</div>
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Now don't get it twisted, I'm not saying that God causes our suffering or enjoys it, no good Father enjoys the suffering of His children. Jesus said that he was the perfect representation of the Father, anyone who had seen him had seen the Father (John 14:9-11). Jesus healed every person who came to him, ruined every funeral that he attended, calmed every storm he came across and restored societal outcasts like tax-collectors and adulterers. As this is the way that Jesus felt about the suffering of his people, this is the same way Father God feels about it too. It is therefore inconceivable to believe that God brings suffering upon anybody, as He is a Father who gives good gifts (Luke 11:11-13). However, it is clear that God does allow his people to suffer at certain times.</div>
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Read through the Bible and you will find that the closer your relationship to God is, the more you will suffer, in fact one of the things that Jesus did promise us is that in this world we would suffer tribulations (John 16:33). David ran in fear of his life from Saul for most of his reign as king; all but one of Jesus' disciples were martyred; Paul was stoned, flogged, imprisoned and shipwrecked; Isaiah was sawn in half and the list goes on and on. God's people suffer, and God himself suffered with them. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I do believe that some things can only be achieved through suffering. I believe that God wants us to suffer at <i>specific </i>times for <i>specific</i> purposes. God doesn't enjoy this, but He uses these times to maximum effect. It was during David's time on the run from Saul that God shaped him into the great king he was to become. It was the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7, and the subsequent scattering of the believers that lead to large growth in the early church. And it was through Jesus' death upon a cross that we are set free from our sin and gain adoption into God's family. It is during these hard and painful times that God moves at His most powerful - as God's power is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Some of the most dynamic and powerful moments in my life have been when God has allowed me to endure such sufferings. Nobody enjoys those times when you are walking through it, but these are the moments where God changes you in ways that He otherwise couldn't.</div>
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So whenever you come up a against a mountain, you should always pray that God moves it; it's much easier to walk in a valley then climb a mountain. Praise God if He moves the mountain for you and you do not need to suffer through it, but it doesn't always happen this way - God didn't move it for Jesus when he prayed earnestly in the Garden of Gethsemane. But if God doesn't move the mountain and you are forced to climb it, know that it will not be in vain. Suffering brings a perspective that is otherwise unseen, and gives insight unique to its circumstances. It is only upon a mountain top that a valley can be seen for what it is.</div>
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Life is not always smooth-sailing and enduring hardship is part of the path we must walk as believers. We must learn to embrace the truth that although we may not always comprehend our suffering, God will use it to bring about his glorious purposes, even though the journey may be tough. He's been doing this a lot longer than we have and He knows what He's doing, and we need to trust Him in that.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-89081034478710631062015-03-08T00:55:00.003-08:002015-03-08T01:57:59.808-08:00We can't just do nothing<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Warning - contains a shameless plug for the 40 hour famine & world vision)</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We live in a world full of</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-size: large;">First</span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"> <span style="color: yellow;">World</span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"> <span style="color: lime;">Probelms...</span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">and often we got so caught up in these problems like,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">'wheres my hairbush?' & 'I skipped breakfast and i'm hungry' & 'I lost my pen.' And im not taking away from the fact that these problems can be REALLY ANNOYING, and can cause issues for us, but it's always good to look at the big picture, and in the sceme of things, they aren't as important as we can start to believe they are.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGsNofyb_gSRY5S6uuLkEFU2y3wqxExyWrudGmRTDNZ5bOA3WdqxnVOHLvXrWfLXkHWevzLYmq0gDfIIqN32v5b7GHVLMSOD9T15sMVNRKkNT1uYf28utcejnAqWn8tGQZEEuA1VRWXOD/s1600/e9ab1c4fca1ec55b37cb08b1023f5b99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGsNofyb_gSRY5S6uuLkEFU2y3wqxExyWrudGmRTDNZ5bOA3WdqxnVOHLvXrWfLXkHWevzLYmq0gDfIIqN32v5b7GHVLMSOD9T15sMVNRKkNT1uYf28utcejnAqWn8tGQZEEuA1VRWXOD/s1600/e9ab1c4fca1ec55b37cb08b1023f5b99.jpg" height="320" width="224"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> We <span style="color: #741b47;">ALSO</span> live in a world where people are lucky to get one meal a day, people who are starving and have no clean drinking water. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: cyan;">45. 5 % of children in the world lack basics needs like food, shelter and clean drinking water, thats 1 billion children. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: cyan;"> <span style="color: lime;">36% of Africans live on less than US$1 a day, 50% of the world live on less than $5 a day</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1.1 Billion people living in developing countries have inadequite access to water.</span></span></span></span></span><br>
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;">& in the minute or so its taken you to read this far, 9 children have died due to malnutrition related illnesses or of starvation. </span> </span></span></span></span></span><br>
<br>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">These people are desperately in need of our help, and sometimes these issues seem like questions with no answers, & yes, you are right in thinking that there is no answer to these issues. Its very easy to solve a problem and making anothe one ten times worse in the process. But we can't just do nothing & there are ways we can make a massive & positive impact on people's lives that are so difficult now. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The head, heart, hands theory:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
head heart hands theory is very simple. It states that your heart for a
problem, your knowledge about a problem & practically what you do
to help fix it. When we have a heart for something, we should bring our knowledge of the situation and what we're doing about it up to the same level. For example:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If
you have a heart for young girls stuck in the sex trafficking industry
overseas, you cannot just rush over to Cambodia an try & solve the
problem, you will probably do more harm then good & break yourself
emotionally. So a really good way to go about it is to: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Heart: </b>spend a lot of time praying that God will continue to grow this passion to do something about this problem. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Hands: </b>take
oppertunities to do things in your own city or place you go to school
or work to fundraise & send money to people and organisations
already involved in helping the cause</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Head:</b>
Research the issue, talk to people and organisations already involved
and learn as much as you can. But most importantly pray the God gives
you the opportunities & that he leads you where he wants you to go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Here's your work vision plug)</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
40 hour famine is coming up & it's a really practical & simple
way for you to make a big impact on people and children quite literally on the brink of death in Bangladesh, and we can make an impact from right here in Christchurch. My advice:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>GET INVOLVED!!</b></span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The famine is on the 22- 24 May 2015, where we give something up for 40 hours, usually this is food, but can also be technology, talking e.t.c.</span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>A little bit of money can go a loooooong way!!</b></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> </b> </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">$2 can buy 50 nutrient sachets to help severly malnourished children gain weight. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">$10 can help a family of 5 start a vege garden to help grow nutrious food</span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Imagine 500 of those $2 coins, 500 of those $10. Imagine the differece that can make. Now imagine the difference that half a million people that do the famine raising $10 would make? The effects would be MASSIVE. So I leave you with this question:</span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will you sit back and do nothing? Or will you take a stand and help change the world?</span></span></i></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here is where you can add yourself to the tky famine group</span></span></span><i><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span></i></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a class="color-gray ng-binding" href="http://www.famine.org.nz/tky--the-kings-youth" target="_blank">http://www.famine.org.nz/tky--the-kings-youth </a> </span></span> </span></span></i></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: lime;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14227667492724392819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-64472776783895621902015-02-22T01:34:00.001-08:002015-02-22T03:09:41.504-08:00A City On A Hill<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLAvaqu6BGZsAcrPVnm9aNs_uH6RQZIohM7m6xfivHosu1yu2RX6eWrth9W96LnuYEIM2D_xzSfq3fMWf0WSCR3TvMjH3mqYWaLpCDC9bGWKRXzwd_wElazg00NlOg3SNwo5ZfhVgW70/s1600/IMG_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLAvaqu6BGZsAcrPVnm9aNs_uH6RQZIohM7m6xfivHosu1yu2RX6eWrth9W96LnuYEIM2D_xzSfq3fMWf0WSCR3TvMjH3mqYWaLpCDC9bGWKRXzwd_wElazg00NlOg3SNwo5ZfhVgW70/s1600/IMG_0151.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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Geographically speaking, Christchurch is far from being
situated on a hill. We lay in more of a valley with surrounding hills and
mountains that tower over us, but yet I felt God speak this phrase to me very
clearly yesterday evening. I quickly hopped on the web and searched the passage of
scripture that this came from. <br />
In Matthew 5:14 it says <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRMQU7xsOErZ4Q7T0EdVXPYp6lL6e2whCivGayTqLZRsg-pUU3UK1EAhyphenhyphenZhXgEBbWCcuD8zIy65mCMhSyja2zKRbc-QzdWdXTxhzNKqMF7M41KN_e2QMILHzNlEDtRqRyud5C2ukcSGM/s1600/IMG_0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRMQU7xsOErZ4Q7T0EdVXPYp6lL6e2whCivGayTqLZRsg-pUU3UK1EAhyphenhyphenZhXgEBbWCcuD8zIy65mCMhSyja2zKRbc-QzdWdXTxhzNKqMF7M41KN_e2QMILHzNlEDtRqRyud5C2ukcSGM/s1600/IMG_0138.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayIR5BbN1VlVSeJ7YMhtNBhW9Nmbep2SmbvlHSlGxTIDlB8wo9jbRwC56kBKrXoYF-jSdZNVcPFnd3gW51S9DJu82zqyGFbb4f9zvP2YRe3HUM5XriAY36JctkOvmEriZMwY_yWlzvvQ/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayIR5BbN1VlVSeJ7YMhtNBhW9Nmbep2SmbvlHSlGxTIDlB8wo9jbRwC56kBKrXoYF-jSdZNVcPFnd3gW51S9DJu82zqyGFbb4f9zvP2YRe3HUM5XriAY36JctkOvmEriZMwY_yWlzvvQ/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><br />
<i>‘</i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">You are the light of the world.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>A
town built on a hill cannot be hidden.’ (NIV)</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru-h6mzFBYDrfGd8nr74hslZCpW1_F4J_sYxUVO-H0ECxVte-l4LgildrloU3ldx4d-CE04Q9tCP09c4oIh-c3BcEOK8FkQzkgcjdhQRDF-aTNAjOtIOeX1ntDhKCO907bsUAiOgP3iA/s1600/IMG_0122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru-h6mzFBYDrfGd8nr74hslZCpW1_F4J_sYxUVO-H0ECxVte-l4LgildrloU3ldx4d-CE04Q9tCP09c4oIh-c3BcEOK8FkQzkgcjdhQRDF-aTNAjOtIOeX1ntDhKCO907bsUAiOgP3iA/s1600/IMG_0122.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br />
</span></i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">February the 22nd marks
the four year anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed this city, but it
also marks a time where we became the most malleable form in which God can use
us- I will touch in this more in a moment. We were suddenly in the public eye, news channels
jumped on this disaster and it spread like wildfire. I feel this is what really
placed us as a city on a hill. This scripture will continue to ring true as we
rebuild, slowly building up fresh infrastructure, birthed from minds that
suddenly had a whole canvas of a city to work on. Community projects have
blossomed like pop up dance-o-mats, poetry walls, and outside movie screenings
have adorned this city with hope during this ongoing restoration project. This
rebuild will not be a quiet task, it will draw attention no only nationally but
internationally and it is pushing me to continue prayerfully that God’s hand is
upon this whole process. If we are a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, I
want to be a city that shines the light of Christ from every rubble ruined
street corner, and every sleek new office building. I desire to be a part of
something that has Christ as the centre, and know that if God can speak the
stars into existence, he can take the brokenness of this city and make it whole
again.<br />
<br />
This leads me onto something I touched on before, being malleable in God’s
hands. After the quake we became our weakest, as we mourned over loves ones and
watched bricks that built up our homes and buildings, tumble around us. The
city became a mess of road cones and tears, and we watched as we became very
different versions of ourselves than we once knew. But not only did God speak
