I have made it one of my goals this year to read the Bible in the course of the entire year, through daily reading plans from Biblegateway to keep me on track. I have to admit though that I am not as diligent as I should be and find myself on many days/weeks playing catch up. I have another source that I subscribe too that gives me a verse for the day with a discussion. I read this when I feel that I am "too busy" (distracted by the urgent) to do the Bible Gateway. In reality it only takes about 15 minutes to read the daily readings, but I find myself, studying, doing word searches and can spend more than on hour if I am trying to absorb and learn from the daily reading. Therefore catch up days are hard for me. But I do it for two reasons...
1.I believe that the Bible is the source of truth and life. It is bread for my soul. Without it I am spiritually starving and lost. I am not as effective in my daily life in living out the purposes God has for me.
2. There are so many seductive world views that can draw me away from that truth. Ideas meant to empower me, lead to my own personal growth and self actualization. Spiritual junk food so to speak, filling, unhealthy, appealing and can take me away from that which sustains me, guides me keeps me safe, humble and effective in helping others.
So, I try to stay close for it contains treasures that when stored up within me pour forth in times of need, much like the tools that Aslan gave in the form of gifts to Lucy, Peter and Susan in the Chronicles of Narnia. The tools to protect, to call for help, and to heal. They must be stored up in order to be called out at the right time. They are also tools that provide direction and discernment for right and wrong. The study of God's word is something that never ends throughout the course of ones life. There are layers upon layers of meaning. And the richness of His word has no end. I believe that there are also revelations within the Word meant for periods of time, truths that are always there..but unlocked when the time is right. I have found that to be true as I have been reading the Bible since I was a child. I will come upon things and find new meaning thinking..I have read this one hundred times and never saw this! I think there are also revelations meant for generations. Things we can see perhaps now that were not found before. God's word is living, perhaps penned centuries ago...but reflecting all of time from beginning to end. Revealing and unfolding a plan and a purpose. To know it is to feel secure in shaky times. To have a transcendent perspective. It is life...I am almost ashamed that there are days when I am too busy to read...am I too busy to eat? I may get absorbed in things to the point that I have passed a meal time but my hunger, my moods my energy level always forces me to eat. I want to be that tuned in to my spiritual hunger. I think in a sense that I am, that we all are, but as I said, there is plenty of spiritual junk food that seems to satisfy, at least it numbs our hunger. So for me, I am making it my pursuit to fill myself with this Life Giving Word every day of this year, every day beyond it.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Monday, November 19, 2007
Same Question-different response-What gives
Been researching with some curiosity the new direction that Willow Creek is taking in their model to grow people into fully devoted followers of Christ. Seems that they are finding that the seeker sensitive model is geared toward...well seekers and not mature Christians. This of course after a three year extensive study. What interests me the most is their stance on taking a new direction. Are they saying, we were in error, or we are just learning and growing like everyone else. Seems the executive pastor doesn't have a clear position on his stance. Check out his two very different responses a blog in The Christian Leadership Journal
Here is Greg Hawkins response on His own Reveal Blog
October 26, 2007
The Truth About REVEAL
Friends,
I’m thrilled to see the high level of interest and energy behind the blogosphere comments about REVEAL. But I’ve read enough postings to think that it might be helpful to provide a few facts on three issues that keep coming up. Trust me. I’m not into “spin control” here. I just want to fill in some gaps.
1. It’s Not About Willow
REVEAL’s findings are based on thirty churches besides Willow. In all thirty churches, we’ve found the six segments of REVEAL’s spiritual continuum, including the Stalled and Dissatisfied segments. And these churches aren’t all Willow clones. We’ve surveyed traditional Bible churches, mainline denominations, African-American churches and churches representing a wide range of geographies and sizes. Right now we’re fielding the survey to 500 additional churches, including 100 international churches. So, while REVEAL was born out of a Willow research project in 2004, the findings are not exclusive to Willow Creek.
2. Willow Repents?
The Leadership Journal blog started with this question, and the answer is NO. Repenting, in my mind, deals with confessing sin. There is absolutely no sin involved in this deal. Just good, old fashion learning. What you are seeing is a set of leaders coming to grips with some new facts and deciding to do something about it. This is nothing new for us here at Willow. We are passionately committed to learning. Redeeming this broken world through the love and power of Jesus Christ is just too important for us not to be in a constant state of learning. We’ve always been a church in motion and REVEAL is just another example of Willow trying to be open to God’s design for this local church.
