tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9141413998669504362024-03-06T00:59:17.405-08:00gratefully disillusionedGRATEFULLY DISILLUSIONEDJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14119042606642385750noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-33117857392375753912012-06-02T20:56:00.000-07:002012-06-10T15:13:03.175-07:00How’s your prayer life?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaclKqru1nsZzuBTmU_mJ3ZIc5cO9wpWAkOHt-PywLUOs4PueASXrN2aFsyPD70OT9iSJ1-Ky1dVhZM2qY0XqjW6LoszslNLFAUV7ZTVTrY97U0DuCZrxUdRae5n_xB2__uFUulXAhWst/s1600/Tweety+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaclKqru1nsZzuBTmU_mJ3ZIc5cO9wpWAkOHt-PywLUOs4PueASXrN2aFsyPD70OT9iSJ1-Ky1dVhZM2qY0XqjW6LoszslNLFAUV7ZTVTrY97U0DuCZrxUdRae5n_xB2__uFUulXAhWst/s1600/Tweety+bird.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Below is another post that appeared in our facebook group the other day. I couldn't resist using this to update our blog. It is an article </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">entitled <b>"In Order To Pray Without Ceasing, You Must Quit Praying"</b>, always the sort of title that gets my attention!! It was </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">written by a guy called </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">Jamal Jivanjee, and you can see the fully article by clicking on this <a href="http://jamaljivanjee.com/2012/05/in-order-to-pray-without-ceasing-you-must-quit-praying/">link</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">These are the highlights for me...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<b>How’s your prayer life?</b> Few other questions cause more guilt among evangelical Christians. As an institutional Pastor, I used to routinely ask that question in an attempt to ‘convict’ and motivate others to pray more. Part of this ‘conviction’ and ‘motivation’ involved laying the responsibility of the salvation of individuals, churches, and countries on the backs of Christians. If we prayed more, good things would happen. <b>If good things weren’t happening, we simply weren’t praying enough.<span id="more-1496" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTjQUnoYLZK-ptvC7KV-Hr7oyPjyWpWMKpWFyMJSiZBZGPvMbriW7LC8F5PyrogwSgdDjJNq-8alwuOT2xOxbt3mis5Hgye03WHbGZK0t7Y-p_fTNFcvEVxacxvHWkxXF82wu09z97wgl/s1600/Praying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTjQUnoYLZK-ptvC7KV-Hr7oyPjyWpWMKpWFyMJSiZBZGPvMbriW7LC8F5PyrogwSgdDjJNq-8alwuOT2xOxbt3mis5Hgye03WHbGZK0t7Y-p_fTNFcvEVxacxvHWkxXF82wu09z97wgl/s200/Praying.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Interestingly, no one ever felt that their prayer life was adequate. After all, we could always pray more. For me personally, simple tasks became harder and harder to accomplish because I needed to ‘pray’ about everything. Although I wasn’t sure about what was an adequate amount of prayer, if I didn’t pray about a specific situation or decision in an ‘adequate’ manner, I became paralyzed with fear and indecision. After all, I didn’t want to make a mistake. I was well on my way to becoming an evangelical monk. The more that I went down this road, the less I was able to simply ‘be’ in Christ and rest in Him in normal day to day life. <b>It was bondage indeed.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, many evangelicals are in bondage to this false view of prayer </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Stop Praying In The Flesh!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The opposite of praying in the Spirit is praying in the flesh. I have good news for you today. You can stop praying in the flesh. For most of my life in the evangelical system, I prayed in the flesh. Praying in the flesh isn’t unique to the evangelical system, however. Many world religions are built around prayer that is rooted in mankind’s religious flesh. As one who is from an Islamic background, I grew up watching my dad’s life revolve around prayer. To a Muslim, praying five times each day is an extraordinary feat that requires much discipline and devotion. The thought of praying ‘without ceasing’ is simply unthinkable and unrealistic. <b>Unfortunately, many evangelicals are taught to see prayer in the same regard. This is a tragedy indeed.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tOiem-iA8WZo5SzdszoyO1oYTZUQq46y1yVuuEbBMtN9AOX3QNttIdBcZD1Fr3aplwtcwwuvdVTvGEwlfAJp7a-2IFccHVZHzMnMaVUGbAuegWlVFXsv9lY9zKzQQbXY_KOhLZhCzH4Z/s1600/God+is+here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tOiem-iA8WZo5SzdszoyO1oYTZUQq46y1yVuuEbBMtN9AOX3QNttIdBcZD1Fr3aplwtcwwuvdVTvGEwlfAJp7a-2IFccHVZHzMnMaVUGbAuegWlVFXsv9lY9zKzQQbXY_KOhLZhCzH4Z/s1600/God+is+here.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Often, fleshly prayer comes from the drive to ‘do’ or to accomplish some needed task. Fleshly prayer is often our attempt to ‘fix’ something. Fleshly prayer can also be rooted in the need to ‘be with’ God. Prayer in the Spirit, however, is rooted in rest. <b>Prayer in the Spirit flows out of our location ‘in Christ’</b>. In Christ, we are continually with Him by default. In Christ, we already stand approved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we cease from our religious labors and rest in Christ who is our sabbath (Heb. 4:10), we will begin to become aware of the communion (prayer) that is already occurring with Christ in our spirit (inner-man). As we become aware of this communion, we will begin to hear what the Spirit is saying to our spirit. It is from this location that prayer in the spirit occurs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NmMP7XG3iOPb3P9RQtn4tX6uVVC-PzEWfs-oQNRMo2dNJXrR_2spawz153svkEITLBdN99mV1BTvb9478phjQHCdJFJpIdZHUxGTu17XsIEnFEj9l5Aa2zJ7lSpNvp9uJHyN1uJ01d4i/s1600/A+passion+for+His+presence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NmMP7XG3iOPb3P9RQtn4tX6uVVC-PzEWfs-oQNRMo2dNJXrR_2spawz153svkEITLBdN99mV1BTvb9478phjQHCdJFJpIdZHUxGTu17XsIEnFEj9l5Aa2zJ7lSpNvp9uJHyN1uJ01d4i/s1600/A+passion+for+His+presence.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like breathing, this kind of prayer is second nature and is not an exercise of will power, piety, or discipline. <b>Like breathing, this kind of prayer flows from life and is continual in nature.</b> The only action that is required on our part is to stop and rest in the reality of Jesus Christ. Like a large antenna on a radio, the more we rest in Christ, the louder this continual conversation between our spirit and His Spirit will become. <b>It truly is good news to know that we already have great prayer lives because the one who IS prayer already has us and is IN us! "</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px;"><b> </b> </span></div>gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-68245105921933555262012-05-18T21:20:00.000-07:002012-06-02T20:58:48.299-07:00Jesus, I am Resting<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1PiyR_OueFGZ1SEI4C1cW3nNcMP7FNRGFnq_0ayppeJqUxCZQ9fGpPIE3UiHEnziQTdhjE0mM0btrdNcweQrVsIXE70t4TkQndgiGr1mPap7ckxSieLid3QAIfu7ugQ6EbLzZv_Xo0U6/s1600/Hudson+Taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1PiyR_OueFGZ1SEI4C1cW3nNcMP7FNRGFnq_0ayppeJqUxCZQ9fGpPIE3UiHEnziQTdhjE0mM0btrdNcweQrVsIXE70t4TkQndgiGr1mPap7ckxSieLid3QAIfu7ugQ6EbLzZv_Xo0U6/s200/Hudson+Taylor.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During the week the following </span>testimony was posted in our <b>"gratefully disillusioned"</b> facebook group. The response was such, that we thought we would publish it here as well. It is from the life of <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Lr91SaaBHS18U-zoqN39IsWkhZuKpY54Sm5N46av4U1cN-S-VfCPhupUVIqNWEb1YMnoZLOaWkmiFwAapyGvkw86XOzRzRwZVV93nxHQNNLmlK9y5oAwGMTcUPcQRFBTHYkAlcjijXpf/s1600/HT+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Lr91SaaBHS18U-zoqN39IsWkhZuKpY54Sm5N46av4U1cN-S-VfCPhupUVIqNWEb1YMnoZLOaWkmiFwAapyGvkw86XOzRzRwZVV93nxHQNNLmlK9y5oAwGMTcUPcQRFBTHYkAlcjijXpf/s1600/HT+signature.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The secret of his strength was not far to seek. Whenever work permitted, Mr. Taylor was in the habit of turning to a little harmonium for refreshment, playing and singing many a favorite hymn, but always coming back to—</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the eighteen evangelists, Mr. George Nichol, was with him on one occasion when some letters were handed in to his office, bringing news of serious rioting in two of the older stations of the Mission. Thinking that Mr. Taylor might wish to be alone, the younger man was about to withdraw when, to his surprise, someone began to whistle. It was the soft refrain of the same well-loved hymn:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art . . .</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turning back, Mr. Nichol could not help exclaiming, "How can you whistle, when our friends are in so much danger!"</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC2lR7Kdzf-HtmgjRGLSQUk_nHz21YU0CUF_L9_FFBjDWDWLp_ru1JLWBnGF5CK7nwaXKRk3tuLIzxwM4pmm-OQqvSF5hkIfAzbQse6y6gFun4wDF56ogpovI5lYRAFN04DovcUfArgWp/s1600/HT+Spiritual+secret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC2lR7Kdzf-HtmgjRGLSQUk_nHz21YU0CUF_L9_FFBjDWDWLp_ru1JLWBnGF5CK7nwaXKRk3tuLIzxwM4pmm-OQqvSF5hkIfAzbQse6y6gFun4wDF56ogpovI5lYRAFN04DovcUfArgWp/s200/HT+Spiritual+secret.jpg" width="142" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Would you have me anxious and troubled?" was the quiet reply. "That would not help them, and would certainly incapacitate me for my work. I have just to roll the burden on the Lord."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day and night this was his secret, "just to roll the burden on the Lord." Frequently those who were wakeful in the little house at Chinkiang might hear at two or three in the morning, the soft refrain of Mr. Taylor's favorite hymn. <b>He had learned that, for him, only one life was possible–just that blessed life of resting and rejoicing in the Lord under all circumstances</b>, while he dealt with the difficulties, inward and outward, great and small.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">–Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor, (Moody Press: Chicago, orig. published 1932), 208-209</span></div>
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Below are the words of this Hymn and click on this<b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-4zgXT_NBk">link</a> </b>to hear the music<br />
