Papa's Home - The Lounge

Jesus loves me (8 replies)

dogwoodflwr — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:49:47 -0500

Got these new words to Jesus love me today in my email.

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song....
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
(CHORUS)

Beauty and Art (2 replies)

Wifey — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:11:36 -0500

I wanted to share a desktop wallpaper that I have and enjoy....

[attachment 110 The_Overseer_of_the_Universe.jpg]

Facebook Friends (1 reply)

zinger — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:02:14 -0500

Hey guys,

Hi my name is Jon and I'm a facebook junkie....(confession time). Anyone else on facebook? Would love to link up and be facebook friends.

The silence is deafening..... (6 replies)

Ginny — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:50:59 -0500

Hi everyone....

well..... I've done it! I've officially resigned from the IC (membership). I sent the email yesterday.... the fallout is resoundingly.......... quiet.

I had drafted a long letter detailing my reasons, but hubby wisely advised me just to bow out gracefully, and quietly. If they care about relationship, then a dialogue will follow. Am not holding my breath.

Just thought I would let you know.

So, how's everybody? (65 replies)

C Shell — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:16:45 -0500

No deep searching spiritual question here. This is The Lounge, where you can discuss anything that puts the wind under your wings or brings you down to earth....or just sit back, relax in front of the fire and read.

Just asking.............how the heck are ya? like if I called you up on the phone and said

Hey mate! how you doin'?

pretend we're all at the pub

cheers.gif

Happy Father's Day (1 reply)

dogwoodflwr — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:32:00 -0500

Happy Father's day to all the men of this board.

Congrats to US Football (6 replies)

onyx — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:33:56 -0500

Just a quick congratulatory to the US football team, playing soccer at the World Cup in South Africa...they held England to a 1-1 Draw!!!

(rofl)

NZ's All Whites are there too, fir the first time in 30 years ( I remember the last time - I was a soccer player)... but their chances of getting anywhere are VERY slim.

Wanted to share (4 replies)

dogwoodflwr — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:03:23 -0500

Saw this on Facebook. He runs the Free Believers FB page and I wanted to share with everyone. It has really made me think about alot of things and how I do them.
Enjoy, Toni

My Heart's Restoration
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 4:11pm

by Mike Myers

I've had to muster up a lot of courage to share this, but I think I can now. I didn't read The Shack until this year. I wrote the following back in 2007 during a very difficult time. I think you'll find some similarities between this and The Shack. That's one of the reasons The Shack touched me in such a profound way, because that's how I interact with God sometimes. I hope my transparency blesses you in some way.

At The Door

Knock, knock, knock.

Me - Oh my gosh, that must be Jesus! I almost forgot I invited Him over today. Man, this place is a wreck, but I guess that is why I invited Him in again.

Hello Jesus, come on in.

Jesus – Michael, It's so good to finally see you again. You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this very moment!

Why won’t you look at me son?

Me – I’m too ashamed of myself to look at you.

Jesus – I know you are son, but I’m not here to bring you shame, but hope for a bright future. Look at me son… I love you, and I forgive you.

Me – You don’t know how undeserving I am of your forgiveness and love.

Jesus – I didn’t say you earned it, I’m just giving you my love and forgiveness freely because you’ve repented and asked for grace. Now, let me have a look at what you’ve done with this heart I gave you. I like what you’ve done with the place.

Me – Ha ha! I assume you’re being facetious!

Jesus – Yes, I am. (said with a grin) Have you ever seen “This Old House”?

Me – Almost every episode.

Jesus – Well that’s exactly what we’re going to do here. Now son, do I have your permission to make all necessary changes here in your heart?

Me – Of course! That's why I asked you to come. Does it look like I know what I’m doing with it?

Jesus – Maybe you don’t know what’s ahead. I mean I’m going to ask you to make some radical changes that I know you’re not going to necessarily like. But necessary they are if you want to see your life turn around. I’m going to ask you some serious probing questions about your heart’s motives and why it does the things it does. And I’m going to need you to be completely honest with me OK?

Me – OK Lord. I’ll try my best.

The Basement

Jesus – OK, then, let’s start in the basement.

Me – Ah really? No one ever goes down there really. Do we have to start there? (said with a nervous tone)

Jesus – Yes, it is the foundation that your heart is built on. If your foundation is not sure, all of the rest of the work we do will be a waste of time. Trust me, we need to start there.

We both trek down the rickety old staircase.

