This is a short little film that I think you will like. Enjoy!
- submitted by Clay
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Hope & Despair - From Adoption Revolution [post 44]
From http://louxfamilyblog.com:
“Hope and despair are not opposites. They are cut from the very same cloth, made from the very same material, shaped from the very same circumstances. Most of all, every life finds itself forced to choose one from the other, one day at a time, one circumstance after another. The only difference between the two is that despair shapes an attitude of mind; hope creates a quality of soul. Despair colors the way we look at things, makes us suspicious of the future, makes us negative about the present. Hope, on the other hand, takes life on its own terms, knows that whatever happens God lives in it, and expects that, whatever its twists and turns, it will ultimately yield its good to those who live it well. When tragedy strikes, when trouble comes, when life disappoints us, we stand at the crossroads beween hope and despair, torn and hurting. Despair cements us in the present; hope sends us dancing around dark corners trusting in a tomorrow we cannot see. Despair says that there is no place to go but here. Hope says that God is waiting for us someplace else. Begin again.”
The Loux Family Blog
Living out an "Adoption Revolution" fueled by night and day prayer
Thanks to Laura Catoe for the above quote.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Grouting completed! [post 42]
The fine work of Tim and Phillip Nesbitt, tile contractors.
- Jim Bentley
Greater Reality [post 41]
It seems to me that God is awakening people all over the world to the greater reality of the spirit realm. This realm is all around us. It is outside of the laws of time and space - yet somehow it is intermingled with our existence here on planet earth. Jesus spent a lot of time working with his disciples, trying to point their vision higher than their natural circumstances and surroundings. While speaking with Nicodemus about the subject of being 'born again' he asked him this question:
"I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" John 3:12
I am convinced that all of our circumstances are perfectly designed by God to teach us about this greater realm of the Spirit. Take for example the instance where the disciples were in the boat with Jesus when suddenly a great storm came upon them. The disciples were scared for their life while Jesus was enjoying his daily siesta. When they wake him - he rebukes them and then he speaks to the storm and tells it to be still. "Where is your faith?", He asks them.
Here is my point. We are all seen in a much different way in the Spirit than we realize. We have an identity in heaven with a lot of authority that has been given to us. The problem is, all of our lives we have been taught a much different reality in the natural realm. We think we are subject to all of the laws and politics of the natural realm. But Jesus consistently defied them at every given opportunity - even beating death and walking on water and through walls. I believe that he was trying to point us to the greater reality of the spirit realm. When we come into our true identity as not only children of God but as joint-heirs with Jesus we realize that we have the same authority that Jesus had. Also, we realize that no matter what our circumstances look like - that we are never alone and God is always with us and for us. (Not to mention all of the angels that surround us!) All things truly are possible with God and things that once appeared impossible suddenly become fun challenges that we go after with glee.
Our tribulations are really opportunities to learn to trust God and rest in His perfect love. Let your circumstances become opportunities to fix your eyes on heaven. You will never be the same!
"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." James 1:2
"I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" John 3:12
I am convinced that all of our circumstances are perfectly designed by God to teach us about this greater realm of the Spirit. Take for example the instance where the disciples were in the boat with Jesus when suddenly a great storm came upon them. The disciples were scared for their life while Jesus was enjoying his daily siesta. When they wake him - he rebukes them and then he speaks to the storm and tells it to be still. "Where is your faith?", He asks them.
Here is my point. We are all seen in a much different way in the Spirit than we realize. We have an identity in heaven with a lot of authority that has been given to us. The problem is, all of our lives we have been taught a much different reality in the natural realm. We think we are subject to all of the laws and politics of the natural realm. But Jesus consistently defied them at every given opportunity - even beating death and walking on water and through walls. I believe that he was trying to point us to the greater reality of the spirit realm. When we come into our true identity as not only children of God but as joint-heirs with Jesus we realize that we have the same authority that Jesus had. Also, we realize that no matter what our circumstances look like - that we are never alone and God is always with us and for us. (Not to mention all of the angels that surround us!) All things truly are possible with God and things that once appeared impossible suddenly become fun challenges that we go after with glee.