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<b>Jesus, I am resting</b>
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Jesus, I am resting, resting,
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In the joy of what Thou art;</div>
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I am finding out the greatness </div>
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Of Thy loving heart. </div>
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Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, </div>
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And Thy beauty fills my soul, </div>
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For by Thy transforming power, </div>
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Thou hast made me whole. </div>
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Refrain</div>
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Jesus, I am resting, resting,</div>
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In the joy of what Thou art;</div>
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I am finding out the greatness </div>
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Of Thy loving heart. </div>
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O, how great Thy loving kindness,</div>
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Vaster, broader than the sea!</div>
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O, how marvelous Thy goodness, </div>
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Lavished all on me! </div>
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Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd, </div>
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Know what wealth of grace is Thine, </div>
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Know Thy certainty of promise, </div>
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And have made it mine. </div>
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Refrain</div>
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Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,</div>
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I behold Thee as Thou art,</div>
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And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, </div>
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Satisfies my heart; </div>
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Satisfies its deepest longings, </div>
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Meets, supplies its every need, </div>
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Compasseth me round with blessings: </div>
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Thine is love indeed! </div>
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Refrain</div>
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Ever lift Thy face upon me</div>
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As I work and wait for Thee;</div>
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Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, </div>
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Earth’s dark shadows flee. </div>
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Brightness of my Father’s glory, </div>
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Sunshine of my Father’s face, </div>
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Keep me ever trusting, resting, </div>
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Fill me with Thy grace. </div>
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Refrain </div>
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(words by Jean S. Pigott 1876</div>
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music by James Mountain 1876)</div>
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</span>gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-51777087592553331802012-05-09T16:35:00.000-07:002012-05-12T11:08:33.760-07:00It's pretty simple really<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNIbKQyVtO_t4JB5aZ6zjvNm0bZXs_1IJX1m8CBSYJruOhnrtOyXYmakECg8wwxceG8mg0Ozqb9wTi0W5oL9vvVCj36oJZEqU9qjsJclF74Kockkr3hYqkbop7WQWrE6c7kc55l6CoiVE/s1600/grace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNIbKQyVtO_t4JB5aZ6zjvNm0bZXs_1IJX1m8CBSYJruOhnrtOyXYmakECg8wwxceG8mg0Ozqb9wTi0W5oL9vvVCj36oJZEqU9qjsJclF74Kockkr3hYqkbop7WQWrE6c7kc55l6CoiVE/s200/grace.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">For those of us at "Gratefully Disillusioned" the two people who, in recent years, have helped us the most to get free of religion and legalism are Wayne Jacobsen and Andrew Farley, and we are so grateful to both of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was really blessed the other day with something that Andrew had written on his facebook page and thought it was worthy of a blog update .....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He was commenting on the risk of getting into <b>two different sorts of error</b> when approaching Christianity and particularly the message of grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first is <b>Legalism</b>, which he summed up in four statements</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Forgiven, but not really forgiven - if I still need to ask</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Free, but not really free - if I still need the law for morality</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New, but not really new - if I am still trying to die to self</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christ in me, but not really - because I feel out of fellowship with Him half of the time</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
The second risk is to get into <b>Licentiousness</b>, summed up as</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li>Totally forgiven so my behavior doesn't matter</li>
<li>Totally accepted so my behavior doesn't matter</li>
<li>Totally new so I never struggle, nor does it matter</li>
<li>Christ is in me, so it's all Him, none of me, and I go passive</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
Andrew then, for me at least, summed up the message of <b>"True Grace"</b> as follows</div>
<div>
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YkPS8Es6xVkNWmxsdNcVCCTci6vTBeMzePaAlsXkItXcNeNffUHOUX3pt6OuCkGUGD4WLeb_FLtT9By9ysYw_oFPafCviN3fbaMjx5a7R4xSCvY9psRh_80xHhW3IPXz7_xVDf9lJey8/s1600/Grace+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YkPS8Es6xVkNWmxsdNcVCCTci6vTBeMzePaAlsXkItXcNeNffUHOUX3pt6OuCkGUGD4WLeb_FLtT9By9ysYw_oFPafCviN3fbaMjx5a7R4xSCvY9psRh_80xHhW3IPXz7_xVDf9lJey8/s200/Grace+2.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<li>We are forgiven of all our sins, once for all - <b>it is finished</b></li>
<li>We are dead to the law, Christ is the end of the law for us</li>
<li>Our old self died, the battle is between the Spirit and flesh</li>
<li>Christ is in me 24/7, without interruption</li>
<li>Behavior matters, it can be an expression of Christ and saves a whole lot of earthly consequences</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
My heart resonates so much with Andrew's comments as I reflect on the thirty eight years of my christian experience. For the <b>first two months of my walk with Him, I was living in the reality of "True Grace"</b> being lead and taught by the Holy Spirit, it was exciting and life giving, and I can only imagine where my life would be today, if I had of stayed on that path.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was then introduced to the church, and for the <b>next twenty eight years increasingly experienced the debilitating consequences of religion and legalism</b>. Andrew's first four points above, describe precisely my daily christian experience during those years, that progressively lead to rules to live by, lack of intimacy with Father, apathy and eventual disillusionment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNxWvLtM83_KX4vHXvg7qjTJKaxxLu7Qq7e0RMMpAIxJUqHtBcUg96M6nfWXGHnNE6vhxc2B5tAr5r4j9IEUjZ8NKQuhrPJAeZqJwYxSIaGSKqhqJ9UP0ol1AwKR2gvFgaA7D_Ocis1cB/s1600/freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNxWvLtM83_KX4vHXvg7qjTJKaxxLu7Qq7e0RMMpAIxJUqHtBcUg96M6nfWXGHnNE6vhxc2B5tAr5r4j9IEUjZ8NKQuhrPJAeZqJwYxSIaGSKqhqJ9UP0ol1AwKR2gvFgaA7D_Ocis1cB/s200/freedom.jpg" width="200" /></a>It was that disillusionment over nine years ago now, that put us on a path to <b>rediscover the loving Father and His amazing grace</b>. The journey back to the Father has required lots of "renewal of the mind". The legalism that we had been taught, and the religion that we just imbibed, was insidious.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqVtvrv7-qk2sVwEb097qjDh6zsnlAukk1750AoWHGVe91qsi0r2Y_2W5NqlPylqeMFddE6J1VDvzOwVn85a5MvQO5RFr-F3tzaMV7mmxWjeFUkyOiz7tvpqKuygNwxAzDMSYxI5fNUBc/s1600/The+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqVtvrv7-qk2sVwEb097qjDh6zsnlAukk1750AoWHGVe91qsi0r2Y_2W5NqlPylqeMFddE6J1VDvzOwVn85a5MvQO5RFr-F3tzaMV7mmxWjeFUkyOiz7tvpqKuygNwxAzDMSYxI5fNUBc/s200/The+Ring.jpg" width="200" /></a>Wayne Jacobsen, liken's this "religious and legalism" process or spirit, that so many christian's have experienced, as similar to the "power of the ring" in Tolkien's, "The Lord of the Rings". I don't know about you, but looking back now, it sure felt like that to me. We are so grateful to Father that He has been faithful, and heard our hearts cry for freedom.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is a comment that someone else made to Andrew's post that. for me, sums it up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9bxFbRDPcCcKjxh8yRjGCNYOO9_Lq6puaZPxrWq_Gto8DujXSTlUhhxnBwbHbRv8Ul_twO9afsIgtfnOkxSeqRmoYCRIhXyG05KPxf0FnlJDxp1Awdy37NsJPpaoIuxC8Cw6lddizVlS/s1600/Freedom+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9bxFbRDPcCcKjxh8yRjGCNYOO9_Lq6puaZPxrWq_Gto8DujXSTlUhhxnBwbHbRv8Ul_twO9afsIgtfnOkxSeqRmoYCRIhXyG05KPxf0FnlJDxp1Awdy37NsJPpaoIuxC8Cw6lddizVlS/s200/Freedom+1.jpg" width="200" /></a>"It's mind-boggling to me that so many churches are, in one way or another, in these deceptions. Been there, done that, and I am NOT going back into either way of thinking or living again. I spent too many years totally <b>bogged down in introspective sin management</b>, or being <b>in a failure focused fog of apathy</b>. Figuratively speaking, for me, <b>living FREE in Christ is like finding pure oxygen</b> 5 years ago, after living (for the better part of 35 years as a believer) in what I describe as various levels of methane gas. Can't make me go back into that way of thinking or living again, no matter what the pressure is to do so, and I'm very sensitive to the "off" smells now!!"</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