3. Is Willow Re-thinking its Seeker Focus?
Simple answer – NO. Hybels would say that Willow is not just seeker-focused. We are seeker-obsessed. The power of REVEAL’s insights for our seeker strategy is the evangelistic strength uncovered in the more mature segments. If we can serve them better, the evangelistic potential is enormous, based on our findings.
I hope this was helpful. In any event, I’m enjoying following the dialogue. Keep it up! And let me know if you have any questions you’d like me to address.
Greg Hawkins
Notice his change in response to question one in Out of UR The very Christian leadership journal he refers to above
1. It’s Not About Willow
• REVEAL’s findings are based on thirty churches besides Willow. In all thirty churches, we’ve found the six segments of REVEAL’s spiritual continuum, including the Stalled and Dissatisfied segments. And these churches aren’t all Willow clones. We’ve surveyed traditional Bible churches, mainline denominations, African-American churches and churches representing a wide range of geographies and sizes. Right now we’re fielding the survey to 500 additional churches, including 100 international churches. So, while REVEAL was born out of a Willow research project in 2004, the findings are not exclusive to Willow Creek.
2. Willow Repents?
• The first blog started with this question, and the answer is “yes”. But repenting is not a new experience for us. We’ve made a number of major course corrections over the years – like adding a big small group ministry for the thousands of new Christians coming to faith at Willow, and adding a mid-week service for our Christ-followers. We’ve always been a church in motion and REVEAL is just another example of Willow trying to be open to God’s design for this local church.
3. Is Willow Re-thinking its Seeker Focus?
• Simple answer – no. My boss would say that Willow is not just seeker-focused. We are seeker-obsessed. The power of REVEAL’s insights for our seeker strategy is the evangelistic strength uncovered in the more mature segments. If we can serve them better, the evangelistic potential is enormous, based on our findings.
I hope this was helpful. In any event, I’m enjoying following the dialogue. Keep it up! And let me know if you have any questions you’d like me to address.
Greg Hawkins
So, which is it Greg, Does Willow repent, Yes or No? If you are not claiming to put a spin on things, why do you reply with two different answers.
Here is Greg Hawkins response on His own Reveal Blog
October 26, 2007
The Truth About REVEAL
Friends,
I’m thrilled to see the high level of interest and energy behind the blogosphere comments about REVEAL. But I’ve read enough postings to think that it might be helpful to provide a few facts on three issues that keep coming up. Trust me. I’m not into “spin control” here. I just want to fill in some gaps.
1. It’s Not About Willow
REVEAL’s findings are based on thirty churches besides Willow. In all thirty churches, we’ve found the six segments of REVEAL’s spiritual continuum, including the Stalled and Dissatisfied segments. And these churches aren’t all Willow clones. We’ve surveyed traditional Bible churches, mainline denominations, African-American churches and churches representing a wide range of geographies and sizes. Right now we’re fielding the survey to 500 additional churches, including 100 international churches. So, while REVEAL was born out of a Willow research project in 2004, the findings are not exclusive to Willow Creek.
2. Willow Repents?
The Leadership Journal blog started with this question, and the answer is NO. Repenting, in my mind, deals with confessing sin. There is absolutely no sin involved in this deal. Just good, old fashion learning. What you are seeing is a set of leaders coming to grips with some new facts and deciding to do something about it. This is nothing new for us here at Willow. We are passionately committed to learning. Redeeming this broken world through the love and power of Jesus Christ is just too important for us not to be in a constant state of learning. We’ve always been a church in motion and REVEAL is just another example of Willow trying to be open to God’s design for this local church.
3. Is Willow Re-thinking its Seeker Focus?
Simple answer – NO. Hybels would say that Willow is not just seeker-focused. We are seeker-obsessed. The power of REVEAL’s insights for our seeker strategy is the evangelistic strength uncovered in the more mature segments. If we can serve them better, the evangelistic potential is enormous, based on our findings.