Jesus – Well, I’ve seen worse, but this foundation has been neglected for many years hasn’t it? I see you did some marvelous work here on it about ten years ago, but then it looks like you abandoned the project. Why didn’t you keep at it?

Me- Well, I know that your unconditional love is the foundation my heart must be built on, but since I grasped that concept, I moved onto other things I guess.

Jesus – Oh so you mentally comprehended the concept of the “theory” of unconditional love and you expected your knowledge of it to be sufficient enough to build on?

Me – Well yeah I guess.

Jesus – Yes, there are the bags of cement, the sand and the tools to pour and form the foundation. And I see you even poured a few bags and did a little of it. But did you know that with time, your foundation can become weak and crack if you neglect it?

Me - I guess since no one comes down here and the basic foundations are so elementary, I got bored and moved on to build the rest of my heart.

Jesus – Son, let me ask you something, if there was a tornado, where would you run?

Me – The basement I guess.

Jesus – and if there was an earthquake, where would you run.

Me – Here I suppose.

Jesus - So when life’s storms come and your life is in danger, how do you want your basement to be… sound and secure, or tattered in disrepair.

Me – I would want it to be strong and secure.

Jesus – Son, the basics may seem boring and rudimentary, but the basics are the foundation of your entire life. The foundation will be the difference between the heart that stands and the heart that falls in a storm.

Son, I love you unconditionally. Don’t just acknowledge that with your head, but experience it in your heart. Only on a few occasions have you accepted my unconditional love. Do you know why you haven’t received it more? It’s your pride. It’s your “know it all attitude”. Son, I resist the proud, but I give grace to the humble. Let’s hope that you stay in your current humble state.

Me – Oh Jesus, I’m so humbled right now. It’s a painful place to be.

Jesus – Humility isn’t just for when you mess up. Humility is a posture of your heart. You called me over to mend this broken heart, but after it’s restored, I need you to remain humble so that I can be the Master of this house. I’m going to live here now, Son. And I’m going to need your humility to reside here.

Me – I do want you here again Jesus. I really do. This heart needs your love like a flower needs the rain.

Jesus – Then we need to get rid of all of this pride in the basement of your heart. Can we do that, Son? Will you help me carry all of these buckets of pride out to the dumpster?

My – Yes Lord, I will.

Jesus – Then after we clear out this space that was once filled with pride, you and I are going to come down here on a daily basis and make your foundation sure. You and I will come down here every morning, and I’m going to minister my Word to you, and you will not just know my love, but you will experience it. Now, let’s go to the vault.

The Vault

Me – You know about the vault?

Jesus – I know everything about your heart, Son

Me – I suppose you do. But you’ll need the combination.

Jesus – I even know that, Son. It’s L-O-V-E.

Me - No it’s not, it’s S-E-L-F.

Jesus – Trust me son, my combination works on all locks. Now do I have your permission to open the vault?

Me - To be honest Jesus, I’m really uncomfortable with this. I don’t let anyone in my vault.

Jesus – Son, don’t you know by now that I love you? Do you see these wounds on my hands and feet? I took these wounds so your heart wouldn’t have to. Do you know I agape you?

Me – Yes Lord, you are the only one who agapes me.

Jesus – Can you tell me what were going to find inside this vault?

Me – It’s where I keep all of my hurts. It’s all of the painful words that have been spoken to me. Inside are my inadequacies and fears. It’s mostly where I keep my emotional pain.

Jesus – This is a big vault, son. You must have quite a bit stored up in here. But we’re going to deal with what’s inside this vault today. Now I’ll just put in the universal combination here, L-O-V-E and wala! It opens right up! Now son, tell me about what’s in here.

Me – Well, over here we have Dad’s death. I still miss him a lot. And then over here we have my failed marriage. I’ve never forgiven myself for not being able to hold things together for the kids. And here’s the pain of loosing my kids. And then over here we have my dreams that never came true. And over here I keep the mistakes my parents made. And this here is my bag of fears. The fear of being alone, the fear of loosing the ones I love, the fear of not being the man I should be. As you can see, I have a lot of hurts in here.

Jesus – Son, I’ve been with you throughout your whole life and I remember when you received each one of these painful hurts. And for every tear you’ve shed over them, I’ve shed two. I look at you through eyes of compassion. My heart breaks when I think about all you’ve been through.

You’ve brought many of these hurts to me in the past, and you’ve laid them at my feet. Why are there still so many of them here?