So there you go, we're not alone!!</div>
<div>
<br />
<b>Just As A Bonus!!</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
In his recently published book <b>"Heaven Is Now"</b> Andrew included a diagram that I also thought was very helpful in demonstrating how God has made His home with us "24/7". He will never leave us nor forsake us, we are "In Him" and He is in us.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVOrsFrxP4y8NENAVVA8-eyy5H-nPesWU-_x-GCi2p79dNVP-FVsC3IQaV0ZGMqZ9LuiQkiJGptC4jDpb0Kwwhvvvmm2JohC7WrkLV1_fbb1ordkanosDnHFcWyhnR4kokvFTP7n02FxJ/s1600/diagram.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVOrsFrxP4y8NENAVVA8-eyy5H-nPesWU-_x-GCi2p79dNVP-FVsC3IQaV0ZGMqZ9LuiQkiJGptC4jDpb0Kwwhvvvmm2JohC7WrkLV1_fbb1ordkanosDnHFcWyhnR4kokvFTP7n02FxJ/s400/diagram.JPG" width="400" /></a>"This mystery now revealed, is not Christ "falling fresh" on us now and then. This mystery is not Christ swooping down from heaven to visit us in a church meeting. No this mystery is Christ in us 24/7 without interruption. We can now allow the risen Christ, who is alive and living in us, to be Himself in and through our unique personalities. He is the only catalyst for anything of value in the Christian life". The challenge, and He has given us a free will to choose, is to allow the Holy Spirit and not our flesh to control our minds, that will then direct our will and emotions, that determines the actions we take, and the life we will live.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The <b>truth really is pretty simple</b>. Jesus said, it is simple enough for a child to understand, we just need to believe that what He says is true.<br />
<br />
So I'm pressing on to <b>discover the rich depth's of "True Grace"</b> and experience more of His freedom and life!!</div>
</div>gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-16199700434722763042012-04-21T19:04:00.000-07:002012-05-10T03:46:35.025-07:00Looking For the City<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBkrNayIqNnK65kJpxCOikvs05nvXMl3cM3SKNq_ZNWTfLLTiQ0h5NvLNjTe_zjwrSPPce-IRDRGlpNG0W5QTZE6tcUPhmU-HRiN9fwvPSkylHdIY16A3R3sJpiKYsM0QufkU1TV1wJU3/s1600/The+Journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBkrNayIqNnK65kJpxCOikvs05nvXMl3cM3SKNq_ZNWTfLLTiQ0h5NvLNjTe_zjwrSPPce-IRDRGlpNG0W5QTZE6tcUPhmU-HRiN9fwvPSkylHdIY16A3R3sJpiKYsM0QufkU1TV1wJU3/s200/The+Journey.jpg" width="192" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">What a blessing it was for my friend, John, and I to go and spend a couple of hours with Jack Gray last week. Wayne Jacobsen had introduced us to Jack when he was with us last month. As soon as I met Jack I new that I wanted to spend some more time with him, I loved his spirit and the evident walk and relationship that he has with the Father.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl4SLpxCkyEasF8maGgW4D9UwjTcjCA7ncultwa38ibn568RZ1Kg6Tm6XrKlzwn2DME_JBSirFSGOe_80O58RmxeINCCbZWHIfKd8AKZtqA7hb_GTOUeKTh6ikS0Th6wWkAoXMgoQ8aQn/s1600/Jack+Gray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl4SLpxCkyEasF8maGgW4D9UwjTcjCA7ncultwa38ibn568RZ1Kg6Tm6XrKlzwn2DME_JBSirFSGOe_80O58RmxeINCCbZWHIfKd8AKZtqA7hb_GTOUeKTh6ikS0Th6wWkAoXMgoQ8aQn/s1600/Jack+Gray.jpg" /></a>Jack is a doctor who came to New Zealand with his wife and family in 1965 after many years serving as a medical missionary in the Congo. The other main passion of Jack's life has been his walk with God, and his pursuit of the Church "the City which Has Foundations, Whose Builder and Maker is God".</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As John and I shared a little of our journey with Jack, we were amazed at the number of people that we all new and had walked with in years past. The interesting thing however was that when Jack started seriously seeking God, in the mid 1980's, about what church should look like, his connection with those people ceased as he pursued another path. However, for John and I, it was "church business" as usual, for the next 15 years. As I have reflected, over the last couple of days, on those mutual relationships that we had with Jack, all of them, pretty much without exception, have ended in split churches, broken relationships or that particular expression of the "local church" no longer existing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We, John and I, fell into the later category, when the church that we were a part of imploded some 11 years ago. As painful as it was for all of us at the time, we are now very grateful to God, as it has put us back on the same path that Jack decided to go down, twenty seven years ago. It blew us away to see the evidence of the hand of God in our lives as we shared a little of our journey's together, and the fact that Father had enabled our paths to cross after almost 30 years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have today read Jack's "Search for the Church" on his website at <a href="http://thepilgrimpath.co.nz/index.html">The Pilgrim Path</a>, that you may like to read. I have taken some excerpts from his story as a "little appetizer", and set them out below.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Church Membership</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlUCBlHlmvlqMu1jtaAOuX1afUj3Aq1SiOzgiFwav6D8ENOolmqeYdkuB6FSrKjWejRXdy4KGepIPHsXzjknPCRfzUlGROfEZWIxW14RBC0Dcb6t9ynwBxumD6QUJ9antCSS7F_YVSI7Y/s1600/No+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlUCBlHlmvlqMu1jtaAOuX1afUj3Aq1SiOzgiFwav6D8ENOolmqeYdkuB6FSrKjWejRXdy4KGepIPHsXzjknPCRfzUlGROfEZWIxW14RBC0Dcb6t9ynwBxumD6QUJ9antCSS7F_YVSI7Y/s200/No+Church.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No longer am I a member of any religious organisation. My name is on no church roll here on earth. I do not "go to church." I have no Minister or Pastor in the official sense, and church services, for me, are a thing of the past. How then, you may well ask, can I profess a longing for the Church? What is my relationship to the Church? My answer would be that I believe I am now more in the Church than I have ever been, and for this position I have sound New Testament confirmation. (see Jack's website for the "sound confirmation").</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What about Fellowship ?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrK0syYeOGBOfpgOy9zgnNuGGRh2iYuo7_Ydz3VMzKK4p1TL2s-kvgPtIXJqPG7jQjUeUgDwecbx7iJx8GEuvcirbaWlvlPg5Jr8jnGr5V8DNW9MzdnM7SjF9qxlYx9pbhYRpaRvNGlt8/s1600/Fellowship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrK0syYeOGBOfpgOy9zgnNuGGRh2iYuo7_Ydz3VMzKK4p1TL2s-kvgPtIXJqPG7jQjUeUgDwecbx7iJx8GEuvcirbaWlvlPg5Jr8jnGr5V8DNW9MzdnM7SjF9qxlYx9pbhYRpaRvNGlt8/s200/Fellowship.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have seen that Jesus, when we trust Him to, does exactly what He said, builds His Church. As we have surrendered ourselves into His hands as "living stones" he has joined us spirit to spirit with many others in a network of love. And all this in the total absence of any human organisation or institution! At this point I must mention another saying of the Lord Jesus, which has taken on new meaning for us. "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them".</span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So now, when people ask me the inevitable question, "Where do you fellowship?" I answer with joy, "Wherever and whenever two or three are gathered together in His name." That may be any day of the week, any hour of the day, as the Lord plans, and not in some regular slot of time humanly organised. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ</b>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Jack quotes twice here from <span style="font-family: inherit;">A </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">.W. Tozer in an article entitled, - <b>The Waning Authority of Christ in the Churches</b>.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHaEN0YnE0ITDJmaebXALbQij8hFpp2BdEGbXEFuwjXWwxVYTbLX0NuAEZoIZx6woaBkr30nEt_dz7-zW0lekWrY0zLkZPUb8yXHEMoUeMUBzBZVZ8HPUKi2mYBv59LsNwxqM8eH1H2SO/s1600/Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHaEN0YnE0ITDJmaebXALbQij8hFpp2BdEGbXEFuwjXWwxVYTbLX0NuAEZoIZx6woaBkr30nEt_dz7-zW0lekWrY0zLkZPUb8yXHEMoUeMUBzBZVZ8HPUKi2mYBv59LsNwxqM8eH1H2SO/s200/Cross.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">May it not be that one of the reasons for which God is calling people by His Spirit to leave organised churches and come out to Him is to restore that supremacy and centrality which the Lord Jesus had in the New Testament Church? I believe it to be so. He </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">is training us to listen for, to hear and attend to His voice and to obey Him. He is restoring His absolute "shepherdship", if a word can be coined. If, as we have before maintained, He is building His Church, our whole responsibility is just to follow Him and let Him do it. Outside of organised church those who do not have a vital living growing relationship with the Lord Jesus quickly fall away. Inside the organisation the stimulation of being part of a crowd, the emotional uplift of congregational singing and other group activities may be sufficient to make good church members, but if the props are pulled out only a genuine relationship with Jesus will ensure survival. So, as I see it, the Lord is training people in that absolute dependence on Him. He is wanting to teach us that He and He alone is appointed "Head over all things for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"What are we to do? Each one of us must decide, and there are at least three possible choices. One is to rise up in shocked indignation and accuse me of irresponsible reporting. Another is to nod general agreement with what is written here, but take comfort in the fact that there are exceptions, and we are among the exceptions. The other is to go down in meek humility and confess that we have grieved the Spirit and dishonoured our Lord in failing to give Him the place His Father has given Him as Head and Lord of the Church. Either the first or the second will but confirm the wrong. The third, if carried out to its conclusion can remove the curse. The decision lies with us."