BoldGrace

Over the last week or so, I’ve been keeping track of some things I’ve said in conversation with others. These are by no means original thought. They are sayings that have rattled around in my brain through the last few years, some coming from my friends, some from various books, and some from my heart. But, sometimes I write something, and find the resulting verbiage remarkable! Sometimes, I’m not really sure where it came from, but it was the perfect thing to say at that time. So, I jot them down so I can remember. And now, I share them with you. Use them freely in your own conversations, and please add you own through the comment section! Thanks!

• Freedom is only for the free.

• If your salvation is determined by "what you believe", doesn’t that make you responsible for your own salvation? And if only God can save someone… doesn’t that make you God?

• You can only know if your love for God is genuine if you understand that he loves you completely and deeply, and without expectation or requirement.

• Love is a response, not an action.

• If you think God doubts you, then you will doubt God.

• If you know that God loves you, then nothing else will matter. If you don’t know that, nothing else will make any difference.

• Is God’s love so fickle that he only loves those who love him first?

• God in me loves God in you.

• Only love can birth love.

• Christ was the greatest teacher of the Law. He expanded on the depths of its purpose to the point that everyone had to admit that complying with it was far outside their grasp. He pushed and pushed and let them fester in their fears. Why? Because he needed to set the stage for a redeeming event! He used their religion against them to show them their self-righteousness and cause them to cry out for a savior!

• The definition of "self-righteousness" is when we think we can influence God’s thoughts for us, or against us.

• The concept of Universal Reconciliation doesn’t imply that God forces everyone to choose him. It simply states that God chose us! Why? Because he created us in perfection, and loves what he created.

• God says that we should love others, even when they fail us. It is possible that he holds himself to the same standard?

• If you think God will hate you because you don’t believe the correct things, you will give yourself license to hate others because of their incorrect beliefs.

• True belief can only exist when the requirement to believe is removed.

Out in the blogging community, there are a number of blogs I frequent, and interact on. In a recent exchange, I wrote this to someone who was not very happy with me and my concept of God. My ideas do not fit well with that individual’s religious beliefs and after a string of comments, this came from my fingertips. I liked what was said, and thought it would be good to share with you all…

——————————————————–

You sound so angry. And I’m sorry you have to live in that illusion. But, it is truly not who you are. I know that underneath it all, we are exactly the same. Our spirits connect on a base level that cannot be explained. I don’t see you as religious person. All that, is baggage that was added on to your physical reality at some point… maybe at your own choosing, maybe not. But, that doesn’t matter. You are not what your baggage makes you appear to be. You are much, much more than that. Deep down, you are a beautiful child of God, a glorious participant in the Kingdom, created by the Source of all spirit, the giver of Life and the perfect Lover of souls. Because He loves you, I love you. There is no truth beyond that.

God is Love. If that is the truth, then nothing else matters. If it is not, then nothing else will make any difference. No religion, no doctrine, no faith, no rituals, no ceremonies, no icons, no rites, no stained windows, no flying buttresses, no… well you get the idea.

All I’m saying is, I encourage everyone to stop looking at the flesh, and try to see people as the true spirit of God within, made perfect by the Cross of Christ (whether they know it or not), a participant in the Kingdom of God. Look for the light in everyone you meet, and if you don’t see it, assume it is there anyway, because it is. Love will birth love. It all started with God, and it continues through Him in us. Look past the trappings and baggage that the world has hung on us, and peer into the inner heart of those around you, and see that it is good.

Just as God has judged us as "good", judge others as good. Even if they don’t appear to be, give them the benefit of the doubt… because God gave us the benefit of any doubt. He redeemed us to Himself while asking nothing of us. Give others the same gift of incredible love. Forgive and forget. Love deeply. Because you are loved deeply.