I hope this was helpful. In any event, I’m enjoying following the dialogue. Keep it up! And let me know if you have any questions you’d like me to address.
Greg Hawkins
Notice his change in response to question one in Out of UR The very Christian leadership journal he refers to above
1. It’s Not About Willow
• REVEAL’s findings are based on thirty churches besides Willow. In all thirty churches, we’ve found the six segments of REVEAL’s spiritual continuum, including the Stalled and Dissatisfied segments. And these churches aren’t all Willow clones. We’ve surveyed traditional Bible churches, mainline denominations, African-American churches and churches representing a wide range of geographies and sizes. Right now we’re fielding the survey to 500 additional churches, including 100 international churches. So, while REVEAL was born out of a Willow research project in 2004, the findings are not exclusive to Willow Creek.
2. Willow Repents?
• The first blog started with this question, and the answer is “yes”. But repenting is not a new experience for us. We’ve made a number of major course corrections over the years – like adding a big small group ministry for the thousands of new Christians coming to faith at Willow, and adding a mid-week service for our Christ-followers. We’ve always been a church in motion and REVEAL is just another example of Willow trying to be open to God’s design for this local church.
3. Is Willow Re-thinking its Seeker Focus?
• Simple answer – no. My boss would say that Willow is not just seeker-focused. We are seeker-obsessed. The power of REVEAL’s insights for our seeker strategy is the evangelistic strength uncovered in the more mature segments. If we can serve them better, the evangelistic potential is enormous, based on our findings.
I hope this was helpful. In any event, I’m enjoying following the dialogue. Keep it up! And let me know if you have any questions you’d like me to address.
Greg Hawkins
So, which is it Greg, Does Willow repent, Yes or No? If you are not claiming to put a spin on things, why do you reply with two different answers.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Finding Rest
Last week I turned in my resignation for my job in children's ministry at my church. I had gone back and forth for a few months on the issue, prayed over it, consulted with Tod... and in the end found peace in my final decision. My difficulty with the decision lies in part with the my stubborn desire to stick with my plan. Mine..the one I envisioned, took steps toward achieving..created and believed in. I wanted to do what I set out to do, and circumstances...life.... God(?) got in the way and said..It can't be what you want it to be. And I argued, yes it can... And I heard back...No...It can't.. And I countered but it has to..And I heard back..No it doesn't. and I pleaded ..give me one more chance..and I heard...Stop wasting time.
My job was, on paper, a 13-15 hour a week job. My counseling ministry, in which I have always been beckoned to, even as an adolescent would only take at most..what 10 hours.. that left plenty of time for being a mom, a wife..a friend. I can do it all! I am woman hear me roar..
But somehow I got tired. I didn't have it in me to do anything at all very well. Sloppy homemaking...procrastination on my calling.. frustration and resentment for all my roles began to build and I felt depleted. and ineffective and yet busy. It's a horrible feeling to know you are busy being ineffective in this world. And the only place I had ever gone to find answers was no where to be found. That still and quite place. It can't be found, it must be created. And so I selfishly stole back moments and quited my spirit. And in the places where I stopped throwing pebbles and murking up the water. in the place where I sat still and the ripples themselves began to still, I could see more clearly what my calling truly is. And I knew not only what I had to give up but that what I had given up..the still and quite place had been essential to my very being.
The Bible tells us that the Sabbath is made for man and not man for the Sabbath. In that sense it seems as though the Sabbath were given to us as a gift for a number of reasons.. to increase our trust in God, to reflect our covenant with Him, to mirror His image..on the seventh day He rested..to give hope of a place of rest yet to come..and I think also to break from our work, to be quite and replenish our strength for the work ahead and to find a sense of joy in the work that has been done.
There is none of that when we barrel on full steam ahead without understanding the necessity of rest itself. And rest is not selfish but it is commanded by God who rested from His work on the seventh day. Rested I am sure to enjoy the satisfaction and completion of it.
So I found myself neglecting the Sabbath in my life. Not finding pockets of rest. And rest for me is where God speaks most clearly.. When the ripples in the water caused by all of my stirring, settle down, I find Him. I find me and I know it is the only way I can find the resources I need to be of any use to anybody else in this world. Being a mom and having the immense responsibility of preparing children for life and for eternity, for finding ways of pointing them toward God Himself, encouraging their gifts and helping them identify weak points, keeping them balanced, healthy and prayed over is a huge task..