</span></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Every Day Living</b>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Another thing that God seems to be doing with those of us whom He has called out of organised churches is to restore every day Christian lifestyle. In the church system Christians are so often graded on their performance levels in the "service" situation. Are they frequent attenders, never missing a meeting? Do they enthusiastically participate in the worship? Do they willingly submit to the leaders? There are a hundred and one such church-performance based criteria. But that is not where the New Testament emphasis lies, as William Law points out so graphically. There, the emphasis is on every day life and relationships in the family and community. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw76y0fOp9rjxY0JhyphenhyphenkskHYSbnecE3EgP8D2mzMKsCfIQ_u4mFNIVj4hM9igi77nc8e-rFomLNlRPawLAcLhBeLquWmlmZg0aNMP6iRiu_PfxKAhAx0kB5m04ozOu-eEjZIjFr51St7WEk/s1600/Centrality+of+Jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw76y0fOp9rjxY0JhyphenhyphenkskHYSbnecE3EgP8D2mzMKsCfIQ_u4mFNIVj4hM9igi77nc8e-rFomLNlRPawLAcLhBeLquWmlmZg0aNMP6iRiu_PfxKAhAx0kB5m04ozOu-eEjZIjFr51St7WEk/s1600/Centrality+of+Jesus.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">God is weaning us off that performance thing into daily Christian lifestyle in the home, the workplace and the playing field. We are to be, as Paul says, "letters of Christ, known and read by all men." That call is both liberating and challenging. It frees Christian living from the confines of church buildings, services and organisations, releasing it into the common stream of life, and it demands a humble self-crucifying walk in the Spirit. "In the past", as someone has said, "We used to live in the world and go to church. Now we live in the Church and go to the world."</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In conclusion, having shared these things; what lies ahead? I do not profess to know how the Lord's purpose will be worked out "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." But, <b>I do know that, for me, there is to be no turning back to the old way</b>. God has given us glimpses of a glory yet to be revealed in the Church, and so, like Paul, "forgetting what lies behind (in our experience of traditional church) and straining forward to what lies ahead, we press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>You can listen to two interviews that Wayne did with Jack</b> by clicking on the following links <a href="http://thegodjourney.com/2012/03/23/the-life-of-a-pilgrim/">The life of a Pilgrim - Part One</a> and <a href="http://thegodjourney.com/2012/03/30/the-life-of-a-pilgrim-part-2/">Part Two</a></span></span></div>
<br />gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-66237197366994847782012-04-05T20:29:00.000-07:002012-04-06T21:05:58.934-07:00Thriving Outside the Box<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmQMeZyEJbyxiJvVzegpdelZ8yLvEQIDISWdXd9WVSfdk7c_9_MbZfiPGRyHaDuW1I_WZzfArYi54pQNVDsJcR6EYiOHbeIBA0iZMk9Cgh46Ux53RGft5Vzn2NMiKTC59J_xwD8P4KwMg/s1600/Outside+the+Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmQMeZyEJbyxiJvVzegpdelZ8yLvEQIDISWdXd9WVSfdk7c_9_MbZfiPGRyHaDuW1I_WZzfArYi54pQNVDsJcR6EYiOHbeIBA0iZMk9Cgh46Ux53RGft5Vzn2NMiKTC59J_xwD8P4KwMg/s200/Outside+the+Box.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I came came across an article the other day written by Wayne Jacobsen back in 2003. It really blessed me.. So....., with a little licence, I have set out below the points that impacted the most.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The box that imprisons
God's people is not religious institutions per se, but the system of religious
obligation that many of them use to preserve the institution
or to advance its program. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No matter how we gather with other believers, God
wants all of us liberated from the box of religious obligation, because it is mostly based on human effort for spiritual growth and community life. This box is
<b>lined with guilt</b> that you're never doing enough to earn God's favor and it is
<b>laced with the fear</b> that your spiritual security lies in conforming to the
doctrine and program of the group. It often focuses on an institutional program
or someone's personal vision, rewarding those who conform while abusing those
who do not.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaT9udtpWivofeL9IfuEgVWaLBLvTHuxYVj6kIpyk_Yb5XW3f89tunKcxQ0kan3PID0V1XPKaC4C1t1FI-IdR2K5vBHTBXBNT5a1yXGlIYRry9Wt2IxicTELA3wy4VLihizzRb9ZAo8iK/s1600/Not+trying+hard+enough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaT9udtpWivofeL9IfuEgVWaLBLvTHuxYVj6kIpyk_Yb5XW3f89tunKcxQ0kan3PID0V1XPKaC4C1t1FI-IdR2K5vBHTBXBNT5a1yXGlIYRry9Wt2IxicTELA3wy4VLihizzRb9ZAo8iK/s200/Not+trying+hard+enough.jpg" width="155" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many of us who gave
ourselves wholeheartedly to that system were shocked to find out that <b>it could
only deliver an illusion of God's life but never the reality</b>. It exploited our
most noble intentions and imprisoned us with our basest desires. It offered
temporal security, spoon-fed nourishment and even some emotionally satisfying
moments, but it could not let us soar to the heights. This system only wore us
out with its programs, exhausting our efforts while bearing little fruit. While
it could conform our external behavior, it could not transform our inner
thoughts and motives. So sin still undermined, guilt consumed and emptiness
hounded us. <b>We were often left with the inescapable conclusion that it wasn't
working because we weren't trying hard enough.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>To thrive in freedom outside of the box we'll
need to learn a new way of living</b>. Here are some of the lessons I see God
teaching people who are learning to live free:</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ka-Vnx4C_AXzf_otTf26mceq-dZFudCgUNQPE8_nfliWgxrVXLLC7P5ZiRP3AT2toSUyp3PpHH79vY15VgOQzt6267eW219F2vOB8aMKU_GGsZh1UDbNf-GmfYCoNRnZRauVlasPcg5x/s1600/Relax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ka-Vnx4C_AXzf_otTf26mceq-dZFudCgUNQPE8_nfliWgxrVXLLC7P5ZiRP3AT2toSUyp3PpHH79vY15VgOQzt6267eW219F2vOB8aMKU_GGsZh1UDbNf-GmfYCoNRnZRauVlasPcg5x/s200/Relax.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Learn to Relax - </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Religious obligation says
that it is all up to you. If God isn't doing the things you want, you have to
work harder, stand firmer and pray longer. The focus is on your performance,
your obedience, your righteousness. Outside that box, you will quickly
recognize that <b>your best efforts will not accomplish God's work</b>, </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">it depends on him not you.</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Instead of trying to manipulate God he will teach you rest in
his work through you. You will find yourself making better decisions when you
trust his love for you than when you're anxiety-ridden about trying to earn it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">You
will learn to rely on him alone and recognize that any time you give up
responsibility for your spiritual nourishment to another person - whether
friend, pastor or author, you've already traded away a bit of your freedom, for
life in a box.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HNE74o2QD9UL7_BRyCzirwvEg2l0JZUQ-XrIdKUYXxhehALi_7SUZcbZSodr6rX1lLNJnwcKbJoLE4gpg3_dejx8LCtPFJCbtQrlcW4cVwkJrf_y5Iqkxvb4AIdu-pK1woeTE0NAOXdh/s1600/Control.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HNE74o2QD9UL7_BRyCzirwvEg2l0JZUQ-XrIdKUYXxhehALi_7SUZcbZSodr6rX1lLNJnwcKbJoLE4gpg3_dejx8LCtPFJCbtQrlcW4cVwkJrf_y5Iqkxvb4AIdu-pK1woeTE0NAOXdh/s200/Control.jpg" width="166" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Give Up Your Illusion of
Control - </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can only try to give up control if
you're still under the illusion that you have it. Our actions and
decisions have profound consequences in our journey, but ultimately God is in
control. Has any amount of scheming or manipulation ever truly produced the
results you seek? When God shows you that you are not in control, then you will
truly be free to live in his purposes instead of your own.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRr0p3cqIETSWAzyrMsdbq5uf3YlP8qcI9M2EUXtWi3A9VPgoXDdfN2XiM8d5JQ-WQcbFIWeCmajesnefocQAST8j8jjM1D8ZSQTR0ANKMJ0FDKN4aTXmmHTux3IX2sE1uqKnt3owAodk/s1600/approval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRr0p3cqIETSWAzyrMsdbq5uf3YlP8qcI9M2EUXtWi3A9VPgoXDdfN2XiM8d5JQ-WQcbFIWeCmajesnefocQAST8j8jjM1D8ZSQTR0ANKMJ0FDKN4aTXmmHTux3IX2sE1uqKnt3owAodk/s1600/approval.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Live for His Approval - </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The craving for approval
devours our spiritual passions by putting our focus on what people think of us
rather than what God does. As you get free from the box, expect
others to play this approval card for all its worth. Even close friends may suddenly hold you at arm's length or say unkind things about you, all in the hope
of drawing you back into the box they think holds the keys to life..... It does
not.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrftBaGrrrdrq4pRJk9BVBylf7YuEiKtqIK9SHKNSgXFq2-9Xrp62Q9zRNvaDSdYWHCw1nJeClnen1wLdc1XfGACel2APGZL5Sb9llDdknX1rQAYIusndx8HQdv4LBlAl67mhCqfPPSJBU/s1600/guilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrftBaGrrrdrq4pRJk9BVBylf7YuEiKtqIK9SHKNSgXFq2-9Xrp62Q9zRNvaDSdYWHCw1nJeClnen1wLdc1XfGACel2APGZL5Sb9llDdknX1rQAYIusndx8HQdv4LBlAl67mhCqfPPSJBU/s200/guilt.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Let Guilt Die - </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guilt is that deep, nagging drumbeat in your gut trying to convince
you that you're a really bad person and God is upset with you. Even when you
rationally know you made the right decision, guilt can be relentless. Guilt is
the easiest way to motivate people who do not know who they are in Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you deal with it?
