Comments on: My Personal Faith! http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/ It's more wonderful than you can imagine! Tue, 15 May 2012 01:29:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Toby http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5255 Toby Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:13:01 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5255 Wow, Bruce. I learned that song in middle school chorus class (1974?)... there's a flashback! Those lyrics are so rich and relevant, but I really didn't grasp them way back then the way I do now (and want to even more). In a word: compassion. We can never have too much of that, can we? Wow, Bruce. I learned that song in middle school chorus class (1974?)… there’s a flashback! Those lyrics are so rich and relevant, but I really didn’t grasp them way back then the way I do now (and want to even more). In a word: compassion. We can never have too much of that, can we?

]]> By: Bruce http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5254 Bruce Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:26:38 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5254 I came across the words to a hymn today that really spoke to the way I feel about life... No man is an island, No man stands alone, Each man’s joy is joy to me, Each man’s grief is my own. We need one another, So I will defend Each man as my brother, Each man as my friend. <i>["No Man Is an Island," words and music by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer, 1950]</i> I came across the words to a hymn today that really spoke to the way I feel about life…

No man is an island,
No man stands alone,
Each man’s joy is joy to me,
Each man’s grief is my own.

We need one another,
So I will defend
Each man as my brother,
Each man as my friend.

["No Man Is an Island," words and music by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer, 1950]

]]> By: Bruce http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5253 Bruce Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:29:15 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5253 Great news, Don! Great news, Don!

]]> By: Don R http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5252 Don R Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:53:12 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5252 Our Source is good. The wife got as good a report as possible. 40% blockage in one small artery. Diet change and exercise are prescribed. Thanks to all for your thoughts. The LIGHT is shining through. Our Source is good. The wife got as good a report as possible. 40% blockage in one small artery. Diet change and exercise are prescribed. Thanks to all for your thoughts. The LIGHT is shining through.

]]> By: Toby http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5247 Toby Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:46:35 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5247 Audrey, I'm jazzed with the vibrancy and expectancy you exude here - it really resonates with me! I'm also grateful for others here that might not share our passion entirely. We're all flowing through diverse mindsets, seeing through a variety of perspectives and life experiences and there's something to be treasured in all of these! Thank you Cliff and all for including me / tolerating me in these conversations :-) Audrey, I’m jazzed with the vibrancy and expectancy you exude here – it really resonates with me! I’m also grateful for others here that might not share our passion entirely. We’re all flowing through diverse mindsets, seeing through a variety of perspectives and life experiences and there’s something to be treasured in all of these! Thank you Cliff and all for including me / tolerating me in these conversations :-)

]]> By: Toby http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5245 Toby Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:57:15 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5245 Audrey... I'll have what YOUR having! :-D Audrey… I’ll have what YOUR having!

:-D

]]> By: Audrey http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5244 Audrey Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:05:47 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5244 Toby - I like the example you give of the difference between a written document that is ink on paper, and the reality of the relationship that you and your wife have, because this is exactly what we experience as we turn from our head-knowledge (our old mind-set), to our hearts (metanoia). It is impossible to have a relationship with a God in the sky. That one is a figment of our imagination. The REAL one dwells within us and will lead us into all truth, teaching us moment by moment through the circumstances of life, revealing Himself through those deep FEELINGS of love, joy hope and peace. His desire for us is to experience this close relationship first-hand, not just read about it through ink on paper in scripture. Not any more through symbolic rituals and keeping of days, but through a personal relationship that is even closer than the love between husband and wife. Right now, He is the bridegroom inviting us into this love that will change the world, that will enable all the wrongs to be righted, the hungry to be fed and the world released from bondage. If you have 'seen' any of this, then the promise is to you, because He says that this generation will NOT pass away until it is fulfilled. Toby – I like the example you give of the difference between a written document that is ink on paper, and the reality of the relationship that you and your wife have, because this is exactly what we experience as we turn from our head-knowledge (our old mind-set), to our hearts (metanoia). It is impossible to have a relationship with a God in the sky. That one is a figment of our imagination. The REAL one dwells within us and will lead us into all truth, teaching us moment by moment through the circumstances of life, revealing Himself through those deep FEELINGS of love, joy hope and peace. His desire for us is to experience this close relationship first-hand, not just read about it through ink on paper in scripture. Not any more through symbolic rituals and keeping of days, but through a personal relationship that is even closer than the love between husband and wife. Right now, He is the bridegroom inviting us into this love that will change the world, that will enable all the wrongs to be righted, the hungry to be fed and the world released from bondage. If you have ’seen’ any of this, then the promise is to you, because He says that this generation will NOT pass away until it is fulfilled.