Me – Because I’ve taken them back. In a sick sort of way, my hurts comfort me sometimes. They make me feel unique, like no one else knows what I’ve been through. I use them as excuses to not do the hard things I know I should do. And I run to my hurts when I feel insecure. I run here with my new hurts and I heap them on top of the old ones. And they sit here and rot until they turn into hate.

This is basically my trophy room for pain. The pain of these hurts was so intense that I don’t want to ever forget them. So I memorialize them in my emotions and I store them here. And no one is allowed in this vault but me. I fear that if anyone knew my pain and hurts they’d reject me.

Jesus – Son, did you know there’s a better way to deal with pain and hurts? Instead of locking up your hurts in a vault until they turn into hate, you could bring them to me. And you’ve done just that. But you never were able to quite let go of them because they’ve become a security blanket to you. If you really trusted me, you would give me your hurts without taking them back.

What I do is I take your hurts and I nail them to the cross with me. I take your hurts upon myself so you don’t have to feel their pain. But you don’t leave empty-handed when you do this. I then give you genuine joy in its place. I give you unconditional forgiveness for the people that hurt you.

Me – But Lord, you don’t know how painful these things are. I just can’t forget about them and act like they never happened.

Jesus – No, you’ll never forget about them, you’re right. But with the memory of each hurt will be more than enough forgiveness and grace to outweigh the pain. Now which would you rather store in your heart… hurts or grace?

Me – Jesus, your grace is amazing, like the song says. I would love more of your grace. You know what? I think I’m getting it. The more I’m hurt by others, the greater opportunity I have to let you fill my heart with your grace.

Jesus – You’ve got it son!

Me - But are you sure you have enough grace to outweigh my hurts?

Jesus – I have an infinite amount of grace. When you think you’ve asked for too much grace, there’s still more here to be given. And when those memories haunt you of that particular hurt, just pray and ask me to give you more grace. Keep asking for grace to get through the pain. I am generous with my grace, son.

Tell you what, I’ll make you a deal. For every ounce of pain you give me, I’ll give you 100 tons of grace.

Me – That seems a bit extreme don’t you think?

Jesus – Son, I don’t care about the amount. I just want you to be free from the pain that fetters you. I want your heart to be so full of grace so you have it to give to others. I want to jam pack this whole heart with my love and grace! Now do we have a deal? I’m going to clear out the hurts from this vault if you’ll let me, and we’re going to replace them with grace. Is that OK?

Me – Lord I do trust you. And I don’t want to hate anyone. But I’m so used to taking my hurts here and locking them up. Like you said, they are my security blanket.

Jesus – But we’re not going to do that anymore son. From now on, when you walk through that front door with your hurts, I want you to bring them directly to me. Walk straight to the throne room and give them to me. Don’t come to this vault anymore. In fact, this door is to remain open at all times. I’m going to need full access to it at all times so I can make sure that you’re not taking stuff here and letting it rot any more.

Sin

Jesus - What’s that noise?

Me – What noise?

Jesus – It’s coming from up stairs.

Me – Oh that noise? That’s nothing. Those are just some cute little bunnies I keep around here for fun.

Jesus – Bunnies? What do you mean bunnies?

Me – Well, I guess you would call them sins, but really they’re just cute little soft furry bunnies. They’re pets I keep here in my heart.

Jesus – You mean you let sins roam free in your heart?

Me – They’re just harmless little things that don’t hurt anyone. I tried to keep them locked up in one of the rooms, but they kept breeding and reproducing until I had to let some of them out. And then the ones that got out reproduced and it got out of control from there. Now I can’t seem to get away from them.

Jesus – You have a sin infestation, son. They may look cute and harmless, but they will destroy your heart if you give them free reign. Just one sin can jeopardize your entire heart.

Me – Lord, I repent from letting them in my heart. They looked so innocent and cute, but now their everywhere. They’ve invaded every area of my life, and I just want to be free from them.

Jesus – That’s what I wanted to hear son. I will wipe them from this place, every last one of them. But you must shut the door on them in the future or you’ll be right back where you were before. You must learn to hate them. You must see past their attraction to their intention. Sin’s intention is to destroy you. And as I’m sure you can see, they’ve already devastated your life.

The Room of Records

Jesus - What's in this room?

Me - That's where I keep an account of all the wrongs done to me by others. Every time someone wrongs me, I write it down in my bitterness files.

Jesus - And why do you do that?