to me about being a city on a hill, the thing that hit me the most this evening
was two verses a few above that read,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFsqy4JnbwEaeup12zEp6ILYA5VY-ewh3kvLrGDx1upSXnAfUl13tNF1tFtLqLvQBZbjNDsaR4WpA5M-cCemFPoB_c57_mSbvqPZe98KbrkO3ymmMOnwZjR1JGBLJq-y_xyUSW6rA1ds/s1600/matthew-5-3-6_poster_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFsqy4JnbwEaeup12zEp6ILYA5VY-ewh3kvLrGDx1upSXnAfUl13tNF1tFtLqLvQBZbjNDsaR4WpA5M-cCemFPoB_c57_mSbvqPZe98KbrkO3ymmMOnwZjR1JGBLJq-y_xyUSW6rA1ds/s1600/matthew-5-3-6_poster_original.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
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<span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><br /></span></sup></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">3</span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and his rule.</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">4 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most
dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. (THE
MSG)<br />
<br />
</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">How incredible is it that God loves our brokenness? A
person who is willing to become completely undone for the sake of being put
back together to become more like him is someone who is treasured in God’s
eyes. This evening I began to see God’s heart in the way I view this city. I
see how I am intrigued by the fading shop signs and smashed bookcases behind
windows. I look upon broken dollhouse-like buildings, and I am reminded of my
own brokenness and how lovingly God looks upon my every fault, knowing he has
work to do in me. I see how when this city and it’s people are at the end of
their rope, there is far more God can do because we are willing for him to take
the reins. I see how when we have lost what is most important to us, the
embrace of our father is that much more comforting and needed. But most of all,
I see myself in these broken city streets and hear my Dad call me his child and
let me know the passion I have for this broken city is the passion he has for
me. He wants me to run into his arms when I reach the end of my tether, or when
I feel I am crumbling in the way this city did, because in times like these he
will grow me the most. <br />
I encourage you to be attentive to what God is speaking to you about, and don’t
ever feel discounted because of your faults of weaknesses. For when we are at
our weakest, it is at this place we are most able to be used by our Father- and
he can use you in incredible ways.</span></span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057632035843054069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-56843943073419231172015-02-07T23:29:00.000-08:002015-02-07T23:29:22.474-08:00To rejoice or not to rejoice- It's your choice!Today I want to take you on a journey. A journey of discovery. One that hopefully will open your eyes, your heart, your mind; like it did to mine. A journey that for me this morning started with reading 'Streams in the desert' (Which I must add if you don't have a copy of this book, go! Go! right now, stop reading this devotion and go buy yourself one!)<br />
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zx8IzresL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zx8IzresL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="124" /></a><br />
Any ways, I was re-reading over a devotional I had skimmed read across a couple of days back.<br />
<br />
It was based on a verse from the book of Psalms.<br />
<br />
'He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot- come let us rejoice in him!' Psalm 66:6<br />
<br />
<a href="https://victoryoutreachwhittier.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/crossing-the-red-sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://victoryoutreachwhittier.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/crossing-the-red-sea.jpg" width="200" /></a>It went on to say that this verse is a very profound statement. That 'through the waters' the very place which we would have expected nothing but trembling, terror and dismay and yet they, the Israelites were still able to'Rejoice.' I mean imagine walking on land that once was covered with sea, I would be afraid. Wouldn't you? and yet the children of Israel still stopped to 'Rejoice in him!'<br />
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It's pretty incredible if you ask me. It got me thinking as well, Could I do this? or really; Do I do this? When I'm right in the midst of distress, sadness, loneliness, confusion and so on, have I been able? Am I able to rejoice? Am I able to be so deeply thankful, that my heart it is overflowing with praise to God for the trails I am enduring? Like the Israelites, am I able to stop and 'Rejoice in him'?<br />
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<img src="http://www.dodsonlumber.com/Acts242/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/moses-redsea-tamborine-pano.jpg" /><br />
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I continued to think, and this is one place where the over thinker in me was actually a positive thing for once. I thought this `Well if I'm not able or find it hard to be joyful in my trials then when do I 'Rejoice in him?'<br />
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And as I continued to read from 'Streams in the desert' it said this,<br />
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<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1e/db/2d/1edb2d4bc6ea14971c8eed90ed7e3697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1e/db/2d/1edb2d4bc6ea14971c8eed90ed7e3697.jpg" width="143" /></a><b><i>'How close God is to us through His promises, and how brightly those promise shine! Yet during times of prosperity we lose sight of their brilliance. In the way the sun at noon hides the stars from the sight, His promises become indiscernible. But when night falls- the deep night of sorrow- a host of stars begin to shine, bringing forth the God's blessed constellations of hope, and promises</i></b><b><i> of comfort from His Word, Just as Jacob experienced at Jabbook, it is only once the sun sets that the Angel of the Lord comes, wrestles with us and we can overcome. It was at night, that Aaron lit the sanctuary lights. And it is often during the night of trouble that the brightest lamps of believers are set ablaze</i>.'</b><br />
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It continued on to talk about John, and that during his dark time of loneliness and exile he had a glorious vision of his redeemer.<br />
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<i><b>"Many of us today have had our 'Isle of Patmos,' which produces the brightest memories of God's enduring presence, uplifting grace, and love in spite of solitude and sadness."</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
I loved this part, but I was lacking full understanding to fully comprehend the power of this sentence. What happened on the Isle of Patmos? or even more, what is the Isle of Patmos?<br />
<a href="http://cdn.bgr.com/2014/05/google-sign-search.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.bgr.com/2014/05/google-sign-search.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a><i><b><br /></b></i>
So I headed over to my friend good old google.<br />
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<b>Searh:</b> <i>Isle of Patmos</i><br />
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<b>Result:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I learnt that 'Patmos' means 'my killing' and that it was a sterile island. Crops could not produce. Food was scarce. Basically it was a place where many probably could not survive. And John was sent there not on his own desire, he was there because he was being persecuted for proclaiming the powerful message of Christ. John probably was left to die, and how interesting it is that God used such a place to bring John the revelation he had of Christ.<br />
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And that was when that sentence; "Many of us today have had our 'Isle of Patmos,' which produces the brightest memories of God's enduring presence, uplifting grace, and love in spite of solitude and sadness."<br />
became a powerful testimony of how God uses our darkest moments!<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://gateway-women.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/light_at_end_of_tunnel_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://gateway-women.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/light_at_end_of_tunnel_12.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a> How he uses the times when we question if we'll ever come out of the tunnel we are in, to reveal to us more of his nature. It is these times where things are revealed to us, just like John and his revelation of christ, God reveals things to us. Because it is in those moments, even thought we find our self in utter chaos we find our selves,still. Still because this is where we are needy, needy for Christ. And God knows this. It is the darkest, driest, desert like places that we walk through which God uses. And we can look back and be filled with memories of how God taught us things which will never be forgotten and continue daily to walk with us as a humble reminder of the doings God did within us whilst we where on our 'Isle of Patmos'<br />
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" 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And I realized why and how one can be Joyful through trials, tribulation, suffering and despair.For it is the place where ones soul it's developed and carved by Christ. It is molded. For how can one move forward in their relationship with Christ, if they stay stationary. My eyes have been opened. I am thankful, thankful for trials. My soul is going to sing of God's endless promises.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763;"><b>For Deuteronomy 31:6 states,</b></span><br />
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<span class="text Deut-31-6" id="en-NIV-5735" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763;">Be strong and courageous.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-5735A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5735A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Do not be afraid or terrified<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-5735B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5735B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> because of them, for the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> your God goes with you;<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-5735C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5735C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> he will never leave you<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-5735D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5735D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> nor forsake<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-5735E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5735E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> you.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://cache2.asset-cache.net/gc/132659993-woman-standing-outdoors-in-lightning-storm-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=bWT0Xl9Gz43IZZZ04DDdDeyiqP2c76fOoOJgL2o1hx0%3D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache2.asset-cache.net/gc/132659993-woman-standing-outdoors-in-lightning-storm-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=bWT0Xl9Gz43IZZZ04DDdDeyiqP2c76fOoOJgL2o1hx0%3D" height="133" width="200" /></a><b><i>'How many travelers today, still passing through their red seas and Jordan Rivers of earthly affliction, will be able to look back from eternity, filled with memories of God's great goodness and say, "We 'passed through the waters on foot' and yet even in these dark experiences with waves surging all around, we stopped and said 'LET US REJOICE IN HIM!</i>'</b> -Streams in the desert<br />
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And so what now?<br />
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Are we willing to be people that 'Rejoice in Him' through every circumstance we face in our life? Can we trust him with these circumstances? Will you have faith that God 'who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus?' (Phil 1v6)<br />
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It's a hard thing to do, we're humans and we like to have control. I know I do! And it's a constant lesson God is teaching me. Hes teaching me that I can't go through life the good parts and trials in my own strength. It's about letting go and letting God. For it is when we let go that God can do so much more with us and through us than we could ever have imagined or done in our strength.<br />
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And that alone is something to rejoice about!<br />
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"There I will give her back her vineyards, and I will make the valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing! - Hosea 2:5<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09666812931214545627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-3740078866881277552014-11-27T01:32:00.000-08:002015-02-22T00:46:56.514-08:00The Power of Encouragement<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://theresurgence.com/files/2009/12/18/20091218_do-not-withhold-good_poster_img.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://theresurgence.com/files/2009/12/18/20091218_do-not-withhold-good_poster_img.png" height="147" width="320" /></a>Recently I came across this video, I was going to write a blog on encouragement, but Michael Zigarelli touches on it so well with the bible! I want to highlight some features though (spoilers tee-hee). An aspect I want to touch on is the aspect he covers from Proverbs 3: 27: </div>