Add to that the desire to gently probe into the deep hurts of wounded people to bring healing and hope through counseling and I think I got my work cut out for me. If finding that resting place where God counsels me in not a huge part of my life then I am only setting myself up for big time failure.
I had to let go of my church work..God's work.. and that is hard to do. Nothing feels more important than having God as your boss. But you know, He's the boss of everything. He is still my boss and will be my boss if I ever make it to a bed in a nursing home one day. For all work is His work and all work is to His glory and resting is a part of the plan for those who are willing to see the work that they do as being done to His glory.
My job was, on paper, a 13-15 hour a week job. My counseling ministry, in which I have always been beckoned to, even as an adolescent would only take at most..what 10 hours.. that left plenty of time for being a mom, a wife..a friend. I can do it all! I am woman hear me roar..
But somehow I got tired. I didn't have it in me to do anything at all very well. Sloppy homemaking...procrastination on my calling.. frustration and resentment for all my roles began to build and I felt depleted. and ineffective and yet busy. It's a horrible feeling to know you are busy being ineffective in this world. And the only place I had ever gone to find answers was no where to be found. That still and quite place. It can't be found, it must be created. And so I selfishly stole back moments and quited my spirit. And in the places where I stopped throwing pebbles and murking up the water. in the place where I sat still and the ripples themselves began to still, I could see more clearly what my calling truly is. And I knew not only what I had to give up but that what I had given up..the still and quite place had been essential to my very being.
The Bible tells us that the Sabbath is made for man and not man for the Sabbath. In that sense it seems as though the Sabbath were given to us as a gift for a number of reasons.. to increase our trust in God, to reflect our covenant with Him, to mirror His image..on the seventh day He rested..to give hope of a place of rest yet to come..and I think also to break from our work, to be quite and replenish our strength for the work ahead and to find a sense of joy in the work that has been done.
There is none of that when we barrel on full steam ahead without understanding the necessity of rest itself. And rest is not selfish but it is commanded by God who rested from His work on the seventh day. Rested I am sure to enjoy the satisfaction and completion of it.
So I found myself neglecting the Sabbath in my life. Not finding pockets of rest. And rest for me is where God speaks most clearly.. When the ripples in the water caused by all of my stirring, settle down, I find Him. I find me and I know it is the only way I can find the resources I need to be of any use to anybody else in this world. Being a mom and having the immense responsibility of preparing children for life and for eternity, for finding ways of pointing them toward God Himself, encouraging their gifts and helping them identify weak points, keeping them balanced, healthy and prayed over is a huge task..
Add to that the desire to gently probe into the deep hurts of wounded people to bring healing and hope through counseling and I think I got my work cut out for me. If finding that resting place where God counsels me in not a huge part of my life then I am only setting myself up for big time failure.
I had to let go of my church work..God's work.. and that is hard to do. Nothing feels more important than having God as your boss. But you know, He's the boss of everything. He is still my boss and will be my boss if I ever make it to a bed in a nursing home one day. For all work is His work and all work is to His glory and resting is a part of the plan for those who are willing to see the work that they do as being done to His glory.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Comfortably Numb
Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?
Come on, now.
I hear you're feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain,
Get you on your feet again.
Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts,
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'.
When I was a child I had a fever.
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I got that feeling once again.
I can't explain, you would not understand.
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.
Ok.
Just a little pinprick.
There'll be no more ...Aaaaaahhhhh!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working. Good.
That'll keep you going for the show.
Come on it's time to go.
There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'.
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.
Okay so, from everything I read this 1979 song is glorifying Heroin. And I have to admit that when I was younger the song gave me the heeby jeebies with that creepy voice saying "Hello, is anybody in there" I never was a big fan of Pink Floyd. I think I saw The Wall in High School and came to the conclusion that those guys were "out there." But Tod rented a DVD of a concert by an older balding, pot-bellied David Gilmore He sang this song and I wept. For the first time I really paid attention to the lyrics, and sure it could be about drugs getting you through a "show" or it could be about your drug of choice getting you through life, (money, food, shopping, entertainment, anti-depressants, a beautiful showcase home, a enviable career, wine in the afternoon) whatever it is that inoculates you from reality. Whatever makes you numb.