Me - I save them so I can use it against them some day. Like if I'm in an argument that I'm loosing, I'll dig through the files until I find something they did that was so nasty that I shame them into loosing the argument.

Jesus - So I take it that you've made a lot of friends this way?
Me - No, I've done nothing but loose friends this way. But I can't help it. Something inside me wants to defend myself whenever I feel attacked.

Jesus - Do I keep a record of your sins?

Me - No, Jesus. You and my grandma are about the only two I know that don't keep a record of wrongs.

Jesus - If I were to keep a record of just your wrongs, son, how large would that room have to be?

Me - I suppose it would have to be at least as large as a industrial warehouse.

Jesus - No, 25 warehouses, Mike!

Me - Really, I didn't think I was that bad, am I?

Jesus - Well, I've chosen not to remember because I've forgiven you. But just know this... every time you pick up a pen to write down someone's sin, I pick up my pen as well. If you can't forgive others their sins, then I can't forgive you of yours.

Me - You mean you DO keep are record of my sins after all?

Jesus - Only when you harbor bitterness in your heart towards others. And son, let me tell you, sometimes my list for you has stretched for miles! You can be so stubborn in this area of forgiveness. And you think by remembering the evil deeds of others somehow makes you better than them.

Me - I know Lord, it's a nasty habit I do it without even really thinking about it sometimes. But I still can't believe you've been keeping a list on me sometimes.

Jesus - What does my Word say? "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

"Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Me - So I guess I should probably get a shredder and start shredding all of these files then?

Jesus - Only if you want me to shred your files.

Me - Consider it done!

Two Rooms

Now this is interesting, you have two doors here. One says, “People I love” and the other says, “People I don’t love.” What this all about?

Me - Well since it’s impossible to love everyone, I’ve segregated the people I like from the people I don’t like. By keeping them separate, I can love the people in this room, and hate the people in the other room.

Jesus – So you have one heart that you both love and hate people with all at the same time?

Me – Yes, I call it compartmentalizing. I’m really quite good at it actually. What I do is I keep all of my negative emotions for the people I don’t like in this room while I show nothing but love for the people I like in the other room. That way the nice people don’t get hurt.

Jesus – And you think that the people you love aren’t affected by the hatred in your heart towards others?

Me – Not that I know of, no.

Jesus – Can we have a look inside these two rooms?

Me – Be my guest.

Jesus – OK, this is the room of the people you don’t like. Notice the foul stench and permeates the air. That’s because your relationships with these people are dying. It’s the smell of decomposition, rotting flesh.

Now let’s go right next door to the people you love. Can you smell the rotting flesh from next door?

Me – Yes, I can! It’s just as foul over here as it was over there!

Jesus – And do you see this slime on the carpet? That’s the ooze from the rotting flesh next door. It’s leaked over to this side of the wall because you can’t contain corruption. I appreciate you wanting to shield the ones you love by putting up this wall in your heart, but as you can see, it’s not doing the job. The people you love are being affected by your hatred towards others. You only have one heart, Michael, and it can’t love and hate at the same time.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.

Me – So what do I do?

Jesus – You tear down the wall and make one big room.

Me – You mean mix the people I hate with the people I love in the same room?

Jesus – No, stop hating period. Love everyone, son!

Me – Are you out of your mind? That’s impossible! Have you met some of the people in my life? Those people don’t deserve my love after the things they’ve done to me.

Jesus - Son, I’m asking you to love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not stop him from taking your shirt as well. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Me – Now this is where I draw the line, Lord. I will not love those who hate me!

Jesus – Then why call me “Lord” at all Mike? You said you wanted me back in your life and that you were giving me permission to make all necessary changes. Are you reneging on that?

Me – No, but you’re asking me to do the impossible.

Jesus - With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. You know what you’re going to need to do this, son… more of my grace. Who’s the one person you find it hardest to love?

Me – I don’t know… it’s a toss up between two people, why?

Jesus – Then I challenge you, if you can love those two people, you can love anyone in this world. If you can love the two most unlovable people in your life, all the other people in your life will see a change in the way you love them. Because right now, the people that you say you love have to put up with this foul stench and this vile ooze coming from the other room. If you tear down the wall, and stop segregating people, your relationships will begin to flourish.

Me – Then Lord, if I’m going to do this, you’re going to have to do a work in my heart. Because right now, I don’t want to even like the people in the other room much less love them.