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<a href="http://w5d26qqbybzie1ok.zippykid.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000014997757Small1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://w5d26qqbybzie1ok.zippykid.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000014997757Small1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a>One thing that stops us from this is underestimating the power of encouragement. I want you to think back to a time when someone really affirmed you, encouraged you or have given you a well done - not limited to when you have 'deserved it' for the time being, but just for being you - and remember how it made you feel. One thing that recurs in the bible many times is the human desire that is a longing for relationship, we see this in many parts of our lives today. I personally see it as, perhaps, a fundamental part of us, and encourage you - pun not intended ;P - to make a habit of encouraging other people. Take Michael Zigarelli's example for instance, make something of it, put one coin or a good substitute in your pocket and encourage one person a day. If you achieve that then try to have that coin, or what have you, placed back into the initial pocket. </div>
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<a href="http://cdn.myktis.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/09/words-of-encouragement-900.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.myktis.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/09/words-of-encouragement-900.jpeg" height="160" width="320" /></a>There are many things that discourage us, and in particular it's the things we compare ourselves with that trick us to think we need to become like them in a certain manner, when it should really be looking to God and thanking him for who we are. It can be hard to do that if the people around us don't give us encouragement; this is why we should tell our folks or flatmates we appreciate them putting up with us, tell your friend that they are looking like they flourished from God's good soil or something - don't underestimate the power of encouragement, and here's a witty quote that sums it up by John Maxwell: "...<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">man does not live on bread alone: sometimes he needs a little buttering up.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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Here's the video for those interested! Chea :)</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-16457426254718890802014-11-03T22:40:00.000-08:002014-11-03T22:40:21.591-08:00Things to look at - November 14Some things to check out when you're not busy with exams...<b> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HcvZbjqvLU2nQUM_1O_0ZixwquiRIIxoyV_KM6ec06eUCaVESlhRSXdFuk8i7oPBeiC4cq722e2aeemdwofgfS5TMv1L0oalLf5G4N-b_j3c7ctM9x8BC3VnwOCIUg4DnJHHdu-59qs/s1600/blogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HcvZbjqvLU2nQUM_1O_0ZixwquiRIIxoyV_KM6ec06eUCaVESlhRSXdFuk8i7oPBeiC4cq722e2aeemdwofgfS5TMv1L0oalLf5G4N-b_j3c7ctM9x8BC3VnwOCIUg4DnJHHdu-59qs/s1600/blogs.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Blogs:</b></span><br />
<a href="http://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/self_pity_the_sin_behind_the_sin">http://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/self_pity_the_sin_behind_the_sin</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/four-habits-of-a-happy-heart">http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/four-habits-of-a-happy-heart </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2013/07/a-surprising-answer-to-the-why-me-question/">http://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2013/07/a-surprising-answer-to-the-why-me-question/</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Music:</b></span><br />
Beth shared this on Facebook a while back, but it's definitely worth a listen.<br />
<a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/the-drop/undoing">http://www.relevantmagazine.com/the-drop/undoing</a><br />
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Citizens - An indie band out of Seattle.<br />
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Also, here's a song written in our very own NZ, I've been listening to lately.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-4Q4kXfv84">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-4Q4kXfv84</a><br />
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And the one we sang on Saturday with some te reo. Remember, it's cool to korero.It has a long intro... so you might wanna skip a bit! Edge Kingsland have some other good stuff too.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Preaches:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lecrae on being a man! </span></span><br />
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No video I'm afraid... but there is audio of John Lennox doing 2 q & a sessions around answers to hard questions... John Lennox is one clever guy and is a great defender of the Christian faith. Definitely worth a listen to. It's 2 hours long, but something you could listen to for a couple of questions and then head back to.<br />
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<a href="http://media.jubilee.org.za/Jubilee/Sermons/John-Lennox-The-God-Question-13-09-2014.mp3">http://media.jubilee.org.za/Jubilee/Sermons/John-Lennox-The-God-Question-13-09-2014.mp3</a><br />
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There are some other videos here if you prefer to look! <a href="http://lexloiz.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/oxford-professor-john-lennox-in-south-africa/">http://lexloiz.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/oxford-professor-john-lennox-in-south-africa/</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Videos</b>:</span><br />
The Incarnation (spoken word): <br />
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This is Odd Thomas of Beautiful Eulogy fame doing an awesome spoken word on the incarnation. I think we might have our Christmas video sorted for church!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/s6-XtFfKVM4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Another cool video (and there are other's too) is an animation of Genesis 1-11.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">You've maybe seen it already, but an interesting critique on technology </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRl8EIhrQjQ#t=144"><span style="background-color: white;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRl8EIhrQjQ#t=144</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNy0uSxkgCROJ0uwcdwXl330Sjys-x82v5UqP3JLWPSL9Sri74Mop1dkg76nYN9UEiFB_cPGRor6X_qEnH8ZtK40KLux1Gpd1FrxFRLErVdiMZVu2WXs0cpfvs3piNTI3OxKRgxKuaq0/s1600/Bethinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNy0uSxkgCROJ0uwcdwXl330Sjys-x82v5UqP3JLWPSL9Sri74Mop1dkg76nYN9UEiFB_cPGRor6X_qEnH8ZtK40KLux1Gpd1FrxFRLErVdiMZVu2WXs0cpfvs3piNTI3OxKRgxKuaq0/s1600/Bethinking.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Websites:</b></span></span><br />
I haven't checked out that much of it... but what I've seen seems cool, especially if you're a fan of spoken word.<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"></span> <a href="http://www.vergenetwork.org/category/resources/spoken-word-resources/">http://www.vergenetwork.org/category/resources/spoken-word-resources/</a><br />
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Great resource for apologetics (answers to tricky questions) stuff:<br />
<a href="http://www.bethinking.org/">http://www.bethinking.org/</a><br />
You can choose the level appropriate for you too! Very cool.<span style="background-color: yellow;"><br /></span>
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Josh Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02748392827176216514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-5921211252588555652014-10-24T15:53:00.001-07:002014-10-24T15:56:17.985-07:00Swimming Against the Tide: Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lately in our church we just finished a four part series on love, romance and sex (don’t worry, this isn’t one of “those” blogs!). The series itself was excellent at unwrapping those particular topics (it can be found </span></span><a href="http://www.kingschurch.co.nz/Groups/1000015402/Kings_Church_Christchurch/Teaching/Downloads/Downloads.aspx" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) but one thing that also stood out to me is that in practically all aspects of christian life, we are swimming against the tide of our secular western world. Pursuing God and doing things his way and the way he designed them is so counter to what our culture would say. We live in a fallen world, a world that is lost and confused, a world that says identity and satisfaction can be found in sex, money, status, possessions and self worship. Since the fall of man, so many wonderful things that God created for his purpose have been twisted and moulded to fit man’s own selfish wants and desires. So as Christians walking in this broken world, seeking Gods kingdom come and the ultimate reconciliation of man to God, how do we go about living our day to day life against this ever rushing tide of secularity and worldly influence? I was pondering and praying about the ways in which we can go about this and on the drive home from college today, 3 things stood out to me in my mind, the first of these I’d like to share today.</span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part 1: A strong personal relationship with the Father</span></span></h4>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we look at the life of Jesus in the bible we can soon notice the strong connection he has to his father in heaven. In Luke Chapter 5, news of Jesus’ teaching and his miracles is starting to travel abroad and crowds are starting to gather in wait for him, then in verse 16 it says </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>“Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.”</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus was a rather busy man back then, healing the sick and teaching the good news all over the place, yet still he understood the importance of quiet time with God. In order for God to use us to win this broken world back for him we need to be like Jesus and take time out to spend with our heavenly Father. Even when we get busy and overloaded with the stresses of life, we need to do what Jesus did and take time to withdraw and spend with God. There’s no use trying to swim against the tide of culture and worldly influence if we don’t have the presence of God and the Holy Spirit with us, it would be like an athlete trying to run a race with no energy, or trying to drive a car without filling it with petrol. The Lords prayer asks God to “give us today our daily bread” He is the bread of life, he is what we need daily in order to live and be more like him. Taking time out for him is the most important thing we can do. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.liberalamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/bible_wine_rose_liberal_america.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.liberalamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/bible_wine_rose_liberal_america.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When Paul writes to the church in Ephesians he says to not get drunk on wine, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. In short, what we put in is what we get out. If we are spending ALL of our time being filled with the things of the world (the wine so to speak) then we can very easily start to drift back downstream and begin to compromise areas of our lives and thoughts. Bearing in mind though, wine itself, like many other things in the world, is not inherently bad when in its right and godly place, but to “get drunk” on these things and engage with them in a way God didn’t intend is what Paul is warning us of. However, If our priority is to be consistently asking for more of the holy spirit, fueling up on the words of the bible and aligning our will with Gods will through prayer, then we will become equipped and ready to go out and be salt and light in the world. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://jbarrows.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/jesus-praying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://jbarrows.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/jesus-praying.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Something else important to note in that verse is that Jesus withdrew to <i>desolate </i>places, other translations use words like <i>deserted, lonely </i>and <i>wilderness. </i>When Jesus teaches us to pray in Mathew chapter 6, he says to go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father. One important thing I think these passages are saying is that in order to spend good quality time with God, we need to unplug from everything around us and create a space which is quiet and away from the outside world. That means not only closing our door, but also turning off our phones and laptops, switching off Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and all those other things that can so easily distract us with constant notifications, messages, invites etc. With technology the way it is, it’s so easy to be wired in and connected 24/7. More information is accessible at our fingertips than every before and communicating with friends and family is only a few clicks away. Like the wine Paul speaks of, all that stuff is great in it’s right place. However to become addicted and unable to be without these things for long enough to collect our thoughts and begin to draw close to God is a huge danger we face in modern life and even more so in our relationship and our quiet times with God. When we take time out for our Father in heaven we need to make sure we are removing any and all distractions and obstacles that can hinder our relationship with him. Being aware of technology and it’s right place in the kingdom of God is something that as Christians we should be really aware of on a daily basis. By letting ourselves conform to the worlds constant need to be plugged in, we may miss opportunities to plant gospel seeds, do good for others, have important conversations and most importantly, hear from God.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without spending consistent quality time with our provider and our sustainer, the tide we swim against is one that can seem relentless and unbearable. But by spending time with the Father and learning what it means to withdraw to the desolate places to pray as Jesus did, we soon realise that it’s a battle that has already been won. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>“What then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, then who can be against us” </b></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-77794730379102732202014-10-14T10:52:00.000-07:002014-10-14T10:52:17.373-07:00What would I change?