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.
I so respect what Cliff wrote in his post "My Last Post"
And I too have felt that way for a long time. Then yesterday The Airplane Trip from Califorina to Pennsylvania gave me something I have not had in a long time. The opportunity to share with open minded people in public. One was a 12 stepper one was a wife of a pastor in California who heads a church with some well know Hollywood actors as members and friends. I am still processing the whole thing and when I have the trip sorted out I will post about it and how one 5 1/2 plane trip gave me hope for the future. Let me just say that the Message of Bold Grace is spreading! Until that post…..
From our friend Carlton Pearson:
First they Laugh at You
Then they Ignore You
Then they Fight You
Then You WIN!
Peace & Love
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
1. I believe: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
2. I believe: It is hard to Enter through the narrow gate.
3. I believe: That wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
4. I believe: That small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
5. I believe: That we should come out from them and be separate.
6. I believe: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
7. I believe: Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
8. I believe: That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
9. I believe: That He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
10. I believe: This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
11. I believe: He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
12. I believe: For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
13. I believe: Jesus came into the world for Judgment.
14. I believe: He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it.
15. I believe: No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
That’s right I believe ALL of those things! Does that surprise you? Over the coming weeks I will take each one of the 15 things and give you my explanation of each one. In the mean time can you figure out how I can believe each one of these things? Because on the surface they seem to say just the OPPOSITE of what we say here on Bold Grace.
More Later
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
I was sitting here reading comments, and started thinking about all the wonderful people I’ve met through the Internet, and more specifically, through blogging. And I find myself wondering… "how’s everybody doing"? Are you doing OK? Health good? Are you happy? Are your needs being met? Do you have enough to eat… clothes to wear? Don’t be shy, this is a safe place. Or, if you are more comfortable sharing privately, please write any of the BoldGrace team (on the contact page). I invite you to share your life with us all… catch us up… let us know how you’re doing.
To all my cherished old friends, and to all our beloved new friends, and to all the visitors who stop by to read, but haven’t yet spoken… let us hear from you! We are so thankful for you, and look forward to knowing you better.
Love to all.
Tonight I experienced a surprising moment in time. I was reading a new book and my dog Lucy came bouncing in the house all excited. I wasn’t sure why until I looked in the kitchen and she had killed a bird and brought it in to show me. I picked up this beautiful creature and held it in my hand. My first reaction was the need to discard it and then something very unexpected happened to me. I started to cry. I cried harder and harder until I almost couldn’t control myself. As I held that little bird I was overwhelmed by how precious all life is. It reminded me of a time a few months back when I thought I was losing my wife to a terrible illness that I had no control over. It reminded me of the countless people who are experiencing terrible grief and loss even as I held that lifeless little bird in my hand. I wasn’t crying just for the bird, I was crying for the entire human race and all of creation.
Maybe it wasn’t even me that was crying? Maybe the All Loving Creator within me was showing me how connected we are to all living things. I think we humans are so much into our own little small worlds that we truly miss this all encompassing universe that holds the same value for every single part. Yes, that even includes the sweet little bird that I will miss it’s singing in the morning. Oh, there will be others who will sing, but isn’t that one little voice to be missed?
My brothers would laugh at me, and probably will if they read this, but I was changed tonight and I think it was for the good. So, as I lay my head down tonight I will pray a prayer of thanks for the short little life of that precious bird, and I will thank my loving Creator for reminding me HOW PRECIOUS ALL LIFE IS.
37%
Peace
Geo
P.S. Pass that leg please!