<b>Let it die</b>. Though you can't stop its drumbeat you can refuse to dance to it.
In time it will fade away. You will also discover that those who help you most
grow in God will never pile on the condemnation when you disappoint them, but
they will always help peel it away. Like Jesus with the woman caught in
adultery, they know that guilt rather than freeing people from sin only drives
it into darker closets where it only becomes more destructive.</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh0MKSQQwmMjCIRr9tkR5F097CBH2whsf20GPOsh76HeSNmFLjzO5MMErZbpfsVql6fx7gQvLwfuXiaqlc3ETUeqL1QshOgkPypBLSYu7akh9ogC-NDKpkjZ3JIJhDkoM4rX9KJeHHruo/s1600/The+Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh0MKSQQwmMjCIRr9tkR5F097CBH2whsf20GPOsh76HeSNmFLjzO5MMErZbpfsVql6fx7gQvLwfuXiaqlc3ETUeqL1QshOgkPypBLSYu7akh9ogC-NDKpkjZ3JIJhDkoM4rX9KJeHHruo/s200/The+Story.jpg" width="163" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Savor the Story - </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his amazing grace God
gave us the story of how he made himself known to men and women just like us.
He wanted us to know exactly what he is like and how he thinks so that we could
know him as he is. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible is not an owner's manual with rules to
be followed, it is the story
of God making his reality known in the brokenness of our world. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're used to others
spoon-feeding it to you, now is the time to take it on yourself. Start with the
Gospels. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you savor God's story,
you will find yourself better able to see and appreciate how he continues to
write that story into your own life. You will see Jesus more clearly and
recognize his voice more simply.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oTZFos2KKbLRL0cZBWDFN01acR-fO3HN5hFcOK5P1nsvdOugq9PPVkINEnIqag6qLrT3mxn92d16yNKWeQahCqi-nWKfooWaACCSsAPh6Mu0rsW0N_yNmvZG9Vp1PXhB4jGBAi-7X4Pl/s1600/Relationships.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oTZFos2KKbLRL0cZBWDFN01acR-fO3HN5hFcOK5P1nsvdOugq9PPVkINEnIqag6qLrT3mxn92d16yNKWeQahCqi-nWKfooWaACCSsAPh6Mu0rsW0N_yNmvZG9Vp1PXhB4jGBAi-7X4Pl/s200/Relationships.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Cultivate Relationships </b>- <span style="font-family: inherit;">You never know ho</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">w God
might use you to touch someone who works near you, lives near you or just
passes by you during the day. You'll be surprised at the people he will put you
in touch with and how his presence in you will be a blessing to them. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you find yourself
blessing others near you, you will also come across others who
are on a similar journey. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX3JAzylvNM-a1JzYpllfPT4unStVETC1gl_ktoqpk-WPqUAmlYgRqnWOfUZwJGraihYe4tsHeOdbyZ6ucNr3LBwlcJy89Fv2Y48hCqy9F-yLckcAQLMKsydA7KedDaaUrCRVr7h9DfKT/s1600/Live+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX3JAzylvNM-a1JzYpllfPT4unStVETC1gl_ktoqpk-WPqUAmlYgRqnWOfUZwJGraihYe4tsHeOdbyZ6ucNr3LBwlcJy89Fv2Y48hCqy9F-yLckcAQLMKsydA7KedDaaUrCRVr7h9DfKT/s200/Live+life.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Live Life</b> - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Real community is
a gift God gives out of growing friendships, not what we produce by any methods
or programs. Instead of creating it, we have only to recognize it as God builds
it around us. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The best gatherings of body life emerge out of
relationships where people are learning to share the Jesus journey together. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you know people who want
to be intentional about sharing this kind of community, by all means join them.
But if you don't, don't give into the lie that God has forgotten you. There are
many ways God can relate you to people who are also living the journey, even if
it is just a conversation here and there for a time. I suspect that when people
have a hard time finding fellowship with others its because God wants to draw
them closer to himself first.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYbgOMnbA3HyOs1wIyZrM1Ava20ti_Z7DvOjcFwZSlpw7xnYg9HE369qYfn6vyAJPwf-1hzEzn4-W62GT1dGrsDANDhSi4-Ek_Xp3YTjFoMcQ0QIWJBXuHk1Un4yyBI7b7sEJMF0K3o-y/s1600/butterfly.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYbgOMnbA3HyOs1wIyZrM1Ava20ti_Z7DvOjcFwZSlpw7xnYg9HE369qYfn6vyAJPwf-1hzEzn4-W62GT1dGrsDANDhSi4-Ek_Xp3YTjFoMcQ0QIWJBXuHk1Un4yyBI7b7sEJMF0K3o-y/s200/butterfly.gif" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Don't Despise the Struggle - </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it isn't easy
learning to live outside the false security of religious obligation, but the
freedom is so worth it. Scientists say if you help a butterfly escape its
chrysalis, you actually kill it. God designed the process so that the struggle
itself actually strengthens the butterfly so she will be able to fly away when
she is finally free. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It can be scary when all the props that made you comfortable are no longer there, and it is easy to coast through life and miss out on the incredible friendship God wants with you and</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to soar in the life of Jesus. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our struggles accomplish the same thing. They are part of
what God uses to invite us deeper into him.</span></span></div>
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To read the original article <a href="http://www.lifestream.org/bodylife.php?blid=42"><b>click on this link</b></a></div>
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<br />gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-36005101045049336372012-03-29T17:42:00.000-07:002012-04-02T14:09:05.557-07:00I Love The Church<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WycfNhC_GqPUunlIo6h69O4xvZHDf32IZxcBatSbDlSN1GF99ZCMgPq-e7GkFMq9sD5uPfV-YVOQa9E6dcFPcnuOlp_44Xu_2k5DcHeI3PWttCaNKbm14GKwb1dcaEN8Xjiguis_Apu9/s1600/Bread+and+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WycfNhC_GqPUunlIo6h69O4xvZHDf32IZxcBatSbDlSN1GF99ZCMgPq-e7GkFMq9sD5uPfV-YVOQa9E6dcFPcnuOlp_44Xu_2k5DcHeI3PWttCaNKbm14GKwb1dcaEN8Xjiguis_Apu9/s200/Bread+and+wine.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know about you, but I love the Church. <b>Jesus LOVED the Church</b>, and said the gates of hell would not prevail against her, he said that we are his bride..., what a wonderful image, <b>I love the Church.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus also said that where two or three are gathered together in His name he is with us, in our midst!! I guess that is not such a big deal because He is in us and we are in Him, from the day we invited and accepted Him into our lives.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKsR1gaPnm4hUzR078B07nahYGCWg4Uh5zH3dCyLFS_Y5Iq6gm-Etke2iSctLjgYX7LgdMmUV6gE3eKeAysPH5kScN2lsH9KsK7ewdvmy9iGPKOFW6sSIG45OSdTsHYYg-w4wckMsRp5L/s1600/People+gathering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKsR1gaPnm4hUzR078B07nahYGCWg4Uh5zH3dCyLFS_Y5Iq6gm-Etke2iSctLjgYX7LgdMmUV6gE3eKeAysPH5kScN2lsH9KsK7ewdvmy9iGPKOFW6sSIG45OSdTsHYYg-w4wckMsRp5L/s200/People+gathering.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love journeying with friends who are daily discovering Papa's lavish affection for them and the incredible realities that Jesus accomplished on the cross, then said <b>"It is FINISHED"</b>, the work is done, enter in to the freedom my life will bring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love the life that is given and </span>received, when Christ followers meet and share together the things they are hearing and learning from the one who is "especially fond of them". I love the life and worship that is generated from those who are learning what it means to offer their lives as "living sacrifices". From my experience, as those realities are shared when believers get together, Christ is glorified, and the world gets to see. <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xl9JUcZseHbVCWzsNmmaj2TWBKk5LSK4L2L3WhJoOuTJu0Ztzy7yUbyv6zKzfUXTVlE-36eGmk4xEl3NO2esmuJxq2fg4_x-n1ZTUzuLpKG8em3wmAh46cq4w7QrZ-qpIYNa0MBVp9EH/s1600/praisejesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xl9JUcZseHbVCWzsNmmaj2TWBKk5LSK4L2L3WhJoOuTJu0Ztzy7yUbyv6zKzfUXTVlE-36eGmk4xEl3NO2esmuJxq2fg4_x-n1ZTUzuLpKG8em3wmAh46cq4w7QrZ-qpIYNa0MBVp9EH/s200/praisejesus.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">What I am not that keen about, is what many people in today's world frequently think of, when the "c" word is mentioned. My experience is that the institution that we often refer to as the church, has not delivered what it has promised. It promised what I have attempted to describe above. It has however largely delivered, programs, to do lists and building projects. All were offered with the best intentions, but they never seemed to lead me into a closer more intimate relationship with my loving Dad and His amazing Son.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We need to dis the illusion that many of us have come to think of as the church, and embrace the Church as Christ described her. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I think Wayne Jacobsen's description of the institution that many people today call the church is one worth contemplating. <b>It may help dis your illusion, it's helping me.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Extract from "The Naked Church"</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_AP6OcMMcCa8CtVKzPvi4ZEjflj9pNrYsTY5c2QhrZs8WCZqvomYwqRxe-rG7PZ2yRow_TmPckpCJzIo3TltWBj8JqMxD7GZwCeKzbuuAUmCRukJxGulhSKxIeRMs_7CNWD9guxk-_GT/s1600/the+naked+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_AP6OcMMcCa8CtVKzPvi4ZEjflj9pNrYsTY5c2QhrZs8WCZqvomYwqRxe-rG7PZ2yRow_TmPckpCJzIo3TltWBj8JqMxD7GZwCeKzbuuAUmCRukJxGulhSKxIeRMs_7CNWD9guxk-_GT/s200/the+naked+church.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"How easily Satan must have
thought he could snuff out the light of God’s kingdom in the world once Jesus
had ascended to the Father! Only 120 followers remained, and they were huddled
away in fear. Though the Day of Pentecost must have been a setback for him, he
soon responded with a new strategy – bring in a heavy dose of persecution to
extinguish the flame.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But it didn’t work.