Jesus – Son, I want you to think about how I agape you. I want you to experience more of my agape for you. I’m not asking you to love everyone with your own self-generated love. No, I’m going to give you my agape love that will enable you to love EVERYONE! You’ve been trying to love your loved ones out of your own strength. And you know where that’s brought you.

Me – Yes, it’s brought me to my knees because I’ve destroyed the relationships with the people I love most. My love doesn’t seem to be cutting it.

Jesus – No, it’s not cutting it Mike. And I never intended you to love others with human conditional love. I designed you to first be the recipient of my agape love. My agape for you is as vest as the oceans. I have more agape for you than you have the ability to contain. And I made you to be a container of my agape so that you would bring it to others. That is how you are to love everyone, with my unconditional agape love.

Me – Then Lord, shower your love on me. Let it fall like rain in my broken heart. Fill me overflowing with torrents of living water to satisfy my soul. I will sit at your feet and wash them with the tears of gratitude that fall from my eyes. Oh Lord, I receive your love.

Jesus – Welcome home son!

Long Weekend (2 replies)

dogwoodflwr — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:27:49 -0500

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend. Also remember to keep the men and women who serve our country in ours hearts and prayers.

The Eternal Continuum (6 replies)

Lionhearted — Sun, 23 May 2010 11:13:59 -0500

While reading and keep the 'coat' warm by the fire these day's i cam across this statement and share it here.

" Our fathers have told us and our own hearts confirm how wonderful is this sense of Someone there. It makes religion invulnerable to critical attack. It secures the mind against collapse under the battering of the enemy. They who worship the God who is present..."

"Some who desire to be teachers of the Word, but who understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm, insist upon "naked" faith as the only way to know spiritual things. By this they mean a conviction of the trustworthiness of the Word of God (note - which the devils share with them). But the man who has been taught even slightly by the Spirit of Truth will rebel at this perversion. His language will be "I have heard Him and observed Him. What have I to do any more with idols?" For he cannot love a God who is no more that a deduction from text. He will crave to know God with a vital awareness that goes beyond words, and to live in the intimacy of personal communion

Nothing can take the place of the touch of God in the soul and the sense of Someone there. Real faith indeed brings such realization..."

A W Tozer The Divine Conquest

To me this speaks of the 'relationship' perspective we need and sometimes need to re-learn, (I know I do) it is probably the most neglected of christian doctrines and least followed through. It's not about finding our 'ministry' is about living every day without the performance of "I need to do this for God" rather than "Lord, Papa, Dad what shall we do today - together"

Know God Know Peace or No God No Peace, Love...

(horsey)

Religious Complexity? (5 replies)

Lionhearted — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:21:56 -0500

Why does man do it? Make faith so full of ideas that you need to have a Phd in theology just to pass go, and collect your "I'm know a believer" membership card.

Somewhere I saw interesting fridge magnet sign that said "Religion sux the life out of me"

Man I so want the "Life back in".
Below are a few word aptly penned by a dear saint that seem to speak to me in moments like these...

"Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and that servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all.

If we would find God amid all the religious externals, we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity."

God, help me to embrace the simplicity of faith you intended for each of us. Help me to come to you like a child, open-armed, fully-trusting, and experience the wonder of your embrace. In Jesus Name. Amen.

oh by the way the quote was from –A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God, p. 17-18) maybe you have heard of him?

Happy Mummy's Day(happy) (2 replies)

onyx — Sun, 09 May 2010 14:13:04 -0500

to all you dear mothers out there...

HAPPY MUMMY's DAY!!!(dance)

and if you think you are crazier because of all your kids; check this out:
[www.nzherald.co.nz]

And I just want to state publicly that my Wifey is 'the bestest mummy in all the world' to our four!

Work is ministry (16 replies)

Wifey — Sat, 15 May 2010 15:10:54 -0500

I stumbled upon these 2 'devotionals' today

[www.marketplaceleaders.org]
[www.marketplaceleaders.org]

and thought that they may provide someone here with some encouragement.

I found it interesting the statistics about how many parables took place 'at work' and also the meanings of the word 'diakonia'.

Here is the blueletterbible definition.

New Life?:S (18 replies)

onyx — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:40:36 -0500

As it is Easter;

Are you living NEW LIFE?
What does that even mean to you?
How would anyone else know if we were? Is it empirically measurable?

New Life implies death of the old, doesn't it? So surely there must be some sort of funeral? (tomato)

Were there any witnesses to your resurrection?