]]> By: Toby http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5239 Toby Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:55:20 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5239 I love the simplicity of the Good News / unconditional love / The Kingdom... In comparison I hate what religion did to me and what it does in general. It really messes up our heads and leaves us with a fear and doubt orientation. But somehow it's there (religion) and in a weird way I do appreciate it - for when you finally begin to surrender to the reality of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" religion becomes a dismal dark background to the vibrancy of His UNLIMITED LIGHT and LOVE being released on the inside. Religion is EXTERNAL but relationship/intimacy is WITHIN. This contrast becomes more and more distinct for me. Yes, I do respect symbolic sacraments such as those that Steve was talking about. But I do not 'trust' in external symbols any more than I 'trust' in my marriage certificate between me and my wife. That thing is filed away who-knows-where; probably faded and tattered. I give my affection and attention and trust only to her (except sometimes when the TV remote is in my hand, etc... hopefully you get my drift!). I love the simplicity of the Good News / unconditional love / The Kingdom… In comparison I hate what religion did to me and what it does in general. It really messes up our heads and leaves us with a fear and doubt orientation. But somehow it’s there (religion) and in a weird way I do appreciate it – for when you finally begin to surrender to the reality of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” religion becomes a dismal dark background to the vibrancy of His UNLIMITED LIGHT and LOVE being released on the inside. Religion is EXTERNAL but relationship/intimacy is WITHIN. This contrast becomes more and more distinct for me. Yes, I do respect symbolic sacraments such as those that Steve was talking about. But I do not ‘trust’ in external symbols any more than I ‘trust’ in my marriage certificate between me and my wife. That thing is filed away who-knows-where; probably faded and tattered. I give my affection and attention and trust only to her (except sometimes when the TV remote is in my hand, etc… hopefully you get my drift!).

]]> By: Audrey http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5238 Audrey Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:33:48 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5238 So where do you feel love Steve? And the response to love? Don't you feel that deep inside your heart, sometimes so powerful it feels like a dam might burst within you? By contrast that fear you have of losing your job comes from outside and is fed by imagining thoughts of what consequences there might be as a result. All this is in your head and if you take hold of those thoughts, they will affect your body making you sick. Those thoughts you have of being sinful and an evil one after you are all in your head, fed by religion that puts a God in the sky. Your heart wont ever tell you that. Your heart tells you that you are loved, you are unique, that every hair of your head is counted, that the spirit within you cares for you every step that you take, and he is watching you every moment, waiting for you to discover as Toby has, that he is within you and will never leave you. So where do you feel love Steve? And the response to love? Don’t you feel that deep inside your heart, sometimes so powerful it feels like a dam might burst within you? By contrast that fear you have of losing your job comes from outside and is fed by imagining thoughts of what consequences there might be as a result. All this is in your head and if you take hold of those thoughts, they will affect your body making you sick. Those thoughts you have of being sinful and an evil one after you are all in your head, fed by religion that puts a God in the sky. Your heart wont ever tell you that. Your heart tells you that you are loved, you are unique, that every hair of your head is counted, that the spirit within you cares for you every step that you take, and he is watching you every moment, waiting for you to discover as Toby has, that he is within you and will never leave you.

]]> By: steve martin http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5237 steve martin Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:31:20 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2009/01/27/my-personal-faith/#comment-5237 Audrey, Those things that I said I can trust in (for sure), all come from outside of me...from God. The feelings that I have, or emotions, or voices in my head...may be fine. But then again, they may not be (since I am sinful and since the evil one is after me also) Thanks Audrey! Audrey,

Those things that I said I can trust in (for sure), all come from outside of me…from God.

The feelings that I have, or emotions, or voices in my head…may be fine. But then again, they may not be (since I am sinful and since the evil one is after me also)

Thanks Audrey!

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