And then there is the awareness, that "this isn't how I am" Acknowledging that who I have become is like the little child with a fever who felt distorted (hands felt like two balloons).
And then this from childhood-
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.
See and that is where the tears come,I cry for every child who caught a glimpse of truth and didn't pursue it. Truth is fleeting, it is elusive, it wants to be saught out, discovered. But there is always a choice to make. You can go with the smooth talking medicine man who can mask your pain, distort reality to your liking, or you can pursue that which disappears around the corner. And in that disappearance is the unspoken, "come this way, follow me." You can choose to do so, or you can just become comfortably numb.
Forgive me Father, for I have become comfortably numb.
Comfortably Numb
Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?
Come on, now.
I hear you're feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain,
Get you on your feet again.
Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts,
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'.
When I was a child I had a fever.
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I got that feeling once again.
I can't explain, you would not understand.
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.
Ok.
Just a little pinprick.
There'll be no more ...Aaaaaahhhhh!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working. Good.
That'll keep you going for the show.
Come on it's time to go.
There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'.
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.
Okay so, from everything I read this 1979 song is glorifying Heroin. And I have to admit that when I was younger the song gave me the heeby jeebies with that creepy voice saying "Hello, is anybody in there" I never was a big fan of Pink Floyd. I think I saw The Wall in High School and came to the conclusion that those guys were "out there." But Tod rented a DVD of a concert by an older balding, pot-bellied David Gilmore He sang this song and I wept. For the first time I really paid attention to the lyrics, and sure it could be about drugs getting you through a "show" or it could be about your drug of choice getting you through life, (money, food, shopping, entertainment, anti-depressants, a beautiful showcase home, a enviable career, wine in the afternoon) whatever it is that inoculates you from reality. Whatever makes you numb.
And then there is the awareness, that "this isn't how I am" Acknowledging that who I have become is like the little child with a fever who felt distorted (hands felt like two balloons).
And then this from childhood-
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.
See and that is where the tears come,I cry for every child who caught a glimpse of truth and didn't pursue it. Truth is fleeting, it is elusive, it wants to be saught out, discovered. But there is always a choice to make. You can go with the smooth talking medicine man who can mask your pain, distort reality to your liking, or you can pursue that which disappears around the corner. And in that disappearance is the unspoken, "come this way, follow me." You can choose to do so, or you can just become comfortably numb.
Forgive me Father, for I have become comfortably numb.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Back
I realize that I haven't written in a while and it isn't because I haven't been to church. In fact I have started to work at my church for children's ministry.
I wanted this blog to be my spiritual journal, the place where I discuss my walk. Humble because I of course stumble. Thus, my Humble Walk.
So anyhoo, we had a church staff meeting today and we did an interesting exercise where our Interim pastor read a passage from the bible and then we went around and gave the word that stood out to us. My word was WALK (hmmm notice a theme) and then we all talked about how the verse impacted us. It was interesting because everyone was impacted in a different way. Kind of like the 5 blind men who feel the elephant and describe it differently. My thoughts were about how the lame man first requested gold and silver from the disciples. Asking for something much less than what he really needed, and that was to be able to walk. But who asks for something that big? We set our sights on the small stuff, not really expanding our mind around all that God has for us. That speaks a lot to where I am at, where I struggle. My dependency on my own ability to provide vs. trusting God.(give me money Lord, then I will be able to do so much vs.make we walk Lord and lets see where you take me) Not believing that he has anything bigger for the story of my life than what is in my own imagination.
I identified with the lame beggar, other people were struck by the disciples taking time out to help someone, or the beggar being a picture of the world and the disciples the church. The specifics of the time being mentioned indicating that God does things in His time. All good thoughts, all indicating I believe where God is working in each ones life.
That is why the scripture is so powerful. It is called our daily bread. WE don't just read it and say "wow that was profound" It actually changes us. It affects the way we live out our lives. There are so many levels and nuances to the words and stories that we all come away fed and many times get something different from the scripture than someone else. I often get something different from scripture at different times in my life.