Centuries of persecution followed, first by religious leaders in Judea and
later by the Roman emperors, but the church continued to thrive and expand.
People discovered the power of the Risen Lord and at great cost surrendered
their lives to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometime late in the third
century Satan must have called a conclave. Hades I, he might have called it.
Since persecution had failed so miserably, this diabolical council needed to
develop a new strategy to undermine the life of the church. The solution it
produced has done far more to render the church powerless than any persecution ever
has.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The objectives were clear:
The plan would have to diffuse the self-sacrificing love that carried the
church through conflict, distract it from intimacy with God, and devalue the
importance of the individual believer. And, since the church had already
prevailed over direct assaults, the plan needed to be so deceptive that it
could not be recognised as coming from hell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few suggestions were
offered, but they were so weak that they didn’t even invite discussion. After a
painfully long silence, someone, perhaps Srewtape, came up with a very simple
idea: “Trying to keep it small hasn’t worked – let’s make it big!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All the other devils gasped,
thinking that old Screwtape had finally bolted his sanity. “Make it big? What
do you think we’ve been working so hard to prevent?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Hear me out, colleagues. We
can kill it with its own success. What would happen if the church suddenly
became acceptable?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Lots of people would go to
it idiot.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But what would all those
people do to it?” Srewtape replied with a smirk, then sat back as he watched
their minds churn. One by one the others began to see the brilliance of his
scheme. “Many would come just for social reasons. They would quickly dilute
those who are really in God’s clutches.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“And imagine all the
programs and activities they would have to plan to keep those people happy.
Nothing chocks out intimacy as well as busyness’.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“A crowd like that would
have opinions so diverse and disruptive that the power of the gospel would be
compromised in just a few short years.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T0JPlwaWx1wtb3TCAS5tTmsA60BRNV-suKUG8gLEcYftqAdiDjAjc2-u-JBWDL95Ys9uA49AhpOfmB-VpcWnmrBLS1biq1bhyphenhyphenRh_erdlyYhqRH5bqeLZLcv5sl63zzYTT3LPhBz_2a2N/s1600/church-leader-job.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T0JPlwaWx1wtb3TCAS5tTmsA60BRNV-suKUG8gLEcYftqAdiDjAjc2-u-JBWDL95Ys9uA49AhpOfmB-VpcWnmrBLS1biq1bhyphenhyphenRh_erdlyYhqRH5bqeLZLcv5sl63zzYTT3LPhBz_2a2N/s320/church-leader-job.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">“The church would eventually
become a machine, chewing up individuals instead of loving them. Programs would
take over where personal ministries now flourish. And everyone knows how easy
it is to kill with a program.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Hear! Hear!” they all
yelled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“They couldn’t possibly
teach all the followers to walk with God personally, so they would soon
substitute rules and guidelines for his ever-present voice.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“the machine would have to
be run by professionals. The others would become nothing more than spectators
and bill-payers.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“And that leadership would
waste most of it’s time tied up in administration, which we know benefits
almost no one.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Who would have time for
individuals? They would have to try to disciple people by regulations, and the
cracks in that are so wide we could go on vacation.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“And best of all,” Screwtape
spoke up again, “they wouldn’t even know what had happened to them. They would
think themselves successful beyond their wildest dreams. They would be pillars
in the community and stand before huge crowds. We would let them keep all their
Christian terms, but we would substitute our own meanings. It’s foolproof!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But size alone won’t do
that, Screwtape,” Satan himself finally said. “they could still teach all those
people what it really means to follow God and they could still love people one
by one no matter how big it got.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“True, O Wicked One.” Screwtape
waggled his index finger, “but do you think they would? Do you think they would
risk losing all those people or would resist the corruption that such power and
influence would give them?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Satan smiled in whatever
ecstasy hell allows. “Of course not!” He slammed his fist on the table, “let’s
do it!”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Wayne Jacobsen - The Naked Church, </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> page169 -171</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What might the Church that Jesus is building look like - The Life of a Pilgrim</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlOF52SP6Pl-W5yM98nJgFeKXY3AuY1goOhXX7QfcxbSSeN6hP887VYEj5xTsVA4UjqPj7D5aPep2GqBa8KGbNbIghxoyHgVIKLACCLECrvsORope0C54z0Ktux6LbvTwF7sYyt6nuLgr/s1600/Jack+Gray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlOF52SP6Pl-W5yM98nJgFeKXY3AuY1goOhXX7QfcxbSSeN6hP887VYEj5xTsVA4UjqPj7D5aPep2GqBa8KGbNbIghxoyHgVIKLACCLECrvsORope0C54z0Ktux6LbvTwF7sYyt6nuLgr/s1600/Jack+Gray.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><b>Wayne’s conversation with Jack Gray</b>, a Scottsman who has resided in New Zealand for almost 50 years. They</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"> c</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">ontinue their discussion from last week on the life of the church and <b>Jack’s journey to find the church Jesus is building, rather than the one man is building</b>. They talk about a Swiss theologian from the mid 1900s who pointed out that when the love and power of the Spirit faded in the early church, we replaced him with dogma, doctrine, and institutionalism. They talk about Jack’s rich experiences with church life as a relational reality and how people cannot resist the desire to put things into a box, rather than continue to embrace the unfolding work of the Spirit.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You may like to listen to the conversation by <b><a href="http://thegodjourney.com/2012/03/30/the-life-of-a-pilgrim-part-2/">clicking on this link</a> </b></span></div>
</div>gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-46276986524186481952012-03-24T17:47:00.001-07:002012-03-24T20:15:30.595-07:00God without Religion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsjY3_-w743ha5rAFOtnQ0qyBCCE-YfFrg9eZvOcTV6YR1o68JAgcVDnpCo6XdOpjEAtouh8iuzLnj_6vGojfz2-TjDkZeBOWNI2fCY6a-8d-gjdA4fRXWCx26UM_sdI3heJdEhO8O-tL/s1600/God+Without+Religion1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsjY3_-w743ha5rAFOtnQ0qyBCCE-YfFrg9eZvOcTV6YR1o68JAgcVDnpCo6XdOpjEAtouh8iuzLnj_6vGojfz2-TjDkZeBOWNI2fCY6a-8d-gjdA4fRXWCx26UM_sdI3heJdEhO8O-tL/s200/God+Without+Religion1.jpg" width="166" /></a><b style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;"> - can it really be that simple? </b><b style="text-align: justify;"> </b><span style="text-align: justify;">is an amazing book that has dissed a number of illusions for us. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We first met Andrew Farley when we read his wonderful book called <b>The Naked Gospel. </b>In that book Andrew communicated the gospel in such a simple way that even a child could understanding it, or should I say <b>only</b> a child could understand it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_29790462"><b>Dr </b></a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Open Sans', serif;"><a href="http://www.andrewfarley.org/andrew-farley"><b>Andrew Farley</b></a> is the lead teaching pastor of</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><b><a href="http://www.churchwithoutreligion.com/god-without-religion" style="background-color: transparent;">Eccl</a><a href="http://www.churchwithoutreligion.com/god-without-religion" style="background-color: transparent;">esia</a> </b><span style="background-color: transparent;">, </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">serves as the Faculty Adviser for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and is an Associate Professor of </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">Applied Linguistics at Texas Tech University. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.andrewfarley.org/andrew-farley" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cqh0nGd-joJnRN4KwZqp-TKepDvEDxrbxVED3BfYY96QoidmUgI__B0T9EglBZqYROPpRBdqJE1qaibwWK4F4dTE4BY-nyIOodDHAN4Xlp1vKPzp7Zemgv-5MeZGd88GmQElZK1eBdsX/s200/Andrew+Farley.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent;">His initial experience as a Christian was characterised by self-effort as he tried to please God at any cost. His ruthless religion resulted in spiritual fatigue and disillusionment with the church. Only then did he discover what <b>relaxing in Jesus</b> means and how <b>enjoying God's intimate presence</b> can transform everyday life.</span></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Through tales of robbery and extortion, laps around the Indy 500 track, tapped phone calls to a psychic, and a grandma's late arrival at her own funeral Andrew invites his readers on a story-filled adventure to discover the beauty of God's grace.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJipM40Z8hmLdm5DYiRfQkNsqvTwzKt8Ohah5w4tLj0LG9qPuM1tuvbWP5UlqlovIb-cG1K1NvKsg19HA0paaNsmLuLM_2antoTG4SsR_npn5R8DPMo2ouUIXIUyEr5yrWEyvJNPjHvya1/s1600/Jesus+plus+nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJipM40Z8hmLdm5DYiRfQkNsqvTwzKt8Ohah5w4tLj0LG9qPuM1tuvbWP5UlqlovIb-cG1K1NvKsg19HA0paaNsmLuLM_2antoTG4SsR_npn5R8DPMo2ouUIXIUyEr5yrWEyvJNPjHvya1/s200/Jesus+plus+nothing.jpg" width="200" /></a>These are some of the illusions that Andrew has helped us to identify; to see the Gospel message from a hopeful perspective as opposed to one that divides and separates. To see the true meaning of walking in the spirit. Clarifying the facts around the judgement, rewards and God's discipline, and highlighting the problems around the popular challenge to Christians to <b>die to self.</b> </div>