Just some ponderings (rofl)

Happy Birthday Michael(<3)(:P) (10 replies)

onyx — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:17:28 -0500

We appreciate you bro'!

birthday-cake.jpg

A Church sales its assets.... (1 reply)

dogwoodflwr — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:18:58 -0500

Saw this article on Facebook. Very interesting

A Church sales it's assets......

How to: (5 replies)

dogwoodflwr — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:08:21 -0500

The church I attend sometimes decided for the season of Lent that they would do a sermon series on listening to God.
I didn't know that I need to have lessons on how to hear God. Must be that once you're deep in the IC that you can't think or feel anything, so you need to be told how to prepare to hear God. And of course you need to read your Bible daily so you can be closer to him. How many people believe this and will never know the relationship that they can have if they just open their hearts and love him.

Knocked off my Treadmill (6 replies)

Theresa7 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:59:54 -0500

This past Tuesday, I got a traffic ticket.

It was on a road I’ve only been on 3 or 4 times. I was thinking about the route I would take to work – never driven from that location and had to navigate about 20 miles of unknown roads -- I’d only seen it on mapquest.

School zone – I saw the sign and was watching for kids. I saw the flashing red light and stopped, looked all directions, then moved through the intersection. About a block later, the cruiser's flashing lights were in my rear-view.

Guess what? That flashing red light? Well, it wasn’t a flasher. Yep. I stopped, then ran a red light. (sigh)

While the cop had my license in his cruiser and was doing all the perfunctory checks and filling out his paperwork, I wasn’t really nervous. I figured whatever he decided, I couldn’t change it, so I would just wait and see. 10 minutes later…. He brought me my ticket. I asked him how much it would be if I just paid it. He said that he doesn’t decide, its up to the court. COURT!! Cr@p. And that’s when I lost it.

I was able to sign the ticket (to show that I had received it in person), and drive away, but then I bawled.

It was very interesting.

I knew I was guilty, but it wasn’t as bad as the ticket made it look --> running a red light, in a school zone, during school hours --~8:30am. Although it verified that there was no traffic, it didn’t mention anything on it about the fact that I HAD stopped. So, now I can think about what to say to the judge, and how to ask him for mercy (not put it on my record? Less $$$ Fine?). But the whole thing got me thinking…. Why did the thought of standing before a judge upset me so much?

For the past couple of months, I have been so “into” my work, our house-sitting, where we will live next (our time here is up in 4 weeks), if my husband will get a new job (he hates the one he has), my sister going through fertility treatments, if WE will ever have kids, and on and on…. I’ve been in a bit of a fog – basic treadmill stuff. So, when I got the ticket, it shook me.

I wanted to just PAY for it and have it be over with. (interesting, huh?) But no, I would have to go before the judge.

I imagined going before the judge to plead my case – not really a case, but a plea for mercy. Was I really going to expect mercy / leniency? What if he didn’t believe me? Then I had this picture of the judge seeing how scared and upset I was about it all, and I saw him speak to me, “Peace”. As I drove, I laughed out loud – what human judge would ever speak “PEACE”?

Then I was overwhelmed with gratitude for our heavenly father. HE has the right to judge, but instead he desires for us to hear him speak “PEACE” to us. Now I was bawling for a new reason.

cryjoy.gif

Anyone else have one of these wake-up-calls / clearing-of-the-fog / knocking-you-off-the-treadmill kind of moments?

Confessional (soapbox) (16 replies)

onyx — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:06:01 -0500

Father forgive me ; for I have sinned.

Yesterday whilst out in town we met a woman from our old club. This woman has always annoyed me for some reason. It's like she carries around negatively-charged particles that just irritate me in every way. And this is quite unusual for me; a generally tolerant, patient, and peace-loving guy. I confess to wanting to Bible bash her (in the nicest possible way ;) ) with the heaviest bible I could find, when she had the audacity to assert that we would be back to "the church" soon.

I should be loving her with open, tolerant, Jesus-like arms...instead of wanting to pound that silly smirk of her face. (headbang)

So anyhow, just making that confession...hands up, I'm human.

True Believer (2 replies)

dogwoodflwr — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:34:12 -0600

I took this quiz on Facebook called the real you. I am a True Believer.

