An outpouring of the Holy Spirit
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Posted:Apr 5, 2008 5:41 pm
Last Updated:Apr 16, 2008 6:07 am 4328 Views
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I do not know about anyone else in this Big Church community but I truly feel there is a strong presence of the Lord here. I well know that many blogs have a slant of one kind or another including this one. But I do feel that there are times here when there has been an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on many blogs and indeed the Big Church community.
Let us here and now thank the Lord for this blessing; this outpouring of grace and this affirmation that this Church is indeed the Lord's desire. He wants it to exist and he wills it to succeed. Halleluia and let us never cease to praise Him!
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"I have a dream.." Martin Luther King killed 40 years ago today
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Posted:Apr 4, 2008 7:21 am
Last Updated:Apr 6, 2008 2:40 pm 4060 Views
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I have always been a strong admirer of Martin Luther King. His tremendous faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ took him to his own cross this day fourty years ago. Here was a man who preached non violent civil disobedience for the cause of racial equality and harmony.
At the time of his death I was preparing for the seminary. At that time I had to take my first year of studies in a place called Ridgefield, Connecticut. I took the bus to New York City to get there and saw how black people were treated. I was shocked. King was well aware of all of this. Even in the seminary black candidates to the priesthood were scarce if any-- because of ancient held feelings that black people were not equipped for the job. King's great speach had such an impression on me that it was a major factor in heading off to the mission field in Trinidad, West Indies. And there I went through the daily trials of discrimination seeing how black people in our own country were treated by being singled out similarly in the midst of an attempted coup.
Martin Luther King was one of my heros in a land of plenty. We need to bring back his values and we need to do as he did-- do more than just pray for change to happen. We need to take up the cross that King died on, and preach not only with our words but with our actions.
God bless the descendants of King and God bless all America.
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We are all fragile creatures of God.. made in his image
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Posted:Apr 2, 2008 8:39 pm
Last Updated:Apr 11, 2008 6:57 am 4076 Views
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Sometimes when we choose to injure each other with words we seldom step back to think of the fragility of others. I know I am equally as guilty of this as anyone else.
Let us assume that most of us on here are Christians. Then can I say we believe that we are made in God's image from the Genesis passage? If that is true then each of us is a reflection of God-- the same one we worship.
I think we need to think more about that concept whether we speak of any person, and race or ethnic origin. This deep abiding belief that the person we are in front of is just another reflection of God. And yes, that only means that God cannot be placed into some kind of box that is for whites only, English speaking people only, our nationality only........ God is not that defineable.
We know the most about God through his Jesus. That is the Christian God in whom we believe. He did leave his legacy for us in scripture and indeed a tradition that is unwritten.
Let us try to keep all of this in mind when dealing with each other on this site. GOd loves us all no matter who or what we are all about. He forgives us, he heals our wounds and most of all he knows we are fragile and make mistakes.
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Where is love?
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Posted:Apr 1, 2008 8:33 am
Last Updated:Apr 14, 2010 6:46 pm 4134 Views
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In the old movie based on Charles Dickens novel "Oliver" a song is sung called "Where is love?"
Just where was love in the society of Dickens? He also wrote the very famous "Scrooge" which just about everyone sees on television each Christmas. Dickens was attempting to show just how rotten society in England had become by ignoring the plight of the poor.
Our Leader was Jesus Christ. He was surrounded by hate and controversy. Where was love for Jesus? He had such a task of converting his own disciples to his brand of love. Some denied him, some walked away from him. Others betrayed him. But he stood his ground and provided us with true love.
Where is love today? For me it is in Christian Community. I have seen the most awesome place in the world surrounding this topic. I have mentioned it many times before. It is in Ontario near Pembroke, in a little town called Combermere. This Madonna House community has houses all over the world in Winslow Arizona in the United States , Africa, France, England and I think in Russia. Canada has houses in Edmonton, Regina, Whitehorse, Toronto and I think Vancouver, But the central house in Combermere is just my dream idea of where the true gospel is practised. Love is so evident that it just glows. People get daily hugs, lots of prayer and meditation, hard physical work, restful sleep and a deep abiding peace within the community. In Edmonton each day they open their doors to the abandoned homeless, giving them hot lunches, sandwiches and warm clothes. They have a sign behind their door taken from St Benedict "Receive everyone who comes to this door as Christ". But ironically they do not preach religion unless they ask for it. And then it is done with respect and love. They truly practice what Jesus preached...Love one another.