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Although Andrew is is an incredibly well educated man, he communicates the Gospel message with such clarity that you come away from listening to him or reading his books saying, why haven't I seen it like that before. </div>
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Darin Hufford, author of the best selling book, <b>The Misunderstood God</b> says of <b>God without Religion</b>. "This is a book that every Christian simply must read before going one more step in their walk with Christ. Don't waste another day living under religious bondage. Stop everything you're doing and read this book now".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk6cFWmaLmlQ-psYzFCNTxv2V6_xRBBEMPuW3vJSNvUgg-8VWI-h5o8qM1VDT8xx90atBoldBqrgg2lk3LQw6vR-kT0tpy-A6N86iMuhZs0OHZjic6XjCFZP2eolhrJMUXDhNfLyMqO2t/s1600/Andrew+Farley+Interview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk6cFWmaLmlQ-psYzFCNTxv2V6_xRBBEMPuW3vJSNvUgg-8VWI-h5o8qM1VDT8xx90atBoldBqrgg2lk3LQw6vR-kT0tpy-A6N86iMuhZs0OHZjic6XjCFZP2eolhrJMUXDhNfLyMqO2t/s200/Andrew+Farley+Interview.jpg" width="200" /></a>And Leonard Sweet, best selling author, professor, Drew University and George Fox University say's "<b>Andrew Farley</b> is one of the best young writers yet most mature thinkers in the church today. Read <b>God without Religion</b> to hear the voice of a 21st-century Bonhoeffer who shows how to ring in the good times when Jesus (not religion) is the <i>cantus firmus</i>, the enduring melody, of our lives"</div>
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If you haven't met Andrew, or read either of these books, I've attached links to an excellent two part interview with him, just click on the following links <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp06dEKatyk&feature=youtu.be"><b>part one</b></a> and<b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5r04GNeUX8&feature=related">part two</a> , </b>happy viewing, (and reading) :-)</div>gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-51009793601898039492012-03-23T15:34:00.002-07:002012-03-29T01:30:08.426-07:00Let's Dis the Illusions<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">I have been thinking and processing a lot over the past
few of days, following the amazing five days that we had with Wayne last
week. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">We took our name </span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">gratefully disillusioned</span></b><b> </b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">from the statement that Wayne frequently makes in his sharing - "We
are gratefully disillusioned because we have all had</span> <b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">illusions</span></b> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">about God that need to be</span> <b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">dissed</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">". One of the wonderful aspects of Wayne's gift is his ability to reveal the illusions that we are often living under. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiclnCc6Scsft_DzEfbRICXR4fEGbAC0ntVAaFieao2iGLVEE21bH2vWkDbKW8-oO8Zytdett-pAlBOcsNMx_6axLfVtKFwtcilTpeai8nxLYajmgeeE7grmiAODdoSp11QQehp7zUmpQ/s1600/small-plane-flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiclnCc6Scsft_DzEfbRICXR4fEGbAC0ntVAaFieao2iGLVEE21bH2vWkDbKW8-oO8Zytdett-pAlBOcsNMx_6axLfVtKFwtcilTpeai8nxLYajmgeeE7grmiAODdoSp11QQehp7zUmpQ/s200/small-plane-flying.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">I shared in the last blog a couple of those illusions, one being the idea that we can successfully live out our Christian life through others, leaders, friends, organisations etc.. when in fact Father wants us to take full responsibility for our own lives and fly our own plane. Then we will have His life to share with others.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Another one is the idea that th</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">e institutional church,
as many of us have come to know it, is like getting on a 747 and going for a
ride. I must say that my experience of the 27 years that I spent in the
instituti</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">onal church was very much as a passenger on the 747. Probably a more accurate </span>description in my case would be a DC3, but you get the idea.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU1VjF6DEPDH3V33BGN0aY9dXjE56maXObJC_Kflcs8uM15D5uR_kxvhuUiqpOUkJavWz2sw_eHY14IBx2ZI_dp42BhFHUrWVkgWgg4hwu-RruSyDkyH57n6mMdm7oBukZj2U89ue3tMb/s1600/747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU1VjF6DEPDH3V33BGN0aY9dXjE56maXObJC_Kflcs8uM15D5uR_kxvhuUiqpOUkJavWz2sw_eHY14IBx2ZI_dp42BhFHUrWVkgWgg4hwu-RruSyDkyH57n6mMdm7oBukZj2U89ue3tMb/s200/747.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: inherit;">No one, leaders or otherwise, that I met during those years
ever talked to me about the need to "learn to fly" for myself. Neither did
they sit down with me to show me now to do it. To be frank, I don't think the
people that I was around during that time knew how to do it themselves, <b>ie to
live in the Fathers affection,</b> and therefore most of what I encountered was
merely religion. When I became a leader, for about 20years of the 27years, I
passed on to those around me the same unreality that I was living myself, how sad!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: inherit;"><b>Thinking that I can actually fly, while sitting in the 747
is an illusion</b>. Actually learning to fly my own plane (life), daily, in my
Father, with Jesus, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the reality that He wants for all of us.</span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: inherit;">Another illusion that I have been reminded of over recent days is the fact you can only really understand the purposes and heart of God if you are an "expert", the pilot in the 747 illustration. That the bible is so complicated you need to attend a Bible college and do a three year course in Theology before you can really understand it. I read this yesterday by Jeff Turner, and<b> it Dissed that Illusion</b> :-)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zLVbTx2pI90hzLkUbELevhW4vAb7zSCzHwxUQCZT9OO9HFSrvIiVrxZoghmhV7dtB6FoGl3ZbX6iwZtd89HFmXivqNMn5Yhbx2My0zyJTDrmC9BjiqV17xZRMBug0rKIXy1zQlJ8VqEQ/s1600/Children+with+Jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zLVbTx2pI90hzLkUbELevhW4vAb7zSCzHwxUQCZT9OO9HFSrvIiVrxZoghmhV7dtB6FoGl3ZbX6iwZtd89HFmXivqNMn5Yhbx2My0zyJTDrmC9BjiqV17xZRMBug0rKIXy1zQlJ8VqEQ/s200/Children+with+Jesus.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: inherit;">"The Gospel is not so simple that a child can understand
it, it's so simple that <b>only</b> a child can understand it. For that reason,
Christ declares that we must become as Children in order to experience the
Glory of His Kingdom. That being the case, if our theology must be propped up
and held in place with scholarly t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">erms,
pseudo Greek and Hebrew, textbook gibberish and seminary speak, it cannot be
the Gospel. Our theology must be able to survive and not crumble when
oversimplified. So much of what we call orthodox, however, turns into absolute
chaos and nonsense once simplified into childish terms. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 11.7pt;">The point? </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 11.7pt;"><b>God has made it ridiculously easy, we've made it ridiculously
complicated...</b>and weird...and downright ridiculous. Let's stick to the
simplicity of the Gospel. :)" - Jeff Turner (</span><a href="http://jeff-turner.org/" style="background-color: white; line-height: 11.7pt;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>see Jeff's website</b></span></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 11.7pt;">)</span></span></div>