"You've been through a lot in your life. Broken and bruised, you still keep going. You tend to hold promises dear to yourself. You would never lie to yourself. You believe in people and you see the true beauty in everything. Family and friends, whether small or big, you keep them close to you; they mean everything to you. You couldn't bear to break anyone; it would hurt you the most. You don't believe in happy endings, but you do believe that there is always light to every dark; hope to every lost cause; beauty in the filth; two sides to every story. You believe that no one should be alone; you've been through that as well. Congratulations, true believer; keep being honest to yourself and others. Let no one tell you otherwise. You walk a long road, believer... Don't stop."

This does describe me but I think it describes most of us free believers too. Just wanted to share

Valentine's Day (6 replies)

onyx — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:00:03 -0600

Poll: Valenitine's Day is...

Do you and your significant other do Valentine's Day? Why or Why Not?

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The sound of silence (4 replies)

onyx — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:55:18 -0600

Poll: How's your life going?

Gosh it's quiet in here at the moment! I hope you are all okay, and loving life with Papa!

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What's the Church to do? 8-) (6 replies)

Wifey — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:38:17 -0600

After a vigorous discussion with friends last week, I have been wondering what those of us who have veered from religion and for the most part don't attend a Sunday morning performance, would advise the Institutional Church.

You know...what if you were spouting forth about the 101 or is it 1001 ways that the IC is failing/ has failed you or is not what God planned when He talks about church, and then found out that you were talking to a pastor?

What if, they asked you for advice on how to change (their congregation) to 'get it right'.

What would you tell them?

Anybody Home????????(<3) (7 replies)

Anonymous User — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:32:33 -0600

Hey, Where is everybody???? I come here every day looking for new posts, and they're few and far between...
Is everyone's life just clogged up or something? I decided it was time for me to start something, rather than just lurk.(lurk)
I've been having a great time on The God Journey, there is so much going on there. I'm very excited and happy about that...but I don't want to see this place slow down. There is room for both! I'm lonely here....(weed).

(anyone)

Happy New Year (happydance) (7 replies)

dogwoodflwr — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:58:12 -0600

Happy New Year to my family here at Papa's Home.

Toni

I've been missing this place.... (4 replies)

RainFields — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:55:36 -0600

I've been so dang busy in my 3D life, and in a way is seems everything around me is crumbling down, but all is good too. I've had some empty time in the last few days because of weather conditions here, so I've been trying to catch up with all the new posts. All I can say
is, "WOW", no wonder I've been missing this place. Love is dripping off the walls here people!(glomp)
I was actually feeling a little low but I'm feeling much better now, after reading for a few. So, thank you all! (grouphug)

Top Ten New Year's Resolutions (4 replies)

joshuacorp — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:35:12 -0600

1. I will put God first in all areas of my life. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) I will not allow money, family, fame, or any material object to become more important to me than the God I serve.

2. I will not worship idols. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." (Exodus 20:4-5) I will not treat any statue as if it were God. Neither will I worship a picture of Jesus, but rather Jesus himself.

3. I will not use the Lord's name unless it brings him glory and honor. "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) I will not say "Jesus Christ" when I am angry or "Oh My God" when I am in shock.

4. I will set apart one day as a special day. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." (Exodus 20:8) Just as God rested on the seventh day so will I.

5. I will treat my Father and Mother with respect. "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12) I will obey my parents and give them honor.

6. I will not commit murder. "Thou shalt not kill." (Exodus 20:13) I will never take the life of another human being, remembering that God is the only one who gives life and has the right to take it away.

7. I will not cheat on my spouse by having an affair. "Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14) I will view my marriage as a ministry and remain true to the one God has joined me together with in Holy Matrimony.

8. I will not take anything that belongs to someone else. "Thou shalt not steal." (Exodus 20:15. I will treat other people's property with respect and always ask first if I want to borrow something.

9. I will keep my tongue bridled and tell no lies. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." (Exodus 20:16) I will never spread false gossip about someone else or say anything that I don't know for a fact is true.

10. I will not harbor desire for the things other people have. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's." (Exodus 20:17) I may like what other people have, but I will not let it consume me to the point that I feel I must have it.

Have a safe abd blessed journey with Jesus in 2010.

The birth of Jesus (4 replies)

dogwoodflwr — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:34:41 -0600

Yesterday the pastor was giving the sermon on the birth of Jesus. He was saying that God could have come to earth as a powerful warrior but choose to come to earth as a baby. To be loved and adored not be scared or afraid of. Never heard the birth of Jesus this way but it makes sense to me. He wanted a relationship with us and couldn't have one if he was a warrior.
To look at it like that can almost make all the years of IC go away. He just want us as we are the way he made us.