Question: Where is love for you? DO you have a favourite place on earth you go to? Perhaps Beth will say it is her garden. I for one would Love here to come here and plant me a garden that is just a small representation of hers! She can even bring her snakes and frogs. I love them!
Is it the beautiful sands and ocean beach for Pat in Australia? A scripture fest for Marilyn? Helping the less fortunate for Ed and Rhonda? Singing in perfect harmony for Wingy in St Catherines? Organizing the perfect web page for Sherri?
How do we as Christians bring the love of Jesus to others? Hopefully we preach love with true joy in our hearts-- never counting the cost of the pain we sometimes bear. I wonder at times like Easter how many emotions went through the mind of Christ as he lay conscious and semi conscious on that Cross.. that Old Wooden Cross. Did his mind turn to bitterness thinking evil of those who had packed their bags with him? Those who had betrayed him? Spit upon him? Poked him and poured vinegar upon his wounds?
SOmetimes I wonder if we really are supposed to imitate Jesus. As a young seminarian I was read "The Imitation of Christ" as I sat in the dining room eating my breakfast in silence. Later we were told that we cannot truly imitate Christ to the point that Jesus did because we are only human. Well... I wonder about that.
Jesus really does challenge us. So hard to say "I'm sorry". Just two words.
Are we supposed to imitate all aspects of Jesus? Are we supposed to challenge ourselves to the extent that Jesus let them pound nails into his body on an old wooden cross? Are we supposed to lay dieing on a hospital bed in pain and suffering when there is technology and drugs available to assist us? What role should Jesus play in our modern day lives? Wipe out the enemy with one blast from hell when we disagree with them? Where on earth is love today?
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A house of prayer
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Posted:Mar 31, 2008 7:35 pm
Last Updated:Apr 1, 2008 9:17 am 3930 Views
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I have always seen Big Church as a house of prayer. I came here a few years ago and found the hospitality here to be very prayer based.
I pray now for all those in need and all who have asked me for prayer. I feel more than anything we need to be engaging in far more prayer and praise than the rhetoric and name calling that I have witnessed these past few weeks.
I think it was the protestant theologian Bonhoffer who said we must try to understand theology with the bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. I have always tried to live my Christian life in that manner. But at this moment I believe we all need prayer and we definitely need God.
Let us pray for one another.
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Not all Big Church Members hate Muslims
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Posted:Mar 31, 2008 9:06 am
Last Updated:Apr 4, 2008 11:51 am 4453 Views
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I'm shocked that there exists -- hopefully a minority of Big Church members who believe Muslims are planning to kill Christians.
Actually, given our freedom of religion laws it is against the law to preach hatred towards any group including Muslims.
I continue to believe that as Christians we are called to love all mankind. Converting and preaching are part of any religious creed but today it is more about understanding and tolerance than demanding others take our point of view.
We need to learn from Muslims ... perhaps listen attentively to what they can teach us about God without offending them and demanding they be converted. I'm not into converting people. That's God's job and I am certainly not here to play God.
If we cannot get along with people of another religious point of view we are doomed. In North America it has taken a lot of work for Catholics to work and pray alongside protestants; for Christians to work and pray with Jews. We are very slowly learning to do the same with Buddhists, Hindus and now Muslims.
Christian Churches like the United Church are making some great inroads in this respect. Many Churches have become bankrupt from their unwillingness to accept Native spirituality and culture into their world. Lawsuits being settled now are proving that that line of thinking--- CONVERT to my way or the highway...... was dead wrong and costing Christian churhes a lot of money.
Let's start to understand each other and learn to tolerate rather than hate each other.
I do hope that the silence of those who do not come here to register their feelings will not translate into the takeover of this post by a small minority.
I have no issue with people coming here to disagree with my point of view. But if some people are just here to sling mud--- then leave now and allow others to come here peacefully and express their opinions. I'm not into banning people but if some people are just here to cause a disturbance and that is all--- Goodbye!
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The burglar and Jesus
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Posted:Mar 30, 2008 9:54 am
Last Updated:Mar 31, 2008 8:39 am 3943 Views
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It was a dark and stormy night when the burglar entered the home of this wealthy family.
Just as the burgler placed a beautiful diamond ring into his black sack a voice cried out,,,"Jesus is watching you!"
The poor burglar fell into a state of shock and disbelief. He turned his flashlight all around the dark room but saw no one.
He then placed another item of great value into his sack and again the voice cried out "Jesus is watching you!"