</div>gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-54581237811919949342012-03-19T21:04:00.000-07:002012-03-23T22:52:02.955-07:00What A Great Conversation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBppJ7URSHl4Bsu1EWy27yncgYL34IDlYHp5VKPS1KLWRq_IRyXaND1hqGUpVHch6fGXR2OF3cYo8LDGoc5_t6MKsD0rB7_t1vGQwQsjeKaX8phj2h8NW0_eAy-QgESSJWVx0aR_KV-19/s1600/Conversation-with-Wayne-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBppJ7URSHl4Bsu1EWy27yncgYL34IDlYHp5VKPS1KLWRq_IRyXaND1hqGUpVHch6fGXR2OF3cYo8LDGoc5_t6MKsD0rB7_t1vGQwQsjeKaX8phj2h8NW0_eAy-QgESSJWVx0aR_KV-19/s320/Conversation-with-Wayne-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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What an amazing time we all had conversing with Wayne last Saturday.</div>
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The topic for the day was learning to live in the Fathers affection. Really knowing that we are loved by the Father and then out of that reality embracing daily life in the assurance that God (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is right there with you.</div>
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Wayne likened that process, to learning to fly a plane. You can have been in the classroom many years learning the theory, studying the planes design, looking at the weather maps etc etc, but until you get in the plane with an instructor, start the engine, taxi to the runway and take off you will never experience the thrill and reality of actually flying.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk67eaFJl3mkO-ld0xEMsHCLO5oiGaxtaxIG-Tw0WbcMly_WjZAsltCi8FHT9HPWmhFZhgdkXCsjoiRDrk2fM4HI0SmwdGpVwBGsffsp2y3LGdgmaLE-uCdTNGa5OKVRhwAGA4plpRDHD/s1600/Conversation-With-Wayne-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk67eaFJl3mkO-ld0xEMsHCLO5oiGaxtaxIG-Tw0WbcMly_WjZAsltCi8FHT9HPWmhFZhgdkXCsjoiRDrk2fM4HI0SmwdGpVwBGsffsp2y3LGdgmaLE-uCdTNGa5OKVRhwAGA4plpRDHD/s320/Conversation-With-Wayne-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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He also highlighted the fact that the flight instructor (The Holy Spirit) always responds to us when we ask for instructions and personally take full responsibility for the flight. The Holy Spirit is there ready and willing to teach and empower us when ever we ask Him to do so. However he will not manipulate, control or force His will on us. God's goal is to get us to fly so that we can be set free to live our lives "in Him", not just in theory but in practice.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyuhRk6yfIi75RhoMRFRQr22hdmgXVY7ddivO0AOPfi6WYAdBuO4Q_z9Ddr9P4rx1eHwnu-snDbjovOQC_rc_GTJJOlPsljgaeG5O2FCg5R-ljDhNQIbSHmOptP3rTDQ-6D77IvgfOahF/s1600/Conversation-with-Wayne-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyuhRk6yfIi75RhoMRFRQr22hdmgXVY7ddivO0AOPfi6WYAdBuO4Q_z9Ddr9P4rx1eHwnu-snDbjovOQC_rc_GTJJOlPsljgaeG5O2FCg5R-ljDhNQIbSHmOptP3rTDQ-6D77IvgfOahF/s320/Conversation-with-Wayne-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In a separate meeting, Wayne also gave us another flight analogy in relation to the way a large percentage of the institutional church operates in our day. It's like we think that we are flying when we board the biggest and best 747 in the fleet. We pay for the ride, a professional pilot fly's the plane, the crew looks after us and we are taken to the destination of our choice, unless we are hijacked along the way of course, which as we know happens all to frequently. If we don't like the passengers, the destination or the plane, then we just jump on another one and pay another fare, anything that will make us happy and give us the illusion that we can fly. However, we never learn to really fly, we just think we know how. We then spend our lives needing "professionals" to do the real flying so that we can get from A to B, in the belief that we are making progress. How sad, but how true!!</div>
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<b>All Sessions are now available on the "Downloads" page.</b></div>gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914141399866950436.post-49156026387694097662012-02-19T20:14:00.002-08:002012-03-23T22:52:16.300-07:00Invite To A Conversation<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You are Invited to a Conversation with Wayne Jacobsen</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nkwaGO3wilZ-hoiwF7ikDOFa0oYLg9fS_5wpZ-UHfxPWnHJb5l42DUHMtcVPgU-wzJUEcnCmaRs8hsjgaIoeMLC_K9tAGyfVlHl7PsSFD-Rs_pM9-xJN_KS_AHxT9AagtcHgIMsslHVR/s1600/He+Loves+Me.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nkwaGO3wilZ-hoiwF7ikDOFa0oYLg9fS_5wpZ-UHfxPWnHJb5l42DUHMtcVPgU-wzJUEcnCmaRs8hsjgaIoeMLC_K9tAGyfVlHl7PsSFD-Rs_pM9-xJN_KS_AHxT9AagtcHgIMsslHVR/s1600/He+Loves+Me.gif" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHai-lfp1EeEozn9YU_T4AtkkNlwPS9AW1tVtGIx-fVNRazBzxD4Sb0b0CCCRhYgu1WG_Qim4VlyZzmU5QyKLqH98aLWBh0FC_s5gMu98Ew9UKhF9-7JJtb49szjlMTENFddQLDZ8J6dW/s1600/0016_jacobsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHai-lfp1EeEozn9YU_T4AtkkNlwPS9AW1tVtGIx-fVNRazBzxD4Sb0b0CCCRhYgu1WG_Qim4VlyZzmU5QyKLqH98aLWBh0FC_s5gMu98Ew9UKhF9-7JJtb49szjlMTENFddQLDZ8J6dW/s320/0016_jacobsen.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Wayne Jacobsen has authored a number of bestselling books including <i>He Loves Me, So You Don't Want To Go Church Anymore, The Naked Church,</i> and <i>Authentic Relationships</i> among others. He was also a collaborator who helped write and publish <i>The Shack</i>, which has now sold twenty million copies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0dCF4_lHA39XH8cljlAVQmmdy5s8RnzPNF_5UgiUd-mJ0Q7YLbWq6G7W3Ys9ociqor5dVPOSDpide2XOE6jmfqkVCbbQzq1sOke3LuGh030czyi5opSvU5b7WPwtVuSKE8P3hRA6yn7O/s1600/SYDWTGTCA.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0dCF4_lHA39XH8cljlAVQmmdy5s8RnzPNF_5UgiUd-mJ0Q7YLbWq6G7W3Ys9ociqor5dVPOSDpide2XOE6jmfqkVCbbQzq1sOke3LuGh030czyi5opSvU5b7WPwtVuSKE8P3hRA6yn7O/s1600/SYDWTGTCA.gif" /></a><br />
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Wayne is a gifted communicator who has, for the last fifteen years, travelled the world seeking to help believers find the Father's heart and remain in a place of "Living Loved".</div>
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What was it about <i>The Shack</i> that captivated our hearts? Maybe it was:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfGwrdKJ9xXnG9NUyU0Y4NEZzV_g0axfd4Fk-y8c6ysfS0_86P12ar3rCzsanJU88HA_SysnqeqdXKYMyt8TLhsfJ_054pT8qKbqzTCakjeuRKOMbHucFzUCBvTN8Gt4ZemOMYOS8SQvt/s1600/The+Shack+1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfGwrdKJ9xXnG9NUyU0Y4NEZzV_g0axfd4Fk-y8c6ysfS0_86P12ar3rCzsanJU88HA_SysnqeqdXKYMyt8TLhsfJ_054pT8qKbqzTCakjeuRKOMbHucFzUCBvTN8Gt4ZemOMYOS8SQvt/s1600/The+Shack+1.gif" /></a>
<li>The joy and intimacy of the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit?</li>
</ul>
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<li>The raw transparency of Mack?</li>
</ul>
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<li>The wonder of a God who is really that accessible, loving and free?</li>
</ul>
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<li>The glimmer of hope that maybe we can find God in a similar way?</li>
</ul>
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The relationship that Mack found with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit can also be a reality for you.</div>
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Come with your questions, spend a day with Wayne, and you will discover that it really is possible... He really does love you. In the middle of all the challenges life brings, you can find a place of rest, peace, joy and freedom.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Join us on Saturday the 17th of March</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ellerslie Conference and Event Centre</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">80 Ascot Ave</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Greenlane East</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Auckland</span></div>
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<b>Costs:</b></div>
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We would like to make our time together free of charge to any who would like to attend. However, we need to collect an average of $25 per person to defray the costs of the meeting and we would also like to make a contribution to Wayne for his time. You could make a contribution in advance, if you wish, by bank transfer to bnz a/c 02-0261-0107420-00. Alternatively, we'll give people the opportunity to contribute during the day, however there is no compulsion. All are welcome to attend subject to space availability. Morning and afternoon tea and coffee will be provided.</div>
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<b>To register for this event:</b><br />
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Please e-mail your name and contact details to <b><a href="mailto:gratefullydisillusioned@gmail.com">gratefullydisillusioned@gmail.com</a> </b>, or you can mail to P.O.Box 25-079, St Heliers, Auckland, 1071.</div>
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Only those who have pre-registered will be assured of a space as we need to control the numbers.<br />
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<b>Time:</b><br />
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Registration from 8-30am. The Event will run from 9am to 5pm.</div>gazatlongdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18371408223750631233noreply@blogger.com