Everyone who seeks finds (3 replies)

Anonymous User — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:37:14 -0600

This is a very good read...I have always loved this ministry and have taken some training under it called "In Christ's Image" several years ago. He gives me hope that there are still some in the church that have the right idea...

It is not hard to recognize one who has spent extended time at a newsstand: his conversation overflows with the drama of current affairs. And, it is not hard to discern a person who has come from a sporting event, as their face reveals the outcome of the game. Likewise, people can tell when an individual has spent extended time seeking God. An imperturbable calm guards their heart, and their countenance is radiant with light, as with the morning dew of Heaven.
Beloved, to seek and find God is everything.

The Eternal Imprint
It is to our shame that, in our era, church services do not focus more on actually seeking God. Yes, we do honor God and thank Him for what He has done. We hear a sermon and, perhaps, enjoy a time of fellowship with others. Yet only rarely do we depart a congregational meeting with the fire of eternity reflecting off our faces. Instead, we fill up with information about God without actually drawing near to Him. Most of us are still largely unaware of God's presence.

While we rightly need church programs, fellowship, and times for ministry training, we must not automatically assume that religious indoctrination is the same thing as actually seeking God. And while I am often blessed listening to contemporary Christian music, even godly entertainment is no substitute for my own worship encounter with God.

Therefore, let us ask ourselves: Is there a place and a time set apart in our spiritual lives where we can give ourselves to seeking God? What if the Spirit of God actually desired to manifest Himself during our worship service? Would the Lord have to wait until we finished our scheduled program? I respect and recognize the need for order; we need the scheduled times for announcements and the defined purposes that currently occupy Sunday mornings, but have we made room for God Himself? Francis Frangipane, Everyone Who Seeks, Finds
Rest of article : http://www.frangipane.org/

Heaven Knows? (9 replies)

gillse — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:55:19 -0600

Recently I read an article entitled "Why Churchless Christianity Doesn't Work: Kevin DeYoung defends the institutional church".... yes followed the link from TGJ for those of you who recognise the title.

After the article were 3 comments and something in one caught my eye. The woman writer of the comment was clearly supportive of the importance of the IC and wrote:
Church is what we will be doing in Heaven a lot so if you want to go to
Heaven, then you best start getting use to it.

I have to say I did wonder where she got that idea from, and also felt a tad concerned ..... a couple of months ago I went with a friend to a Women's Praise and Worship Service. We stood and sang - I kid you not - for over an hour. That is singing continually. Not being the standing sort, I had to sit down after a while. I also didn't know many of the songs, and although often I really get into the singing in church - this time for me it was way way too long and just didn't 'do' it for me.

Now that is me. My friend was really moved and touched by God - I'm glad I didn't ruin it for her cos at one point during the hour or so of praise I whispered in her ear "If there's all this singing in heaven I'm taking a book to read". (And I hadn't read the above article or comment at that stage).

A while later I read another article entitled "Highway to Heaven" by a Jason Boyett who has just written a book called Pocket Guide to the Afterlife. In his article he too pondered the nature of heaven. His 2 young children started asking questions after a grandparents death. I relate to that - I became tied up in knots with my daughter's questions following the death of my dad 2 years ago.

Anyway I guess I liked Jason Boyett's article; at one point he writes:
If our family's churchgoing experience is any indicator, this is
probably the last thing the kids are interested in. I'm a grown-up
and it doesn't do much for me either.

Jason also mentions that a lot of our traditional 'Christian' concepts of heaven are actually quite unbiblical and that in a recent book by N T Wright about the topic
Wright reinterprets the Bible's focus on heaven as having far more to do
with God renewing this world, via resurrection, than His beaming us up
to a shiny, bejeweled home in the clouds after we die.

I guess I like this article more so than the previous woman's comment cos Jason finished with:
I hope Wright is right. Because frankly, the days of Viking warfare and
nights of mead-drinking sound way more desirable than the endless
singing.

I have to say I'm with him. I hope there are some good New Zild type cafes in heaven which make excellent flat whites and I can sit around and have some really great heart to hearts. And also some nice wine bars where we can sip chardonnay or pinot gris (again NZ ones are good) and just catch up with each other.

I'm being flippant - and I'm not - just found those two opposing ideas of what heaven may or may not be like interesting and based on my recent experience of hour-long singing, it was a no-brainer that I came out in support of Jason's view!