Our tribulations are really opportunities to learn to trust God and rest in His perfect love. Let your circumstances become opportunities to fix your eyes on heaven. You will never be the same!
"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." James 1:2
- A. J. Nichols
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
More from Donald Miller, [post 40]
My friend who owns the coffee shops told us... "Nobody that he knows who is successful gambles; rather they work hard, they accept the facts of reality, they enjoy life as it is." "But the facts of reality stink," I told him. "Reality is like a fine wine," he told me. "It will not appeal to children." - Donald Miller - from "Searching... for God Knows What"
- Bruce Cornutt
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Blue Like Jazz [post 39]
Blue Like Jazz Quote:
“For me, the beginning of sharing my faith with people began by throwing out Christianity and embracing Christian spirituality, a nonpolitical mysterious system that can be experienced but not explained. Christianity, unlike Christian spirituality, was not a term that excited me. And I could not in good conscious tell a friend about a faith that didn’t excite me. I couldn’t share something I wasn’t experiencing. And I wasn’t experiencing Christianity. It didn’t do anything for me at all. It felt like math, like a system of rights and wrongs and political beliefs, but it wasn’t mysterious; it wasn’t God reaching of heaven to do wonderful things in my life. And if I would have shared Christianity with somebody, it would have felt mostly like I was trying to get somebody to agree with me rather than meet God. I could no longer share anything about Christianity, but I loved talking about Jesus and the spirituality that goes along with a relationship with Him.” – Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz, 2003
I started reading Blue Like Jazz back in 2007. I laid it down somewhere with a pencil still inside. Bruce told me the other day that he was reading it and that the middle to the end of the book was really good. I started back and he was so right. It was good, for me, to be reading right now. Don reminds me of trying to explain Christianity the Religion and Christianity the Relationship. I heard an Italian writer the other day explain that the word Religion means to have a bond to something. I have a bond with our heavenly Father, Jesus the Son of God/Son of Man, and the Holy Spirit. It feels real, is real. Any bond I have with Christianity comes about because of my bond (relationship) with the Trinity (Father, Son and Spirit).
I hate that Good Friday was necessary to get a Resurrection Sunday. But since we can't have one without the other we say, "Bless your holy Name and what a profound expression of LOVE from our one and only LORD. PRAISE BE TO GOD."
“For me, the beginning of sharing my faith with people began by throwing out Christianity and embracing Christian spirituality, a nonpolitical mysterious system that can be experienced but not explained. Christianity, unlike Christian spirituality, was not a term that excited me. And I could not in good conscious tell a friend about a faith that didn’t excite me. I couldn’t share something I wasn’t experiencing. And I wasn’t experiencing Christianity. It didn’t do anything for me at all. It felt like math, like a system of rights and wrongs and political beliefs, but it wasn’t mysterious; it wasn’t God reaching of heaven to do wonderful things in my life. And if I would have shared Christianity with somebody, it would have felt mostly like I was trying to get somebody to agree with me rather than meet God. I could no longer share anything about Christianity, but I loved talking about Jesus and the spirituality that goes along with a relationship with Him.” – Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz, 2003
I started reading Blue Like Jazz back in 2007. I laid it down somewhere with a pencil still inside. Bruce told me the other day that he was reading it and that the middle to the end of the book was really good. I started back and he was so right. It was good, for me, to be reading right now. Don reminds me of trying to explain Christianity the Religion and Christianity the Relationship. I heard an Italian writer the other day explain that the word Religion means to have a bond to something. I have a bond with our heavenly Father, Jesus the Son of God/Son of Man, and the Holy Spirit. It feels real, is real. Any bond I have with Christianity comes about because of my bond (relationship) with the Trinity (Father, Son and Spirit).
I hate that Good Friday was necessary to get a Resurrection Sunday. But since we can't have one without the other we say, "Bless your holy Name and what a profound expression of LOVE from our one and only LORD. PRAISE BE TO GOD."
- Jim Bentley
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