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This week, while eating lunch a friend said to me 'You can't tell me that when you look in the mirror and find nothing you want to change about yourself?' and it really struck me, and that day I went home and looked in the mirror and I had a bit of a revelation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatyQ-T0Q2Cbxjv7z6h2Sv9QcJxkI_0TnU3ODnvvF0WFp-9PYzaBQLSkgdhPbLnzeWFhEKCdpn_rGvy_9_UKA_F_zZpM8P6gBlbf0LjE82D5LIgDkPcPDUyrcsiNs9pAiwkF5-dTlQjOmB/s1600/reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatyQ-T0Q2Cbxjv7z6h2Sv9QcJxkI_0TnU3ODnvvF0WFp-9PYzaBQLSkgdhPbLnzeWFhEKCdpn_rGvy_9_UKA_F_zZpM8P6gBlbf0LjE82D5LIgDkPcPDUyrcsiNs9pAiwkF5-dTlQjOmB/s1600/reflection.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been reading about creation this week and while looking in that mirror i had a 'OH MY GOSH YES!!' moment about how precious I am to God. I looked in that mirror and saw all sorts of things that are 'less desirable' or not our societies definition of attractive. But I was just so amazed as I remembered that God made trees, some so big they look as if they disappear into the clouds, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xoJ377NHp5g0txktbonkYhPKDj2bGbDe5SBvkK-e79TWM2qKgIoEsbrmtdO60VuBhy01O6WWCGHKEeUyP71_YG3sql-Y88I65yqROIuqGjHzmMMeS8K5p7JV3bLdhiwukfKOag8GX7In/s1600/Big+Trees3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xoJ377NHp5g0txktbonkYhPKDj2bGbDe5SBvkK-e79TWM2qKgIoEsbrmtdO60VuBhy01O6WWCGHKEeUyP71_YG3sql-Y88I65yqROIuqGjHzmMMeS8K5p7JV3bLdhiwukfKOag8GX7In/s1600/Big+Trees3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">he made mountains that do indeed disappear into the clouds. I can't even comprehend how big they are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOecJMHcI1K5xpJ0XUygi6UW-QaqEHrX4hArTCR8iLkqIv0lc4UjjURxPmQKpyvxvrHiyizjZimbYiZHim2ylmdyBFhs6O3cdd8lN-LEBVBSLQT3CA0E9E9MgfZFHQNFCCaCa7A-SGEAF/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOecJMHcI1K5xpJ0XUygi6UW-QaqEHrX4hArTCR8iLkqIv0lc4UjjURxPmQKpyvxvrHiyizjZimbYiZHim2ylmdyBFhs6O3cdd8lN-LEBVBSLQT3CA0E9E9MgfZFHQNFCCaCa7A-SGEAF/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> He made oceans, the sea is so big and vast that we dont, and probably never will know the full extent of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4d7xAoiTOgFAw6np9yiHTxHXfUaFi3fiUVpYMypyHsHQ4MGYBYtwOdkmnbVwHvim6zr7-EIkNndwECnfhzMfeVORAVmFzSWudLfWjYeX6ixcvaHRZU3-OPubNbkxaEvNHQ69uGfLuWLC0/s1600/shore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4d7xAoiTOgFAw6np9yiHTxHXfUaFi3fiUVpYMypyHsHQ4MGYBYtwOdkmnbVwHvim6zr7-EIkNndwECnfhzMfeVORAVmFzSWudLfWjYeX6ixcvaHRZU3-OPubNbkxaEvNHQ69uGfLuWLC0/s1600/shore.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> He made animals with necks as tall as me, he made sharks, kiwi's, elephants, horses, lions, tigers, Zebras, Pufferfish...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The list goes on and on and on. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWVVEQ0n6kLQg56XdQvGewV-psibulxZ3YWaPZtVd5Za7KdV54qHGSIx-NJMPYXn49goFbRw5CXdJSxS2a6aCnNpcAiis6S_NhSg0ioRs_IrfTopHgopwnmFgWuZMRlirdrtH9GoyPDF2/s1600/funny-giraffe-2880x1800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWVVEQ0n6kLQg56XdQvGewV-psibulxZ3YWaPZtVd5Za7KdV54qHGSIx-NJMPYXn49goFbRw5CXdJSxS2a6aCnNpcAiis6S_NhSg0ioRs_IrfTopHgopwnmFgWuZMRlirdrtH9GoyPDF2/s1600/funny-giraffe-2880x1800.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">you wot mate?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">heeeeey, you sho funnnneeeey!!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Boris the Pufferfish</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yet he called me. He made me so perfectly, and I may not be perfect for a cover on a magazine, (the percentage of people that look like the typical magazine cover type is so small and ridiculous lets face it.) But at times we can get caught up in this desire to look perfect to meet the standards of the people around us. The desire to look the way they expect us to look. But God made us perfect the way we are, and if we're good enough for God then we're good eough for the world around us too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So when I look in the mirror and ask myself 'what would I change?' The answer is nothing, cause my Daddy runs the entire universe and he made me like this and I'm proud to be who he wanted and designed me to be. (Bit cheesy I know, but who doesn't like cheese?!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Psalm 139, reminds us that there is nothing hiding from God and that he knows it all. he knows how we're feeling, knows about the things we're self concious about, knows our flaws and still loves us. It reminds us that God has a plan and made us the way we are for a reason. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-139-1" id="en-NIV-16241">Psalm 139</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-139-1">For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-139-1"><sup class="versenum">1 </sup>You have searched me, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-1">and you know me.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-2" id="en-NIV-16242"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>You know when I sit and when I rise;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-2">you perceive my thoughts from afar.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-3" id="en-NIV-16243"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>You discern my going out and my lying down;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-3">you are familiar with all my ways.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-4" id="en-NIV-16244"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Before a word is on my tongue</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-4">you, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, know it completely.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-5" id="en-NIV-16245"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>You hem me in behind and before,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-5">and you lay your hand upon me.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-6" id="en-NIV-16246"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-6">too lofty for me to attain.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-139-7" id="en-NIV-16247"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Where can I go from your Spirit?</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-7">Where can I flee from your presence?</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-8" id="en-NIV-16248"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>If I go up to the heavens, you are there;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-8">if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-9" id="en-NIV-16249"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>If I rise on the wings of the dawn,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-9">if I settle on the far side of the sea,</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-10" id="en-NIV-16250"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>even there your hand will guide me,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-10">your right hand will hold me fast.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-11" id="en-NIV-16251"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-11">and the light become night around me,”</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-12" id="en-NIV-16252"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>even the darkness will not be dark to you;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-12">the night will shine like the day,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-12">for darkness is as light to you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-139-13" id="en-NIV-16253"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>For you created my inmost being;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-13">you knit me together in my mother’s womb.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-14" id="en-NIV-16254"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-14">your works are wonderful,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-14">I know that full well.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-15" id="en-NIV-16255"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>My frame was not hidden from you</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-15">when I was made in the secret place,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-15">when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-16" id="en-NIV-16256"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>Your eyes saw my unformed body;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16">all the days ordained for me were written in your book</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16">before one of them came to be.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-17" id="en-NIV-16257"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>How precious to me are your thoughts,<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-16257a" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-16257a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139&version=NIV#fen-NIV-16257a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> God!</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-17">How vast is the sum of them!</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-18" id="en-NIV-16258"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>Were I to count them,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-18">they would outnumber the grains of sand—</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-18">when I awake, I am still with you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-139-19" id="en-NIV-16259"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>If only you, God, would slay the wicked!</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-19">Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-20" id="en-NIV-16260"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>They speak of you with evil intent;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-20">your adversaries misuse your name.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-21" id="en-NIV-16261"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>Do I not hate those who hate you, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-21">and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-22" id="en-NIV-16262"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>I have nothing but hatred for them;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-22">I count them my enemies.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-23" id="en-NIV-16263"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>Search me, God, and know my heart;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-23">test me and know my anxious thoughts.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-139-24" id="en-NIV-16264"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>See if there is any offensive way in me,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-24">and lead me in the way everlasting.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14227667492724392819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-84340523830823539632014-10-09T01:46:00.000-07:002014-10-09T01:46:18.855-07:00The Importance of Being Thoughtful<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5s_qzQ1r3yNCHDKEMXWQOpMP1ueqKMxZZqxBs1Hsgp_qy7VdOoOqIyyYXBre18QiCnsMVDI8xQZiqEdWfV9IM6lJr_p1-KrhLgKXstxCHLQC5pVbBotfwa58H1ABjJjRQgrjgL83p_g/s1600/Dorian+Gray.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5s_qzQ1r3yNCHDKEMXWQOpMP1ueqKMxZZqxBs1Hsgp_qy7VdOoOqIyyYXBre18QiCnsMVDI8xQZiqEdWfV9IM6lJr_p1-KrhLgKXstxCHLQC5pVbBotfwa58H1ABjJjRQgrjgL83p_g/s1600/Dorian+Gray.jpeg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Sitting in a waiting room the other day, I decided to do some reading. I had downloaded Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' a while back (it was free) and thought I'd give it a go. I got a few pages in and found myself laughing at the following quote:<br />
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<i>"But beauty, real beauty, ends
where an intellectual expression begins. Intellect is in itself a mode
of exaggeration, and destroys the harmony of any face. The moment one
sits down to think, one becomes all nose, or all forehead, or something
horrid. Look at the successful men in any of the learned professions.
How perfectly hideous they are! Except, of course, in the Church. <b>But
then in the Church they don't think. A bishop keeps on saying at the
age of eighty what he was told to say when he was a boy of eighteen</b>,
and as a natural consequence he always looks absolutely delightful."</i><br />
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It made me laugh and then it made me think... it made me think two things.<br />
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<i> </i><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The first is the importance of thinking...</i></span></b><br />
Lord Henry's comment about the church is an interesting one - and I'm not talking about the fact that all clergy are good looking (a look at our elders would surely derail that theory!)<i>. </i>It's interesting because it makes a good point. It is very easy to become an armchair Christian. One who sits in church and accepts everything that they hear, without thinking or questioning. One who carries on believing the same things without thought or reason for years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKckLe0AQ20DXV9d36G2vDA4tl22H4tQ8Y8-PKJ7aMdUtG4lzmzC_mZXJG19e_c7_i5d0j0IFgM_KrnaYg81GfBgnXMZ0BF-fc4-lDv1YooKav9nTBfRPRJ0XBZqbJn4vTn2JYf61IgE/s1600/Augustine.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKckLe0AQ20DXV9d36G2vDA4tl22H4tQ8Y8-PKJ7aMdUtG4lzmzC_mZXJG19e_c7_i5d0j0IFgM_KrnaYg81GfBgnXMZ0BF-fc4-lDv1YooKav9nTBfRPRJ0XBZqbJn4vTn2JYf61IgE/s1600/Augustine.jpeg" height="320" width="237" /></a>This isn't a good place to be. Augustine said; <b>"I had learned ... that because a thing is eloquently expressed
it should not be taken to be as necessarily true; nor because it is