We recently visited Tod's grandma at a nursing home. Her Bible was was so worn and threadbare. It looked a little shabby like a favorite pair of jeans you wear all the time and can't bear to throw out. Tod pointed it out and said Now there is a Bible that has a history. I want my Bible to look like that. Worn, underlined, questionmarked, tear stained. A book not read once and put away, but read daily, a source of nourishment that continues to feed me as I grow, through all the challenges and changes in my life. My daily bread.
I wanted this blog to be my spiritual journal, the place where I discuss my walk. Humble because I of course stumble. Thus, my Humble Walk.
So anyhoo, we had a church staff meeting today and we did an interesting exercise where our Interim pastor read a passage from the bible and then we went around and gave the word that stood out to us. My word was WALK (hmmm notice a theme) and then we all talked about how the verse impacted us. It was interesting because everyone was impacted in a different way. Kind of like the 5 blind men who feel the elephant and describe it differently. My thoughts were about how the lame man first requested gold and silver from the disciples. Asking for something much less than what he really needed, and that was to be able to walk. But who asks for something that big? We set our sights on the small stuff, not really expanding our mind around all that God has for us. That speaks a lot to where I am at, where I struggle. My dependency on my own ability to provide vs. trusting God.(give me money Lord, then I will be able to do so much vs.make we walk Lord and lets see where you take me) Not believing that he has anything bigger for the story of my life than what is in my own imagination.
I identified with the lame beggar, other people were struck by the disciples taking time out to help someone, or the beggar being a picture of the world and the disciples the church. The specifics of the time being mentioned indicating that God does things in His time. All good thoughts, all indicating I believe where God is working in each ones life.
That is why the scripture is so powerful. It is called our daily bread. WE don't just read it and say "wow that was profound" It actually changes us. It affects the way we live out our lives. There are so many levels and nuances to the words and stories that we all come away fed and many times get something different from the scripture than someone else. I often get something different from scripture at different times in my life.
We recently visited Tod's grandma at a nursing home. Her Bible was was so worn and threadbare. It looked a little shabby like a favorite pair of jeans you wear all the time and can't bear to throw out. Tod pointed it out and said Now there is a Bible that has a history. I want my Bible to look like that. Worn, underlined, questionmarked, tear stained. A book not read once and put away, but read daily, a source of nourishment that continues to feed me as I grow, through all the challenges and changes in my life. My daily bread.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Message Recap
I can't write much right now. But our message was on the Revelations letter to Sardis, the sleeping the church, the church that feels so safe and protected that nothing can happen to it. It reminds me of a song that always gives me chills because it speaks to me as a Christian and where I have a tendency to go. It speaks to me individually and corporally as a part of the body of Christ (the church) I will leave you with the song, and the warning is- if we don't wake up and protect what has been entrusted to us, it will be taken from us. What we have is truth, the gospel that brings life. Here is the song...
Artist: Evanescence
Song: Wake Me Up Inside
How can you see into my eyes
Like open doors?
Lading you down into my core,
Where I've become so numb.
Without a soul,
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold,
Until you find it there and lead it back
Home.
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.
Now that I know what I'm without,
You can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real.
Bring me to life.
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.
Bring me to life.
(I've been living a lie.
There's nothing inside)
Bring me to life.
Frozen inside without your touch,
Without your love, darling.
Only you are the life among the dead.
(All of this sight,
I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark
but you were there in front of me)
I've been sleeping a 1000 years it seems.
I've got to open my eyes to everything.
(Without a thought
Without a voice
Without a soul
Don't let me die here.
There must be something more).
Bring me to life.
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.
Bring me to life.
(I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside)
Bring me to life
Artist: Evanescence
Song: Wake Me Up Inside
How can you see into my eyes
Like open doors?
Lading you down into my core,
Where I've become so numb.
Without a soul,
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold,
Until you find it there and lead it back
Home.
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.
Now that I know what I'm without,
You can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real.
Bring me to life.
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.
Bring me to life.
(I've been living a lie.
There's nothing inside)
Bring me to life.
Frozen inside without your touch,
Without your love, darling.
Only you are the life among the dead.
(All of this sight,
I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark
but you were there in front of me)
I've been sleeping a 1000 years it seems.