The trip out to California last week was a long one. All the seats were full, three across leaving no wiggle room for a big guy like me hahaha! It was a two-part trip with a change of planes. The first leg was Pittsburgh to Phoenix, which was 4 ½ hours. And only 25 minutes from the time I got off one plane to get to the other. Needless to say I just made the connector. Then a 1 ½ hour flight from Phoenix to Burbank, Ca. where I picked up my vehicle and drove to Corona, Ca to the hotel. The week was uneventful except for the California Freeway traffic! What a cluster !@#$%^&>:?<!!!!!! So that brings me to the reason of this post. After a week in California I was now not looking forward to that 5 ½ hours plane ride! But one thing was for sure I wanted OUT of California! I boarded the plane and sat beside a young man who looked to be in his early to mid thirties. He on the window side me on the aisle with a seat waiting to be filled in the middle. If you have never flown SWA I will tell you the seating is NOT assigned it is first come first served. So as the plane began to be filled I keep thinking, please no one choose the seat between us so that I have some of the before mentioned wiggle room! Hahaha And no one did! WOW! What a relief. So as the plane was leaving the ground the guy in my row says to me he doesn’t like planes especially take offs and landings. To which I reply, Don’t let it bother you because you are not leaving this life until your time has come and anyway its not the plane going down that is the problem it is that hard crash that is the issue! We both laughed and he said, you know I believe that about life ending only when your time is up and not before. Then the conversation went silent until we reached cruising altitude. And then we made small talk about where we were from, sports teams and occupations. He was from a beach city in California was a in the tile business and lived on a boat. Again after a few minutes the conversation went silent. Then I don’t remember how it came up but he said he was in a 12 Step Program for Alcoholism. We talked of that and of his progress to which I congratulated his on his sobriety. Then he proceed to tell me how his brother was this weird evangelical Christian who had figured out the world was going to end in thirty two months. He said his brother claims to have it down to the very day! Well then that opened the door for me to tell him the REAL GOOD NEWS! That the world already ended 2008 years ago and that his brother was redeemed and that he also was redeemed regardless if he accepted Jesus or not Jesus accepted him and lives in his heart! He said, so you believe my higher power is Jesus even though I don’t call it that”? “Yes I do”  I responded. And he said that’s cool. “So you think Jesus is in everybody”, he said. “YES I do “, I responded. They just don’t know it yet. And that is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about I told him announcing to people what has already taken place. WITHOUT their acceptance or belief! Of course we went on to discuss many of the same things we talk of here on Bold Grace to which he said, “I wish my brother was here to hear this”! I can’t wait to get back from my trip to talk with him about what you have told me! I love my brother he said, but on this topic of religion he is a nut! I wished him well and requested that he always look within himself and follow his heart because that is where God is. He is not out there somewhere waiting for you to follow Him. He is inside waiting to be let out!
I was going to write of both of my encounters on this trip but I will post of the encounter with the Hollywood Pastor’s Wife in another post. Just as a little taste, we talked from Phoenix to Pittsburgh non stop for four hours!

Stay Tuned
To be continued…………….

Grace & Peace   
Geo

Our GOOD Friends over at the Gospel Revolution had an email question & answer session last night and if you ever had questions about what some of us here at Bold Grace believe go give it a listen here

http://www.glennkleinonline.com/webcast/guests/mwilliams.html

Click on the AUGUST 14, 2008 Episode and give it a listen. It was one of their best shows ever!

Peace

Geo

I posted this back in 2006 and after listening to it again I thought it a good one for everyone to take into this weekend Give it a LISTEN

DISCLAIMER:
These explanations are not necessarily the views and opinions of all or even any on the Bold Grace Team other than myself. (Geo)

2.    I believe: It is hard to Enter through the narrow gate. (Matt. 7)
3.    I believe: That wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (Matt. 7)
4.    I believe: That small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matt. 7)
Jesus said in Matthew 7: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

First let me start by asking a question…. What is Jesus talking about “entering” here?
I was taught in my evangelical days that the passage was talking about two places. Those that entered through the narrow and small gate were entering into the kingdom of heaven. But those who entered the wide and broad way were entering into hell. And that “ENTERING INTO LIFE” meant entering into heaven. But a closer examination of these passages says something quite different and life giving. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. If you read it slowly and carefully you will see that BOTH the narrow gate and the broad way are entering into the same thing! He does NOT say the narrow gate leads into one place and the wide and broad way lead to another! He does say that there are few who find the small gate and narrow way and those enter in. He does say that there are many who take the wide and broad way and they ALSO enter in! His advice here is to enter in through the small narrow gate and not through the wide broad way.