uttered with stammering lips should it be supposed false. Nor, again, is
it necessarily true because rudely uttered, nor untrue because the
language is brilliant."</b><br />
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Augustine was one of the great leaders in Church history. He was a thinker. He wasn't happy just accepting what he was told without first considering it, nor was he happy accepting what he thought without challenging it. We need to be the same. Doubting isn't a bad thing. If harnessed properly, doubt leads to greater understanding. Thomas doubted what he heard about Jesus, but when confronted with the risen Christ, this doubt led to the declaration that Jesus was 'Lord and God'. Our doubt can lead to the same outcome.<br />
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It is important for us as Christians to consider what we believe and why we believe it. It's okay to change our mind towards things as we think, research and consider them. It enables us to truly think through our beliefs and therefore stand firmly in them when and if they are challenged. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The second is the importance of trusting...</i></span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqQw37ADoFidyx_ggFR7RspZitv3jy7U9KP-CtnxuZbscID2oQFauYgXIS22fULsOpRWGdOj8qf1-9DnQ9KSqV2cpXyuRJzi5AAbcOp8pOvzhsE1NTFkR5Y9HBn5zNrj0DWqZFWJAEGE/s1600/i_know_what_acute_s_best_stamp_by_steffieneko-d6hufg3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqQw37ADoFidyx_ggFR7RspZitv3jy7U9KP-CtnxuZbscID2oQFauYgXIS22fULsOpRWGdOj8qf1-9DnQ9KSqV2cpXyuRJzi5AAbcOp8pOvzhsE1NTFkR5Y9HBn5zNrj0DWqZFWJAEGE/s1600/i_know_what_acute_s_best_stamp_by_steffieneko-d6hufg3.png" height="209" width="320" /></a>The quote above is also interesting because it makes a bad point. The bad point is that for something to be true it has to be constantly changing and evolving. That what was thought 50, 100, even two thousand years ago is less likely to be true than something believed now.<i> </i>This is one of the great fallacies of our post-modern world view; That we are the pinnacle of knowledge and know better than everyone else.<br />
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The reality is quite different. Look around at our superior civilisation and you quickly see that our modern worldview on a whole number of moral and societal issues is causing a whole lot of damage. It is important not to think too highly of ourselves and to consider the thinking of the past. In some areas this isn't obvious. For example, modern medicine beats middle-aged medicine everytime, I would much rather have anti-biotics than be bled and dung poulticed. But, we can still learn something from middle-aged medicine - herbal remedies are becoming more popular and you will notice that hardly anyone back then died of obesity... our diets certainly could learn a lesson from the past.<br />
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Considering the past is especially true of Theology. We are quick to assume we modern Christians know better in many instances than our forbears, but 2000 years of church history can teach us a lot. Many of the ideas we may challenge have been challenged ongoingly for much of that time; free-will vs. pre-destination; paedo-baptism vs credo-baptism. Other ideas we challenge are only coming up now - challenged by our post-modern world view - and it is important that we don't throw away 2000 years of thought and tradition just because it doesn't sit neatly in our current world - which like every other world view is temporary and incomplete. It is important for us to view the thoughts and bibilical interpretations of church history as a great starting point for our thinking, and often we will find that they become the end point too. <br />
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So, yes there is a huge need for us as christians to sit and consider our faith. To reflect and question what we believe and why we do things. But there is also a need to trust God and Christian traditions, because we don't necessarily know best! I highly doubt that when I am 80 I will agree with everything I think now, but if I do, I hope it will have been after much thought.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDCQniFakc5Bjs-8E5qNdvFBP97g0Z2BzvI7lKHHoEfyYJmSd2GDMvsuZfRC_fk-9lXsmspU2nDwdUbbQ14z7Wlid7gqPMdm3wzG5-ewQovLV91ahtPs_T-ewXFb-GGNxLZHHXguyL3c/s1600/TF2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDCQniFakc5Bjs-8E5qNdvFBP97g0Z2BzvI7lKHHoEfyYJmSd2GDMvsuZfRC_fk-9lXsmspU2nDwdUbbQ14z7Wlid7gqPMdm3wzG5-ewQovLV91ahtPs_T-ewXFb-GGNxLZHHXguyL3c/s1600/TF2.jpeg" height="142" width="320" /></a></div>
If you're interested in having a think about what you believe and why, consider taking <a href="http://kingschurch.co.nz/Groups/1000094468/Kings_Church_Christchurch/Teaching/TF2/TF2.aspx">TF2</a> in the coming year. Registrations are coming up and it would be great to see a whole bunch of young people growing in their knowledge and faith together. Follow this <a href="https://www.blogger.com/">link</a> if you're keen to find out more. Josh Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02748392827176216514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-12740944690432049372014-09-16T15:54:00.000-07:002014-10-24T15:56:08.263-07:00Christians and Politics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zqrmLbEzGemciXfj6H1Y2Ad3k-RMKQtbZrrwxd3UKwiUFExOJ3ZKc1J-42lcfftA1SkU_TVzx0B_4wMzESrok8JRrxvif9OQneG9-iWcW0Y3V738G5ZIFElT6808RGeay5g7RWtBR9Y/s1600/ivoteNZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zqrmLbEzGemciXfj6H1Y2Ad3k-RMKQtbZrrwxd3UKwiUFExOJ3ZKc1J-42lcfftA1SkU_TVzx0B_4wMzESrok8JRrxvif9OQneG9-iWcW0Y3V738G5ZIFElT6808RGeay5g7RWtBR9Y/s1600/ivoteNZ.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
So, it's election time and I'm gearing up to vote. Those of you who know me, know that I pay attention to politics and that there are certain parties that I have more time for than others'. Election time gives me an opportunity to voice any dissatisfaction I have with the current governments by voting for someone else. It's not much, but it is my right as an individual within a democratic nation. A recent discussion on Facebook has made me consider my perspective on being a child of God, but also being a member of a democratic society. I'm using three questions to get my point across, feel free to ping any more at me.<br />
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<b>First question:<i> Should I vote?</i></b><br />
Simple answer, yes. Longer answer...<br />
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There is an argument that Christians, being sojourners in a fallen world, should not engage with politics. That God ordains those in power and that we just need to be content with the political lot that they get and leave the politics for the unrighteous. After all, Jesus wasn't political.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUB7yOuM97iqykvUQ2co7Y1ZLuGD53JbbFX9qI196OP65PSMJs_zFPo7f9K0MA4j9p_-rVCaX0eG0uP5MtRxCqcyqHGKT-yjwYvvLJigUnpfVw8wO9Y3mK2CfxfIdkD50UF6pO79aMvI/s1600/RenderUntoCaesar+NomadicPolitics.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUB7yOuM97iqykvUQ2co7Y1ZLuGD53JbbFX9qI196OP65PSMJs_zFPo7f9K0MA4j9p_-rVCaX0eG0uP5MtRxCqcyqHGKT-yjwYvvLJigUnpfVw8wO9Y3mK2CfxfIdkD50UF6pO79aMvI/s1600/RenderUntoCaesar+NomadicPolitics.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>Can I first point out, that Jesus was highly political. That his statement 'give to Caeser what is Caeser's and God what is God's' (Mark 12) wasn't a safe, non-offensive, non-political comment. It was highly political (check out <a href="http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/arguing-about-politics">Tim Keller</a> on this passage or <a href="http://ntwrightpage.com/Wright_God_Caesar.pdf">NT Wright on it</a>). The cleansing of the temple was a political statement of dissatisfaction with the way that the temple (the religious and political authority of the day) was being run. Healing people on the Sabbath was an example of Jesus undermining the religious and political authority of the time.<br />
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Secondly, as Christians when we see injustice, like Jesus, we feel anger and want to see it put right. We can't help but think, "this isn't how it is supposed to be!" When we look around in our country and see injustice, we can't just accept it, we need to do something about it! Part of that is in our own actions; the charities we give to; the people we spend time with; the effort and energy we put into things; the role of the church in helping people. But part of that is understanding governmental policies that have a negative impact on the marginalised and the needy, need to change. That often the injustice we see is part of systematic failure that needs to be looked at. One small way that we can have an impact on this is through voting. Making sure we vote for the people we think will do the best job for those who need it. Making sure that those in positions of influence are held accountable for their actions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgfNvwbkAnJIVmiyYFlVB1H354ICjW4tU1JAlFLbW7AqdlxJV_ww1yN0JGaZtgIwI6RvDf3xkZZhjzSKyuFxE6VLLDsQP2WzyWNbbzXliuQMqcVptBOL2Hrtkua5aeUDgMBB6dxr7Dc4/s1600/William-Wilberforce-C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgfNvwbkAnJIVmiyYFlVB1H354ICjW4tU1JAlFLbW7AqdlxJV_ww1yN0JGaZtgIwI6RvDf3xkZZhjzSKyuFxE6VLLDsQP2WzyWNbbzXliuQMqcVptBOL2Hrtkua5aeUDgMBB6dxr7Dc4/s1600/William-Wilberforce-C.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a>Thirdly, we need to understand that the 'enlightened' world view of a seperate church and state is not necessarily the right one. We've been brought up on it; indoctrinated in the religious and secular split, but is that really how it is supposed to be? We know, as Christians, that Kingdom Principles eschewed through the teachings of Jesus are beneficial not just to individuals, but to societies. We should yearn to see these principles applied to our communities, not just in the Kingdom that is to come, but now, within our government. We want the best for people. When the <a href="http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/webfm_send/471">Clapham Sect</a> - a group of evangelical Christians in England in the 18/19th Century - saw the injustice of the slave trade and the general depravity of society around them, did they just sit by contented in the knowledge that one day God would put all things to right? Were they satisfied in the knowledge that God ordained those in power. No! They acted. They lobbied. They politicked. They voted! And the result was a great many policies that positively impacted English, and world, society. Policies that we still see the benefit of today. They sought God's Kingdom on earth and acted politically to see it done. We need to do the same. The more christians in politics, the better. The more christians voting, the better. The more christians lobbying for kingdom principles to be applied to our society, the better. For everyone!<br />
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<b>Second Question:</b><i><b> Who should I vote for?</b></i><br />
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No political party is perfect. Unfortunately they, like us all fall short. That does not mean that they can do no good. My thinking around voting, is that I look for areas where my spirit yearns for something to change and vote for the party that will address that area. Unfortunately, that usually means overlooking policies that I am less happy about - the political spectrum is not nearly as neat as that. There is no poltical party that all christians should vote for. It's a matter of conscience and prayer; which party will have the more positive influence on society. Again, can you imagine how great it would be if more christians were involved in politics and were actively influencing policy?<br />
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<b>Third Question:</b><i><b> Who is the answer?</b></i><br />
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I like politics, but I am aware it's not the answer. Jesus is. If I really want to see things change for the better, both here and around the world, then I look to Jesus to do it. Yes, my vote matters, but ultimately I long for revival - when church and state get reunited as people get swept up in the good news of Jesus. When governmental decisions are not made on the basis of fiscal sense, but rather which decisions are the most Christ-like. I look forward to the day when I can vote for a party and agree with everything they put in place, rather than choosing between the lesser of two evils.<br />
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I'm not sure this will ever happen on this Earth. But I hold true to the knowledge that on Jesus' return, that is exactly what the world will look like. I just have to make sure that my actions - in the here and now - reflect my desire to see God's Kingdom come. And that includes my voting.Josh Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02748392827176216514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-80472682835028038572014-08-22T16:00:00.001-07:002014-10-14T16:03:45.103-07:00Sane Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://timgraff.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/leap-of-faith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://timgraff.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/leap-of-faith.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, I
have been reflecting on 'faith'. Is faith wishful thinking; do we have
faith in order to believe in the ridiculous? This issue has been raised on
various occasions, in which it has affected my Christian life down the track. This misinterpretation means for some people that: faith is
merely gap filler, which convinces one to believe in something without two
thoughts. This is in reference to how Richard Dawkin's defines faith as "<span style="background: white;">an evil[,] precisely because it requires no
justification and brooks no argument". This misunderstanding has been used to
credit the misunderstanding that is 'post-modern spirituality', of which touched on earlier (see <a href="http://thekingsyouth.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/god-spirit-and-spirituality-part-1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>). But is Dawkin's definition of faith true?