I've got to open my eyes to everything.
(Without a thought
Without a voice
Without a soul
Don't let me die here.
There must be something more).
Bring me to life.
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.
Bring me to life.
(I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside)
Bring me to life
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Message Recap Revelations 2:12-17
The message this week was on the letter to the third church in Pergamum
This was a rich message and I could write about it in a number of different ways but the title of my blog is My Humble Walk, so I feel that the best way to approach the messages is in how they impact me personally and in my walk and growth as a Christian. And so the key point I got out of this weeks message was that since we were created in God's image, we were made to worship Him and to get our needs met through Him alone. When our relationship with Him is broken then it impacts our relationships with things and people. Since we were made to worship, we will seek to worship, if not God we will turn our worship towards people, things, money, power, relationships, prestige any number of things. The way to heal broken relationships with the "horizontal" all these things, is to fix the relationship with the "vertical" God. And the healing for that is found in the word, manifested both in the written word and in Christ himself. But what does that mean? I am preparing to get back into the counseling field in the next couple of years and the implications of this are important to me in re-entering the helping profession. So can I help others fix unhealthy relationships if I don't focus on their spiritual relationship? Or can the spiritual relationship be healed through healing of other relationships? Some people have such a distorted image of who God is because we ascribe to Him characteristics of people. In my work with abused children there was so much anger toward God who was seen as both an abuser and an abandoner. So if we help people have hope in mankind by providing healing and health through human relationship can we then pave the way toward broadening the view of who God is and provide access to Him. That is how I see it now. I don't want to work in the capacity where I can't address issues of faith, but I also don't want to focus on getting right with God first when that seems unimaginable or perhaps too abstract to someone. Sometimes we need a concrete reference point, to get a grasp on something tangible before we can understand it's spiritual implications. My pastor talked about Hidden manna, meaning "just enough" God provides all we need, just enough of all we need in Christ not Christ plus something. Christ sufficient.
I also believe that hidden refers to obscure. God hides his truth, He claims to do so in His own word,not hide it so that we can never find it if we seek, more so that we can develop a treasure map so to speak to find it. He wants us to be delighted to find His truth to have kind of an aha moment. And that is what I would like my counseling to be, a kind of treasure map to something bigger than I alone would ever be able to provide.
This was a rich message and I could write about it in a number of different ways but the title of my blog is My Humble Walk, so I feel that the best way to approach the messages is in how they impact me personally and in my walk and growth as a Christian. And so the key point I got out of this weeks message was that since we were created in God's image, we were made to worship Him and to get our needs met through Him alone. When our relationship with Him is broken then it impacts our relationships with things and people. Since we were made to worship, we will seek to worship, if not God we will turn our worship towards people, things, money, power, relationships, prestige any number of things. The way to heal broken relationships with the "horizontal" all these things, is to fix the relationship with the "vertical" God. And the healing for that is found in the word, manifested both in the written word and in Christ himself. But what does that mean? I am preparing to get back into the counseling field in the next couple of years and the implications of this are important to me in re-entering the helping profession. So can I help others fix unhealthy relationships if I don't focus on their spiritual relationship? Or can the spiritual relationship be healed through healing of other relationships? Some people have such a distorted image of who God is because we ascribe to Him characteristics of people. In my work with abused children there was so much anger toward God who was seen as both an abuser and an abandoner. So if we help people have hope in mankind by providing healing and health through human relationship can we then pave the way toward broadening the view of who God is and provide access to Him. That is how I see it now. I don't want to work in the capacity where I can't address issues of faith, but I also don't want to focus on getting right with God first when that seems unimaginable or perhaps too abstract to someone. Sometimes we need a concrete reference point, to get a grasp on something tangible before we can understand it's spiritual implications. My pastor talked about Hidden manna, meaning "just enough" God provides all we need, just enough of all we need in Christ not Christ plus something. Christ sufficient.
I also believe that hidden refers to obscure. God hides his truth, He claims to do so in His own word,not hide it so that we can never find it if we seek, more so that we can develop a treasure map so to speak to find it. He wants us to be delighted to find His truth to have kind of an aha moment. And that is what I would like my counseling to be, a kind of treasure map to something bigger than I alone would ever be able to provide.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)