Finally the burglar's light shone upon this parrot sitting in the corner in his cage. He said to the parrot, " Why you dumb old bird. Why did you scare me like that?"
The parrot said " Jesus is watching you!" once again.
"What's your name old parrot?" questioned the burglar.
"My name is Moses", said the parrot.
"Well what kind of an idiot owner would name his parrot Moses?" asked the burglar.
"The same kind that would name his pet rottweiler- Jesus!" said the parrot.
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You can count on the love of Jesus at all times!
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Loving everyone is not easy...............
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Posted:Mar 29, 2008 7:21 pm
Last Updated:Apr 20, 2008 7:27 pm 4188 Views
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It's very hard for many of us to love Muslim people today-- especially if not all of them are prepared to love us. But is not that the same for many other kinds of people?
Check out your own phobias. Difficult for you to love gay people? The homeless? Those who smell of nicotine? Alcohol? What about prostitutes? Black people? Philipinos? Latin Americans?
In another age it was black people. They were second class if not third class citizens. They had no right to vote or take the same bus as us whites. It wasn't long ago in South Africa that blacks could not use the same bathrooms, buses and all the rest. I used to write letters to the editor of the local city where I used to teach highlighting what was happening in South Africa and the fact that many of my students' parents were working for the same mining company in South Africa that was totally neutral about the black people including Nelson Mendalla who was at that time a terrorist. Of course I was not a popular teacher and many times attacked for my support of the underdog. I also supported the left wing Sandinista government in Nicaragua and organized a toy collecting event and helped to send a boatload of toys for the in the orphanages and hospitals. At the time the American government was funding attacks on these people...including the bombing of the same orphanages and hospitals.
Yes there is prejudice in all of us... including myself. Each night I ask God's forgiveness for my shortcomings, failures today and yesterday. It's not easy to love our enemies or those we dislike for whatever reason. It's a challenge we as Christians face. Muslim people are no exception. We really do need to love our enemies. Christ commands us to.
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Our blogs say much about us but do not define who we are
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Posted:Mar 28, 2008 8:18 am
Last Updated:Mar 29, 2008 6:04 pm 3936 Views
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I have come to notice as much as anyone else here that our blogs say quite a lot about the person we are and the beliefs we hold dear to our heart. But I am also fully aware that they do not define us completely.
Do you ever notice that many blogs are very much a repetition of the same? I think I enjoy writing prayerful material because I enjoy praying and thinking about issues and people in need of prayer. I love politics and being a social teacher all of my life and wrapped up in Church politics it comes quite naturally. My older is thick into political science and with his brains he will be a top notch lawyer in the realm of politics. My younger is doing well in university studying psychology and also persuing a career in professional football. While I excelled as a great soccer player I came close but did not make the professional status. He has already! I'm proud of both my boys and a bit jealous that I did not attain the same levels when I was their age.
I do enjoy reading many blogs but of course like so many here I do not get the time to read them all. Big Church is a marvelous site as it really does allow people to come inside our homes and see the values that go on there. It affords a lot of people with a "Church" where we can grow and learn from each other. It is very real! Real people say real prayers and I believe that many people praying for the same goal WORKS. I would not request prayer if I thought otherwise.
Of course most blogs do not fully reveal our inner core. People have to read between the lines and then dig a lot deeper after that. I notice a few times when I have tried to write about this my words get deleted. I always taught my students that there was nothing in my classroom that they could not talk about. They loved that. Sadly that is not the case here. But so be it.
Big Church is a great site and I am most happy for the time I have spent here and the many wonderful people I have come to meet. You are all like family. Some I cannot stand and others I truly enjoy. I have blocked only a few people on my blogs and messages but that was because they had asked me to do so. I love controversy and feel that it is most necessary in a democracy. I know I have irritated some people with my philosophical and political beliefs. But I am not about to change my colours at this point. I am and remain open. But I am not a chamelion.
God bless each and everyone of you for coming here and please continue to do so. Our world is small and our time here is short. Let us do as the Lord has commanded us on his death bed...LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
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Call for calm about Dutch Muslim Film
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Posted:Mar 28, 2008 8:03 am
Last Updated:Mar 29, 2008 6:38 am 4030 Views
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Let us pray for calm about the passages of the Koran that have recently been published with respect to violence and 9/11.
We must respect the Muslim people and judge them personally and not collectively. The Muslims I have met and known are good people and I would defend them in a heartbeat. Let us pray for calm in Holland and hope that this does not precipitate more violence and recruitment of more militants.
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