What Do You See?

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GordW said:
My 2 questions for discussion:
1) where have you seen God at work/the Kingdom breaking into the world recently?
2) when have you missed what God was doing because you were expecting God to do something different?

Late to the party as I am

1) I am convinced that God is at work/the Kingdom is breaking into the world everywhere and all the time. Other things are happening as well and sometimes all of one kind of activity screens all of another from view. Whether I see God at work/the Kimgdom breaking into the world or not I take as given that it is happening and eventually I will not fail to notice is.

2) Constantly. Sometimes it is not a matter of what I expect but a matter of where I engage. One can get so caught up in a context which feels like it has gone sideways six days from Sunday that one has no time to take in the reality that a foot to the right or the left everything is progressing smoothly, marvellously and gloriously towards bringing the Kingdom more clearly into view. If I don't see it for myself I appreciate the testimony of others who have. Absent of either I will beat my head against rock until one proves itself to be the harder of the two.
 
Yes, I do think your theology is mixed up. But criticising (and discussing) one's belief system is far different than judging one on being an alcoholic.

I do admire your conviction to your beliefs, however, it's something that's lacking in so many people today. But reading scripture through rose coloured glasses can easily change the meaning of that scripture. I know I'm guilty of that too, we all are. We're all trying to view the centre from our own point of view. Our "truths" are therefore only partial truths, depending on our awareness, our culture, and our point of view in life.
--Good day Neo--I take my lead from my Lord Neo. I also expect that myself and others", will receive" the same as did the Apostles". That is in the powers of the Holy Spirit" and the guiding of GOD" in His word". Thus it has been since day one. My Lord is a living", GOD". His word states" there is no other GODS But Him". I follow an believe, this with all my heart" .
 
I have watched thus movie twice. A very good movie about life on the streets.

Airclean-post-- I can not understand a post like this. It's there hell not mine? We should always have compassion for them. So you feel they may, kill themselves that's is ok? Yes they are Human beings, and as such" are Loved by GOD". The same GOD" that is our Father", is there's as well. Any time a person is in hell, or headed there . It break's my heart , but I can't save them. There is but one person that can save ,if they" would just ask. I would be more than happy to tell or explain to them ,how to find HIM. An I am not scared to lay on hands.
 
what about those who are not christian? followers?
--Hi Blackbelt--A question that may ask Brother. I will let GOD answer.

hn 3:18He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

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Jhn 3:19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
 
--They have but to repent , receive Jesus The Christ as Lord. Just as you and I have done. It is Christ that saves Blackbelt not us.
--Hi Blackbelt--A question that may ask Brother. I will let GOD answer.

hn 3:18He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

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Jhn 3:19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Which is also not what I was asking
 
"Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable."

Some time ago, in some place, a fella was walking along the shore. Saw another fella struggling to say above water. Thrashing arms and legs. Calling for help. Fella walking by asks: "Do you believe in me?" "Yes" shouts the drowning man. "Then you will meet me in heaven after you die." The fella on the shore keeps on walking, as the drowning man goes down for the last time.

"Let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth..."

"Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

George

 
"Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable."

Some time ago, in some place, a fella was walking along the shore. Saw another fella struggling to say above water. Thrashing arms and legs. Calling for help. Fella walking by asks: "Do you believe in me?" "Yes" shouts the drowning man. "Then you will meet me in heaven after you die." The fella on the shore keeps on walking, as the drowning man goes down for the last time.


"Let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth..."

"Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

George

[/QUOTE-Airlean--post-

This looks good till you see who it is He taking about.

Jas 2:15If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food,
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Jas 2:16and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?

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Jas 2:17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
Who dose Jesus see as a Brother or Sister?
 
Airclean-----Your Quote ---
When our Lord Jesus said Love one another He was talking to the brothers and sisters of followers. Yes we were all made by God . but being made by God dose not save you.

I agree with your quote here ----


1 John 4:7-13GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
God’s Love Lives in His People

7 Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God.
8 The person who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, because God is love.9 God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him.10 This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins.11 Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love each other.12 No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.13 We know that we live in him and he lives in us because he has given us his Spirit.
 
Wonder how God feels about being the shitend of a George parable?

Hi, with thanks for provoking me to think...

There is a substantial gap between those who see the text as a systematic justification of a faith perspective and those who see the text as parabolic narratives by which insight for living may be found and put into practice. This for those who are doers and not hearers only.

Thing is the fella walking by the shore is not God at all. God gets involved. Least that is how it seems looking at Jesus in the streets, the market and the outer courtyard of the temple. Its temple priests who only want to know if you are saved. Caring little for how you live as long as a fair percentage of fiscal worth is returned to the God of the temple.

God says in one place, "if a prophet is deceived I have deceived him." I am here as one who is sent. Not to support and bless the empires of this world as they devastate people and places for profit. To pronounce a prophetic injunction calling for repentance. Beginning with the household of God.

The religious folk did not like Jesus because he would not conform to their expectations. In the same way, believers in Jesus find followers of Jesus to be problematic. In exactly the pattern of the Hebrew narratives revealing the relationship of priests and prophets in ancient Israel.

What does God think about his foolish servant? Remember David dancing with all his might before the lord as the ark is returned to the land and the people? Saul's daughter Michal in an upper window. Taking her husband for a fool. Bitter and barren in consequence.

I am not called to judge any other. I am only called to offer my whole heart, whole mind, whole strength and whole soul to the will and purpose of God. Not the God conveniently bound in a volume of printed pages. Valuable pages to be sure. Useful for instruction, reproof, exhortation and encouragement. I express service to the living God whose sufficiency has redeemed my insufficiency. Not me present here. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God. As it is written: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." That you and others are unable to take me at my word does nothing to diminish my standing in the presence of God.