Short answer, definitely not. The long answer though will need us to explore</span> two of faith's dimensions of trust: in testimony; and in relationship. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trust In Testimony - Faith's
Relationship With Evidence </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Christians, their faith predominantly is underpinned by the Bible; this means we believe that the content of the Bible is true, that it is God's word.<span style="font-size: small;"> Just to clarify, the bible wasn't compiled to form a knock-down document to demonstrate proof for God. I am sure that an all knowing and all powerful being would have plenty of other methods if that was his intention. </span><span style="font-size: small;">God's intentions for the Bible is difficult to explain broadly, but in one aspect it is his tool for equipping his people, us. The Christian faith's relationship with evidence therefore, isn't one that is underpinned by body of physical artifacts that are sufficient proof for the </span>existence<span style="font-size: small;"> God. Rather, our belief trusts in the testimonies given by God's people, and furthermore, what God's word means to and for us. </span>Think about what proof means for a moment. The problem with proof is that it
is so ambiguous to know for sure when something is actually proven. Take this
definition of proof: as <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">evidence
or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement. If you think about
it hard enough it is actually a lot messier to prove something. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">One
aspect of faith is that it doesn't rely on proof, but evidence - spoken word,
testimonies - that testifies to the belief. This idea may send mixed messages, as it has done to me before. Since it can be easy to say faith is an excuse to not bother to weigh the reasonableness or </span><span style="color: #222222;">likeness</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"> of something. However this is not so, precisely because faith is only more credible when one does weighs the reasonableness of God's promise. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Faith's relationship with evidence and the problem with proof may be expanded through this analogy:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Bob has been saving up his money for several years in order to buy his first smart phone. Just after its release, Bob manages buys an I-phone 5. After a month of regularly using it, he inevitably learns about how many of its features work. </i></span></div>
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<a href="http://images.sodahead.com/polls/002182157/548498920_Evidence20Based20Practice_xlarge.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://images.sodahead.com/polls/002182157/548498920_Evidence20Based20Practice_xlarge.jpeg" height="239" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Thereafter, one of Bob's work mates, Sam, received a text message from Bob saying how he has the new I-phone 5. Sam was amazed that Bob got it so
early, and asked for proof that he had it. Sam explained to Bob he has to bring it with him to his house the next day as proof. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A series of events happen and Bob found that he cannot possibly retrieve
the I-phone. Measuring
with this Sam's expectation of proof , Bob
cannot possibly prove to Sam that he has or at least had an I-phone 5.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>When Bob explained to Sam his situation, Sam refused to believe Bob's claim of his possession. After dwelling on his curiosity, Sam challenged Bob to recall everything he knew about the I-phone 5: its
functions, additional and defining features, applications, graphics, processor, description of design, faults. He also had Bob ring his family and a few friends, of whom gave a testament to Bob having an I-phone to Sam. Sam was amazed at both the breadth of Bob's account and the additional testimonies. Thereafter, he decided to trust Bob that he had an I-Phone 5.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sam believed Bob precisely because of the evidence he gave them. Does the fact that Bob cannot provide proof for his testimony mean that it is merely wishful thinking? The evidence doesn't prove its
existence to Sam, however, it presents a body of information which demonstrates how Bob's claim is reliable and trustworthy. These accounts of Bob's I-phone demonstrate how believing in Bob's claim isn't wishful thinking. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One Dimension of the Christian Faith </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the same for the Christian faith. When challenges and choices arise or when one prophesies, one may weigh such things with what the bible says. Christians hesitate, we are challenged. This was demonstrated through Sam's hesitance to trust in Bob. Because what are the odds of Bob losing his I-Phone just before he was going to show Sam? Thereafter, Bob's understanding of the I-Phone demonstrated an aspect of truth which made his claim more trustworthy. </span><span style="font-size: small;">God provided his word for us to weigh the doubtful. Sam's willingness to seek the truth reflects a part of understanding God's word. That is to say, it is easier to explore and understand what the Bible says with a soft heart. </span>Some people take more time to weigh their belief in God, and that's all good. When a Christian says they have faith, they look back on Jesus' story. They - we - believe in a God who so loved us, that he sent his only son, Jesus, to save us (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=KJV" target="_blank">John 3: 16</a>). The Bible, shows a God who recognizes our struggles, who suffered for us, and who speaks new life; we believe the Bible shines the brightest and only hope in our broken world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when one asks 'is faith wishful thinking?' The answer should be precisely no! To have faith for a Christian in regards to trusting in testimony, is to be equipped with God's word. This means being steadfast in God's word, willingly seeking truth and challenge your doubts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This video is an amazing song that reminds what Christians believe in, so that we may be encouraged in times of hardship. Hit up the beatz, chur!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-51756559728299352262014-08-14T21:08:00.000-07:002014-08-14T21:08:19.722-07:00The Lord is My Shepherd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIavhWpWAdH1xuObKLyJFLfeqOnQQ82OC96ODDgj6x3wrMr-PwJFR2Mv2lVu2sdkQKA9UsYb0lgX4h7qk-QhDhl-zbukF5iCz_ecLCFDYotb5pCHWZC8wWkk9pWTaAX0i9kAaLFTdFDm0/s1600/Psalm+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIavhWpWAdH1xuObKLyJFLfeqOnQQ82OC96ODDgj6x3wrMr-PwJFR2Mv2lVu2sdkQKA9UsYb0lgX4h7qk-QhDhl-zbukF5iCz_ecLCFDYotb5pCHWZC8wWkk9pWTaAX0i9kAaLFTdFDm0/s1600/Psalm+23.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></div>
Karen recently finished a painting she was doing for a friend. It was a painting representing Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd. It's been in the corner of our lounge for the past two years, so it's strange to see it gone. The room seems empty without it. I've also noticed that I'm thinking Psalm 23 a whole lot less. You see, every time I looked at it, I thought the psalm. Which was a good thing, cause it's such a great psalm, full of some awesome truths about trusting in God and how He feels about me. <br />
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I have a similar thing at school. Opposite my chair, Karen painted me a picture of some hills and mountains and when I'm at the end of my tether (which happens regularly!), I look up to the hills <span class="st">from whence cometh my help. It doesn't magically solve my problems or even necessarily make things better, but it does remind me of my Father. It reminds me of my position as his son. And that's always a good thing. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vCEldKSSWcsNVDoiqvAOIubvjtUTsJb6XokXZfbjLJagl_BEqX7ZOxwDozFGG8mfI3bK1sOYUSQ_X7TUx_ukrpKtvqocYX8VEsHrLT08LM_lxvT5DWCLMU3VGOet8IJkrJL1tsPIXOU/s1600/PSalm+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vCEldKSSWcsNVDoiqvAOIubvjtUTsJb6XokXZfbjLJagl_BEqX7ZOxwDozFGG8mfI3bK1sOYUSQ_X7TUx_ukrpKtvqocYX8VEsHrLT08LM_lxvT5DWCLMU3VGOet8IJkrJL1tsPIXOU/s1600/PSalm+121.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="st">I also used to have a dot on my whiteboard and everytime I saw it I would say </span><br />
<span class="text Ps-86-11" id="en-ESV-15296">Psalm 86:1 </span><br />
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<i><span class="text Ps-86-11" id="en-ESV-15296">Teach me your way, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-86-11">that I may walk in your truth;</span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span><span class="text Ps-86-11"></span></span></i></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-86-11">I no longer do, but for a while, it brought God into my work, when otherwise I perhaps wouldn't have.</span></span></div>
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<span class="st">Other cultures and streams of Christianity repeat psalms or creeds. Some say prayers as they fiddle with beads. Sometimes these things have become empty and religious, but ultimately these things came about because, like me, people wanted to remind themselves of the truths of God on a regular basis. I think there is real wisdom in that.</span><br />
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<span class="st">It got me thinking of other ways I can place truths from the bible into my life in a regular, non-religious way. I once had the Nicene Creed on the back of the toilet door, but I never memorised anything more than the first few lines. </span><br />
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<span class="st">Perhaps there is a way you can work the bible in your life? </span><span class="st">I could probably do with something around Matthew 7:5 in my car somewhere...</span>Josh Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02748392827176216514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-79974540746595543502014-08-05T22:47:00.002-07:002014-08-07T02:34:49.445-07:00Get some perspective <!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Life can
be hard, (no duh Belle, state the obvious) but I often find myself forgetting
that struggles and hard times are all a part of the plan that God has laid out
for us. Often I’ll be really struggling with something and I often find myself
praying, 'God please stop this, it's too much.' But when I look back on that
situation later I have this moment of just 'GOD IS SOOOOOO GOOD’ because often
the hardest parts of my life have led to amazing things happening! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Recently I've been in a production, & an actor’s
job in rehearsal is to pretty much do what the director says. So when I'm
struggling with something I take a step back and I get some perspective. God is
like the director. He has planned the whole show out before the actor has even
stood on the stage, God planned out our entire lives before we were
even born. The director takes charge of the whole show; the lights, the sound,
the costumes, the casting, making sure there's a person in the dressing rooms
to keep your sanity intact. The director has control over these things so that
the show goes as smoothly as possible. Same as God puts people in place &
has everything sorted so you can fufil his plans to the best of your ability. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<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/AVvXsEgWBTdagpCAkshCFnRmrSIgav2cY1fe1rIpMP50bUnzr-bw4IXwD06MSYjY6Dn8BYwe3QHvuXCGGglD8qLkMKkbwU64GK6yU0xNj9hvEmda4Q6mfqaMqZFAHnJ2rrX0FyScZdBHVA4rMBjx/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBTdagpCAkshCFnRmrSIgav2cY1fe1rIpMP50bUnzr-bw4IXwD06MSYjY6Dn8BYwe3QHvuXCGGglD8qLkMKkbwU64GK6yU0xNj9hvEmda4Q6mfqaMqZFAHnJ2rrX0FyScZdBHVA4rMBjx/s1600/5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">when your really close up in a situation, it can be really hard to see whats really going on</span></span>...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The movie ‘Soul Surfer’ which is an adaption of Bethany Hamilton’s
story, Bethany was an up and coming professional surfer. At 13 her arm was
bitten off by a shark while she was surfing. Bethany, after conquering many
obstacles, is now once again a pro surfer living an amazing and inspiring life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the movie they made, her youth leader says:</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"> <span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>“When
you’re really close up in a situation it can be really hard to see what’s
really going on, stand back and get some perspective.”</b></span> </span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">And she’s right, if you’re