So what are these two ways? Just this………. The small gate and narrow way is only one thing, GRACE! And there are few who find it when compared to the wide & broad way. So what is the wide & broad way that many or most enter in through? LAWS, RULES & REGULATIONS. And how many religions have them? ALL do. Every religion that I know of has some types of rules or practices you must follow in order to be close to God or the God Nature. That road is VERY WIDE & BROAD and it leads to the destruction of self and the adherents enter through it. The Small & Narrow way of Grace Alone is the hardest thing and way to live in this realm! Why is it hard? Because the human psyche above ALL THINGS wants to be justified by what it does, says or accomplishes. Everything in life from the time we are born teaches and reinforces this. Examples of this are, Children are told, “If you are a good boy daddy will buy you that new fire truck.” Or “If you are a good girl mommy will buy you a Barbie Doll.” Or this, “ If you don’t quit doing that I am going to punish you.”  Then as adults, “Johnny if you can get this done on time we will give you the rest of the week off with pay. “ or “Johnny if this is not done on time your services will no longer be needed by this company.” I know these are generic things but you get the meaning. We are taught by the world from the cradle to the grave, “Do Good, Get Good, Do Bad, Get Beat” In the end this leads to destruction of a person. Or they become a driven self-centered egotistical maniac without even being aware of it.

The other small & narrow way is GRACE and it is very hard to enter in through. Grace says the only thing is GRACE! When you are wronged by another you give GRACE. When you wrong someone else you give yourself GRACE. If you think that is not a small and narrow gate then go see if you can find it in everyday in every situation! You see in this life we will use both gates and ways. Some days I use and can find the Narrow Way (Grace) very clearly. Other days I could not find the Small Gate (GRACE) If I tripped over it! Some days I enjoy trying to make others take the Broad way! Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t because you do to! Some days I love to try and help others see the Small Gate and so do you. So in the end both ways will enter into heaven and we all with great awe will stand together before Him who loved use and gave Himself for us that we might be one with Him as He is one with The Father. At least that is my belief at this time in my life. And as always let me add, I could be full of shit! Hahaha!

Standing at The Gates
Geo

There have been a lot of questions asked lately as to what we believe here at Bold Grace. So I have a challenge for all who POST, READ OR COMMENT HERE. Go to the link below

http://www.glennkleinonline.com/webcast/guests/mwilliams.html

and listen to the webcast dated 6-18-2008. Then you will have the answer to some of the questions that you ask of us here at Bold Grace. The men on the show are Glenn and Mike. They are two good friends of Bold Grace and proclaimers of The Gospel of Grace & Peace. Then come back here AFTER you listen to the show in its entirety and tell us what your thoughts are.

Peace

Geo

What is IT?
Answer: IT Is

How do I get IT?
Answer: IT can be gotten, but is had by ALL

How do I keep IT?
Answer: It can’t be kept, but is kept by ALL

How can I know I have IT?
Answer: If you need to know how to have it then you don’t have IT.

Can I teach others how to get IT?
Answer: IT can’t be taught to others, but others are taught by IT.

Can IT be seen?
Answer: It can’t be seen but is visible to ALL

Can IT see?
Answer: IT cannot see but sees ALL

Can IT be touched?
Answer: IT can’t be touched but IT touches ALL.

To be continued……………….

Peace

Geo

It has been said that the Internet, with its open exchange of information and ideas, caused the demise of the Soviet Union. When a people, closed off to the outside world, living in unrealized bondage to a system (a system they thought brought them security), are able to escape for a moment (even if just electronically), they might begin to glimpse a freedom to which they have had no access previously, and start to yearn for more. The contrast between "what is", and "what could be", ignites a passion that becomes an unstoppable force. And that force has the power to change the world.

I wonder if the Internet will also become the demise of organized religion?

Ben Franklin said, "Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security."