What I have whispered in isolation will soon be shouted by the host of heaven.

Love has overcome the gap!

George



 
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Hi, with thanks for provoking me to think...

There is a substantial gap between those who see the text as a systematic justification of a faith perspective and those who see the text as parabolic narratives by which insight for living may be found and put into practice. This for those who are doers and not hearers only.

Thing is the fella walking by the shore is not God at all. God gets involved. Least that is how it seems looking at Jesus in the streets, the market and the outer courtyard of the temple. Its temple priests who only want to know if you are saved. Caring little for how you live as long as a fair percentage of fiscal worth is returned to the God of the temple.

God says in one place, "if a prophet is deceived I have deceived him." I am here as one who is sent. Not to support and bless the empires of this world as they devastate people and places for profit. To pronounce a prophetic injunction calling for repentance. Beginning with the household of God.

The religious folk did not like Jesus because he would not conform to their expectations. In the same way, believers in Jesus find followers of Jesus to be problematic. In exactly the pattern of the Hebrew narratives revealing the relationship of priests and prophets in ancient Israel.

What does God think about his foolish servant? Remember David dancing with all his might before the lord as the ark is returned to the land and the people? Saul's daughter Michal in an upper window. Taking her husband for a fool. Bitter and barren in consequence.

I am not called to judge any other. I am only called to offer my whole heart, whole mind, whole strength and whole soul to the will and purpose of God. Not the God conveniently bound in a volume of printed pages. Valuable pages to be sure. Useful for instruction, reproof, exhortation and encouragement. I express service to the living God whose sufficiency has redeemed my insufficiency. Not me present here. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God. As it is written: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." That you and others are unable to take me at my word does nothing to diminish my standing in the presence of God.

What I have whispered in isolation will soon be shouted by the host of heaven.

Love has overcome the gap!

George

Silver threads and golden needles ... if you can sew up the scattered sentience ... as God is all broke up due to mortal intervention with eternal processes beyond the wisdom of limited wee spots ... even if we support the communication of Ayres ... some will say this is negative towards the renown mortals ... not even close to gods ... just wee chits (bits) in the Shadows!

So much to gather so little time ... one should stop and absorb ... going against the general dynamics business of increasing conflict for the business'ake!
 
Pontifex Geronimo 13 said:
Wonder how God feels about being the shitend of a George parable?

I wonder what leads you to think that God is the stranger walking on the shore?
 
Jesus did not come to help us get along together, or teach us how to Take care of the poor, or because of social justice. God had already sent many before with that message, and Jesus did not come to repeat what had already been said.

The gospel of John does not contain a single word about helping the poor or restoring social justice. Jesus did not descriminate between rich and poor, but between proud and repentant.

The gospel focuses not on the work of Christians, but the work of Christ.

I was actually thinking again of George's parable and the reality of John the Baptist's predicament.

John, like the drowning person, called out to Jesus from jail, "aren't you the one who will set the captives free?"

Jesus answered John's followers much the same way as the guy on the beach, "yes I am, see you in heaven. Drowning or losing your head is not the end."
 


"Wonder how God feels about being the shitend of a George parable?" Pontifex

Thanks for this. Parables are told to invoke conversation. Your contributions are valued.

Help us find God as "shitend" in the silly little story told to make an observation. The fella walking by the shore asks a question and affirms the answer but does not get involved. This can't be God. God, in Jesus, of whose body we are members, gets involved. Like the Samaritan response to which the response of Priest and Levite is contrasted. A religious outsider trumps two religious insiders where compassion is expressed; or not. God is compassionate. A stark contrast to Church and State in America, as at home.

Look all about you, in Church and out of Church. What you will see is sheep and goats. No matter what the creed or culture. In every tongue, tribe and people some choose the way of life and some choose the way of death. Nothing to do with some beyond. On earth as it is in heaven.

In every age a small band of faithful followers has lifted the light of common sense and suffered for it. It will be the same with us. Woe to those Church leaders who bless the State as it begins to imprison and punish those who resist in the name of Jesus Christ.

Nothing utopian leavening this lump. The way of God is perennially rejected by the way of this world. We simply stand forward bearing faithful public witness, by which the powers and principalities spoiling the earth are named and renounced.

Jesus kept company with a circle of friends. Told stories and accomplished remarkable deeds of compassion. He did this as one of us. He authorized us to go out and do for others what God had done for us. In an exploitive and oppressive social context, Jesus brought encouragement and hope to persons, families and communities neglected and despised under prevailing social structures.

Those not yet quickened by the Spirit of Christ bickered much about whose point of view mattered most. The quickened are well aware that divergent view points provide opportunity for the expression of love. Where love prevails divergence will generate comprehension of the universal by the particular.

Always pleased to play a little verbal ping pong with you. When you get tired let me know and we can take a break.

George
 
"The gospel of John does not contain a single word about helping the poor or restoring social justice." Pontifex

Okay. One of four. Does this one trump the other three? Is Matthew's parable of sheep and goats of no account? To say nothing of his scathing denunciation of religious persons who exploit and oppress the people they are called to serve? Luke also makes this clear. And what is Luke hoping we will notice in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man? Then there is Mark's notice of an abundance of life's basic necessity to be shared with all. With lots left over after every person has had enough. Has this nothing to say about an economy benefitting all being preferable to an economy benefitting a select few? Remember Egypt?

What do you make of Jesus reading Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue?

George
 
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