looking at something really close up, it’s not always easy to see what it is. So trust that God has a plan for even the hardest of moments in your life! :)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfnJk0Aqy2aThC4grhayx3yGZ7QDnrICp7OYhXqn32_kzD3jzG1CJI2hu-FxIUA8Sx2X1-S-xKAmFsnMiXD3PNacHKrTkp3EGX4n0FffutEfS2bkfAB1VtZwgkITwRzue7viS5yvcBlau/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfnJk0Aqy2aThC4grhayx3yGZ7QDnrICp7OYhXqn32_kzD3jzG1CJI2hu-FxIUA8Sx2X1-S-xKAmFsnMiXD3PNacHKrTkp3EGX4n0FffutEfS2bkfAB1VtZwgkITwRzue7viS5yvcBlau/s1600/index.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">... So stand back and get some perspective </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-NIV-19647"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future"</span></span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="passage-display-bcv">Romans 8:28</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Rom-8-28" id="en-NIV-28145"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose</span></span></span></b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14227667492724392819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-21039189751243654052014-07-19T19:14:00.000-07:002014-07-19T19:14:50.458-07:00Revisiting Spirituality (Part 2): Don't YOLO it; YOLTBTSTYLF it!<div style="border: 0px currentColor; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Recap: Spirituality, Not Religiosity </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17.15pt;">As a brief recap, spirituality is a very misunderstood term, one misunderstood as ridiculous; either as a tool to become holy, or as an 'airy-fairy' false belief system people resort to (see part 1 <a href="http://thekingsyouth.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/god-spirit-and-spirituality-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a>). Christianity is also amongst the crossfire: as</span><span style="line-height: 17.15pt;"> some perceive Christianity as religiosity; something that has strict requirements to follow in order to become 'holy'. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.15pt;"> </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 17.15pt;">Recently I have been reflecting on YOLO (you only live once). I love this term, you know, it kinda feels like the 'push' or 'kick starter' before a bungee jump. I often use it if I'm not sure about doing something, and 95% of the time it gets me to do a particular thing without looking at its consequences. But the idea behind YOLO can distort how I live with God in a world that is 'fun'. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: right;">“Let us eat and drink,” you say </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">“for tomorrow we die!” - Isaiah 22: 13(NIV)#YOLO</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promises</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.15pt;">One thing about Christianity is that we do not indeed to strive for God's promise. You may have heard this time to time, and I indeed forget it time to time, but one of the many major things that differs Christianity from other faiths like </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.86px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Islam, i</span>s their promises. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">(5)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>made</b> us alive with Christ... (6)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">And God <b>raised</b> us up with Christ</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29236K" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29236K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> and seated us with him</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29236L" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29236L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> in the heavenly realms</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29236M" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29236M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> in Christ Jesus... </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">(8)For it is by grace</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29238P" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29238P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> you have been <b>saved</b>... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">- <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202&version=NIV" target="_blank">Ephesians 2: 5, 6, 8</a> (NIV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">We are made with, raised with and saved through Christ - all are in past tense! For many religions it is '<i>follow, strive, invest and then, become holy'</i>, but for Christianity we who accept Jesus as Lord are 'holy', therefore it is the other way round; <i>we want to 'follow, strive and invest'</i>. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">So for Christianity, we have are inheritence now, and later. The now being our assurance!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">The Spirit is our assurance (see image; Eph 1: 13-14), God gave us not something, but someone to look after us until we are in heaven. In part 1 (see </span><a href="http://thekingsyouth.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/god-spirit-and-spirituality-part-1.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.86px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">), I referred to the fruits of the Spirit: essentially, the desires of the Spirit which overwrite our darker desires; nurturing our spirituality. But also, God gave us his Spirit to dwell in us to remind us of his promise, eternal life - salvation. Recently I have been pondering how this has huge significance on our day-to-day lives.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Eternal Perspective</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">You know, it is weird, when the bible refers to Christians as 'saints' and 'righteous'. Because in the world we live in it is so easy to compare ourselves with others and feel insecure. I don't know about you but I don't look in the mirror and go 'look at this beautiful saint!' You know, righteousness is alot more down to earth than you may think. Essentially, it describes a person who is right with God (through accepting Jesus Christ as lord); living in and by his promise. But this idea of righteousness is so distorted, moreover, it is - for everyone; non-Christians, Christians, old age society and post-modern society - often limited to a 'great' man like Moses or an old dude who has dedicated his whole life to a religion in a run down chapel. But it</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> isn't an earned thing, it doesn't put people on a higher pedestal in a 'hierarchy</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">' in order to get closer to God (see </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202&version=NIV" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;" target="_blank">Eph 2: 9</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">). It is this misunderstanding that managed to translate itself into how I perceive the life I live and its many choices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://whisperanthemshout.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/romans-818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://whisperanthemshout.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/romans-818.jpg" width="320" /></a>I read Romans 8 recently, and never have I been so challenged! It describes the promise we have not just later, but now! Even more so, it provokes my spirit with joy to reach out to the world. Cause if I have an eternal life after this one then YOLTBTSTYLF! You Only Live Twice But The Second Time Is For Life, so why not?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine you are in heaven 3000 years from now, you would probably be like 'remember that time 3000 years ago when I was scared to talk to that guy about this eternal life?' Oh yeah, imagine I also said this in a joyous tone of voice - as Jesus' promise isn't a conviction to reach out to people, but a fire, a reason, something that gets us pumped to do it! Don't feel compelled to force yourself to talk to strangers, but simply, if someone asks about your faith or asks what you are up to in the weekend - just YOLTBTSTYLF it - tell them you went to Church, tell them about your testimony, Jesus says to plant seeds not to tear roots (Matt 13: 29). They may laugh or persecute you, but in a millennia or so you'll be like #YOLTBTSTYLF that! </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Revisiting Spirituality: Nurturing an Eternal Perspective</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">When we spend time with the Spirit, our fruits develop in which it reflects a healthy spirituality. Moreover, when our fruits develop, when we feel secure in our relationship with the Spirit - no matter if we read our bible everyday or not, sinned that day or not - it develops an eternal perspective. I write this as an encouragement! Because isn't it awesome that God didn't just give us a piece of paper saying we are saved? That instead, he actually gave us a living person to assure us of his promise, a person to develop a relationship with and count on! So don't YOLO it - I might aswell do this cause I'll die; YOLTBTSTYLF it!</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-78400410876425611572014-07-15T18:44:00.002-07:002014-07-15T18:44:48.327-07:00Why, Oh Why?<br />
So I'm not going to lie things haven't exactly been that easy recently. And I'm not playing the 'Stop feel sorry for me card,' actually that's the very last thing I want to do, I'm just being honest and hopefully can get through to <b>you, yes you </b>reading this what God's been teaching me recently.<br />
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Bear with me here....<br />
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So last week was probably the most stressful and emotionally draining week I've had. Everything kinda just seemed to hit and though many things came along that where horrible and distressing there was also a few great highs; so really I can't complain. But I can also tell you last week was one of those moments where you stop and really question why God is putting you through this all at once? and causing you pain? Isn't he meant to be a God that cares? and simply we ask why?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why?</span></b><br />
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Why?<br />
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I know I did. And now thinking about it, I do this quite often... I question or rather try and figure out God's reason for things. And time after time, I come out the other end - or more God carries<br />
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me out, walks me out holding my hand, whispering... "See I had everything aced and planned Beth, I would never put you through anything that you couldn't come out the other end saying, God had it all sorted."<br />
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And it's funny because the amount of times I've come out the other end of a wild storm in my life and I reflect, smile and thank God; because that storm has developed me, brought me closer to him and made me stronger. Yet when I come to another storm later on, I forget this. When I'm in the middle of the storm, out on the waters, where the waves are high and the wind strong I seem to lose sight of the previous outcomes of storms and get lost in the chaos. <span style="background-color: white;">I lose sight of God. I feel myself sinking. </span><span style="background-color: white;">So I guess last week when I went to sit down on the toilet... and picked up the devotional book lying there... did I stop and put my focus on God</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span> I stopped and forgot about the storm. And what I read... refreshed me, cleansed me and gave me clear vision goggles to see clearer.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">July the 9th- Streams in the Desert ( 366 daily devotional readings)</span></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I have chosen thee in thee furnace of affliction (Isiah 48:10 JKV)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Doesn't God's work come to us like a soft rain shower, dispelling the fury of the flames? Isn't it like fireproof armour, against which the heat is powerless? Then let afflictions come, for God has chosen you. Poverty, you may walk through my door, but God is already in my house, and He has chosen me. Sickness, you may intrude into my life, but I have a cure standing ready-God has chosen me. Whatever occurs in the valley of tears, I know He has chosen me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Christian, do not be afraid, for Jesus is with you. Through all your fiery trials, His presence is both your comfort and safety. He will never forsake those He has chosen for His own. 'Do not be afraid, for I am with with you' (Gen.16:24) is His unfailing word of promise to His chosen ones who are experiencing "The furnace of affliction" -Charles H Spurgeon</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(and at the end was a quote)</i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05-p_zNuebH0ZgWPWp-Puh1uXzvcc8rNEEz4H_HX-cgw0lCljOwhYnIKcTaWQN-QDTspdym72zz97hiIL_zO5ayYWetGqTWe8nm-_KIa6Yfqn2-AYuvnwklo2kuhmJziRzLrzDyrDbEo/s1600/694BB-pearl-diver.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05-p_zNuebH0ZgWPWp-Puh1uXzvcc8rNEEz4H_HX-cgw0lCljOwhYnIKcTaWQN-QDTspdym72zz97hiIL_zO5ayYWetGqTWe8nm-_KIa6Yfqn2-AYuvnwklo2kuhmJziRzLrzDyrDbEo/s1600/694BB-pearl-diver.png" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The burden of suffering seems to be a tombstone hung around our necks. Yet in reality it is simply the weight necessary to hold the diver down while he is searching for pearls.-Julius Richter</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
And the word 'simply' caught my attention.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiqHGWe6fgbEiQXX_9hJ5ibNk_N5deAv78ICzVBCRuBAO50qmD827NZBbxY2xjA1-CJp0EMPx7GjcnK6_c7FHZ1TTbzUKZKf3-Smu_dtRwBf_VUwu0iDsBer41SwwRc_NTxJJ-mbFwuM/s1600/unfocused-for-blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiqHGWe6fgbEiQXX_9hJ5ibNk_N5deAv78ICzVBCRuBAO50qmD827NZBbxY2xjA1-CJp0EMPx7GjcnK6_c7FHZ1TTbzUKZKf3-Smu_dtRwBf_VUwu0iDsBer41SwwRc_NTxJJ-mbFwuM/s1600/unfocused-for-blog2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>It made everything going on become less, well, huge? That God was simply just putting me, us through some stuff. It's natural. It's life. After all our walk with God was never promised to be easy. And I held on to the fact that maybe I was looking at the storm through the wrong glasses... I was focusing on the negatives and everything that was going wrong... making a list. Whilst I should pick up the glasses that help me view the situation not as a heavy weight sinking me to the bottom of the ocean but rather as something helping me to find the pearls. The pearls that God would produce at the end of the tunnel.<br />
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It's often like when we have a power cut, how much more do we appreciate the light after being in the dark?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eRrOm2E96k2v_GO3YaQdUKa_SUD4X3EwDCs-wIfazeO-XZkTV_1tIYT0pV5KZlZLSxH8i9pVG6hwy0hTZof__EAFE1WarWtfMuo0jExGIOCRHmnM1tYhsJFCyaUCW4smebVCoQXvR6U/s1600/Dive+Couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eRrOm2E96k2v_GO3YaQdUKa_SUD4X3EwDCs-wIfazeO-XZkTV_1tIYT0pV5KZlZLSxH8i9pVG6hwy0hTZof__EAFE1WarWtfMuo0jExGIOCRHmnM1tYhsJFCyaUCW4smebVCoQXvR6U/s1600/Dive+Couple.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>And once I changed my glasses, I realized how God is a great provider, comforter and his timing is perfect and though the waves may be rough, he will always be my strong ship that I can cling onto, whether I am riding smoothly on the deck of the vessel or being thrown into the ocean to anchor deep into the waves to find the treasure that God has given us. And the great thing is He'll always pull us back up (:<br />
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- Though the waves are strong, my God is stronger. Though the water deep, my God is deeper, waiting for me. Though my burdens heavy... the pearls are plenty.<br />
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God is good. All of the time God is good. Please, never forget it, even when you find yourself in the storm.<br />
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Check out this great song below (:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09666812931214545627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-82588201563570103652014-07-13T19:40:00.000-07:002014-07-17T16:05:12.104-07:00Things to look at - July 14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">The internet is a great place to waste time, especially during the holidays. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes... not so good. It's also a great place to find things that build our faith. So once a month, we plan on sharing a few things we've found around the place that we have enjoyed watching/reading/viewing/listening to that you might enjoy too... </span><br />
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<b>Blogs:</b><br />
There are plenty of great christian blogs/bloggers out there. Here are a few that have grabbed me recently:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopaArwKC84RVOAKi7oEeZeFbABpVCVphpBQf-IJBMQS8ERfdVGMUljBLUL2tOzQJwkP-5GAtt5dygJrenC9_oJjKIKsz5G2KJ9nn-igAgu85NgjktPAFkUwBnYsAwqK62edMl6D4uUcA/s1600/Think+theology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopaArwKC84RVOAKi7oEeZeFbABpVCVphpBQf-IJBMQS8ERfdVGMUljBLUL2tOzQJwkP-5GAtt5dygJrenC9_oJjKIKsz5G2KJ9nn-igAgu85NgjktPAFkUwBnYsAwqK62edMl6D4uUcA/s1600/Think+theology.jpg" height="164" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/what_did_i_miss">http://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/what_did_i_miss </a><br />
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<a href="http://theresurgence.com/2014/06/26/what-to-do-when-you-dont-like-the-bible">theresurgence.com/2014/06/26/what-to-do-when-you-dont-like-the-bible</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/is-my-suffering-meaningless">http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/is-my-suffering-meaningless</a><br />
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<b>Music:</b><br />
It's not for everyone, but I'm loving Hillsong United's "The White Album." It's a remix of some of their well known songs.<br />
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Youtube link:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAt7EnzjoDY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAt7EnzjoDY</a><br />
Spotify:<br />
<a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/2nKLgpaNIvgrmxT1GCLMb1">https://play.spotify.com/album/2nKLgpaNIvgrmxT1GCLMb1</a><br />
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Also, loving this song by Dustin Kensrue from Mars Hill.<br />
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<b>Preaches:</b><br />
More from Mars Hill...<br />
<b> </b><br />
<a href="http://marshill.com/media/acts-chapters-6-11-empowered-for-jesus-mission/acts-16-9-1-9">http://marshill.com/media/acts-chapters-6-11-empowered-for-jesus-mission/acts-16-9-1-9</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
I struggled to stream it... so downloaded instead or there is just the audio you can listen to. This guy is a great preacher, a little controversial sometimes, but good nonetheless.<br />
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<b>Videos</b>:<br />
That's My King: <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFIH8H3zUTJaw7be_9m74q6j1iKkX22Sq782kormBC3tUl-QfKRMu6rDADBhPd7PEzymAZSHMPLGparR93r55xyV-8cz7kOEYaQQ4zcKa2VFLJO7RJnuSvmZJIpUsz_4y_Oh0cBLhH_s/s1600/joshua+project.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFIH8H3zUTJaw7be_9m74q6j1iKkX22Sq782kormBC3tUl-QfKRMu6rDADBhPd7PEzymAZSHMPLGparR93r55xyV-8cz7kOEYaQQ4zcKa2VFLJO7RJnuSvmZJIpUsz_4y_Oh0cBLhH_s/s1600/joshua+project.png" height="200" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Joshua Project</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Gospel in Four Minutes:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K48-Li7lIfA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K48-Li7lIfA</a><br />
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<b>Websites:</b><br />
Put together by the Joshua Project, unreached of the day provides information and prayer requests on a people groups around the world who have no or little knowledge of the gospel.<b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="http://unreachedoftheday.org/">http://unreachedoftheday.org/</a><br />
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<b>Tmblr:</b><br />
I know nothing of this tumblr phenomenon, but apparently it's popular with the kids...<br />
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<a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/hillsong">http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/hillsong </a><br />
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<b>Books:</b> <br />
For those of you who enjoy books...<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/There-God-Notorious-Atheist-Changed-ebook/dp/B000W9169S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405372247&sr=8-1&keywords=there+is+a+god"><br /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf422YDNQbILjzWUkDyyBW1LMGJj-r0-uypdRFdwcRF3uIareuKdB_sivoQ6w4i-OwUFu7Al5EXE-_BhyF7OuFF3t_q8RSrYCkq20eDvThb0eB8WjwbKZskupBXDlurKHjxco4azOgjtg/s1600/if+god+then+what.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf422YDNQbILjzWUkDyyBW1LMGJj-r0-uypdRFdwcRF3uIareuKdB_sivoQ6w4i-OwUFu7Al5EXE-_BhyF7OuFF3t_q8RSrYCkq20eDvThb0eB8WjwbKZskupBXDlurKHjxco4azOgjtg/s1600/if+god+then+what.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/There-God-Notorious-Atheist-Changed-ebook/dp/B000W9169S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405372247&sr=8-1&keywords=there+is+a+god">There is a God </a>by Anthony Flew is a great book about how a staunch atheist changed his mind about a designer. <br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/God-Then-What-Andrew-Wilson-ebook/dp/B00BTFYCCM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405372359&sr=8-1&keywords=andrew+wilson">If God, Then What?</a> By Andrew Wilson. This guy blogs at thinktheology (see link above in blogs) and is pretty cool. The book provides concise arguments to questions you and your friends might have.<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Let me know any other music/videos/blogs you find and I'll add them to the next one. (Am I the only one who just noticed the fox in the firefox logo...)</span><br />
<br />Josh Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02748392827176216514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-44914482222057036502014-07-10T23:17:00.000-07:002014-07-15T13:56:55.383-07:00Creation <a href="https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/s960x960/10353528_10104806162593570_6338136092437079794_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/s960x960/10353528_10104806162593570_6338136092437079794_o.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -32px;">"In the beginning</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -32px;"> God created</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -32px;"> the heavens</span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -32px;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> and the earth." Genesis 1:1</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">A passage I'm sure everyone knows, it is one of the most well known passages of the whole bible. But in that short sentence its describing something we cant even begin to imagine. All of creation every star in the sky, every distant galaxy, every blade of grass, every tree, all the gems deep in the earth - everything - God made it all. </span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 24px;">I was recently lucky enough to spend the weekend away in Arthur's pass with TKY. Its roughly a 2 hour drive outside of Christchurch and is a beautiful place. As much as I love the city, with it's mixed bag of people and the different building styles and all, sometimes it's really nice to get out of the city and see more of God's creation. We spent one afternoon walking up to Devils Punchbowl, a stunning waterfall. Surrounded by mountains looking at the waterfall, my mind was again hit with the fact that God made it. Everything I was seeing was created by the same God that loves and knows me</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 24px;">So, if you get the chance sometime in the next week, leave the warmth of the house and venture out to find some of God's creation in nature. It really is breathtaking.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDNkwQAqcYIlUtyPQ8vVsCECRyLLD5fU28vLMvFiZ7_nsadEBDq_dMXCLbll0HwwGknfXMJ8sy6Zkumkgt1eaWXFdISCHFI3v3J60fUABbPV3z1fVLtGAZN0Nvpqgk6ubfc27hvc7GsB3/s1600/blog+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDNkwQAqcYIlUtyPQ8vVsCECRyLLD5fU28vLMvFiZ7_nsadEBDq_dMXCLbll0HwwGknfXMJ8sy6Zkumkgt1eaWXFdISCHFI3v3J60fUABbPV3z1fVLtGAZN0Nvpqgk6ubfc27hvc7GsB3/s1600/blog+20.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588393363115161119.post-3225914749538738652014-06-30T00:58:00.000-07:002014-07-15T13:56:23.235-07:00The Harvest is Plentiful<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b4ZlvOr7lHkOnnkmSufSUcDc_jWVG9io95ig1ut7WMpf_1d1SrUCwgXNBVd_fc4KOclgFb5SSrjMNzQlvC9SmkzaAB_tKBWSkszkBHGVSbM53zh_61VZ-UCdKQYQV-3uhQr-4nySZlE/s1600/RM-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b4ZlvOr7lHkOnnkmSufSUcDc_jWVG9io95ig1ut7WMpf_1d1SrUCwgXNBVd_fc4KOclgFb5SSrjMNzQlvC9SmkzaAB_tKBWSkszkBHGVSbM53zh_61VZ-UCdKQYQV-3uhQr-4nySZlE/s1600/RM-logo.png" height="135" width="200" /></a>I've been listening to a few things from the Relational Mission Sphere (<a href="http://www.relationalmission.com/">http://www.relationalmission.com</a>/) recently. The last thing I listened to was a guy from Tom Shaw from Karen's old church in Canterbury speaking on 'Reaching and Keeping 20s.' He said a few things that grabbed hold of me and I thought I would share them...<br />
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He spoke from the passage about Jesus sending out his disciples from Luke 10.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Luke-10-1">Luke 10: "The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.</span> <span class="text Luke-10-2" id="en-NLT-25334"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>These were his instructions to them: <span class="woj">“The
harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is
in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.</span></span> <span class="text Luke-10-3" id="en-NLT-25335"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup><span class="woj">Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.</span></span> <span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup><span class="woj">Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road."</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He made three points that made an impact, they were:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1) We're Heralds not Heroes. </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc74zXcCFNSy63qCi7_JzIZSskpc1MZI3XDVWhM25VAVpv9ea4xFEjVDXUE7JYbsQrfiVtVSmUnQdGpMdouZvnGwvCi7zZMAIPr5TMLopcgYLKysVdQdSR2gRKtYKzDaooi0ZD062NCk/s1600/276625-10-cute-lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc74zXcCFNSy63qCi7_JzIZSskpc1MZI3XDVWhM25VAVpv9ea4xFEjVDXUE7JYbsQrfiVtVSmUnQdGpMdouZvnGwvCi7zZMAIPr5TMLopcgYLKysVdQdSR2gRKtYKzDaooi0ZD062NCk/s1600/276625-10-cute-lamb.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus sent the 72 out as lambs. Not courageous lions or roaring tigers, but timid, fearful lambs. Feeling fear when sharing about Jesus is natural and expected, but the great thing is that we are just heralds. Our job as disciples is to just 'go ahead' of our king and bring people into contact with Jesus. We're not there to break open hearts, or convince minds or even to 'convert' people. That's the Holy Spirit's job. We don't need to have all the answers, our job is to just be real. To be real about our faith; be real about how awesome are father is; and to be real about how loving our saviour is. We are just heralds that go before the King announcing that he's coming. We're heralds, not heroes and once we realise that, fear begins to shrink away. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2) We need to be motivated by joy, not guilt.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus starts off with the statement "<i>The harvest is great, but the workers are few</i>." That could be quite a guilt-laden statement. I'll be a harvester, but only because I have to... But Jesus adds something more "<i>So pray to the Lord, who is in charge of the harvest</i>." By adding that extra statement, 'mission' is not about guilt, but about being sent by the Father. So mission, should be a joyful response to knowing the Father, rather than a guilt-ridden response to the churches call. In fact, when christians are on mission and sharing about Jesus, it is when we are at our most joyful. So, our evangelism should be a response to our awesome father. Not feeling too evangelistic? Perhaps we need to spend some more time dwelling on who we are in Jesus, in God. Perhaps we need to spend some more time being sons and daughters.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3) We need to make friends with the feeling of vulnerability.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can't trust God, if we're too busy trusting ourselves. When Jesus sent out the 72, he sent them out without a bag, money or extra shoes. Why? Because they needed to learn to be reliant on God and not themselves. Jesus regularly mentions how he didn't act without the Father, if that's true of Jesus, how much more so for us! We need to get used to feeling vulnerable and having to trust and hear from God in different situations. We need to get used to hearing God's prompting in different situations, rather than having a comeback already prepared. We need to make friends with vulnerability, because in our weakness, God is made strong.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 72 went out apprehensive like lambs, with no money or clothes or anything. Yet they came back 'full of joy'. Why? Because they got to listen to the Father and herald the king. When we do God's Mission with Jesus, he can turn our fear into courage, our guilt into joy and our self-reliance into dependence on him. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And just remember, the harvest is plentiful.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-10-4" id="en-NLT-25336"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(If you want to listen check out the link. <a href="http://www.relationalmission.com/resources/item/reaching-and-keeping-twenties-and-students-part-1">http://www.relationalmission.com/resources/item/reaching-and-keeping-twenties-and-students-part-1</a> It's a wee bit slow to get started, but if you skip through to about 24 mins.)</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>Josh Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02748392827176216514noreply@blogger.com0