
After posting the blog, “The Best Christmas (Pudding) Ever” God spoke to me through my wife (yet again :- ) It wasn’t anything too profound, just, “You should correct the description below the photos to Great Nana Kyle’s table tennis tournament rather than Nana Kyle’s.‘
Many years ago my mother had given us some money with which we decided to buy a little trophy cup that the 9 of us then would compete for each year. She played Table tennis into her 80’s – when she was still ‘competitive’ enough to beat the ‘young fellas’!
I was convicted that even though this was correcting a minor detail in the blog, the ‘little things’ are important as we move toward that ‘perfect day’
The following morning I got a long email from a reader, a brother who felt I was just plain ‘wrong’ on some contemporary belief and behavior issues.
I’ve described this as a ‘Family Blog‘ Most of you I have met face to face. We have a relationship. I know we share the same values – faith in God, love for others and a treasuring of family. I also appreciate how ‘diverse’ my readership is and seek to be sensitive to this, while faithful to ‘provoke one another to love and good deeds.” (Heb.10:24)
The Greek word used here translated ‘provoke’ is ‘paroxysmon‘ ‘I remember in my medical student days learning about the life threatening condition “Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnoea ” pictured in a person awakening to feel themselves suffocating and violently jumping up gasping for air!
‘Speaking the truth’ as we perceive it even ‘in love’ can indeed be ‘life threatening’ to a relationship! But this is our responsibility to one another and so I appreciate those who have reaching out to me in this concerned way even as others have expressed appreciation for the provocation my sometimes ‘out of the box’ perspectives or links are offering.
“ The Lord disciplines those he loves, as a FATHER the son he delights in.” (Heb. 12:6)
It is always good, though uncomfortable, to be challenged, and so I have been holding the comments before my Father asking him to sift them and to sift me through them. While we all think we are working with ‘the facts’ it can be as if we are watching the same world events play out in a screen, but find ourselves to be perceiving two very different movies!
I have been helped in this sifting ‘process’ at the level of both soul and spirit, not only by Hilary, but by some faithful brothers I have been blessed to be given face to face and life to life ‘koinonia’ with, at this time. They each have deep personal experience of life’s fiery trials……..and of me!!
Email communication about matters ‘of the heart’ are difficult which is why I have not opened up the ‘comments section’ on these blogs.
I have replied to my friend affirming my ongoing love and appreciation but expressing my reluctance to enter into a lengthy ongoing point by point debate at this time……….
The next few days, weeks and months will likely be tumultuous for us all. I have been given Jeremiah 30:34 for this season.
“See, the STORM of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. IN DAYS TO COME YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THIS”
No matter who ends up in the White House…..
GODSELECTION will inevitably involve FATHERSCORRECTION.
May we all be able to identify and embrace his hand of loving discipline personally, as a church and in our lands.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23,24)
I have suggested to my friend that in line with, “In days to come you will understand this.” we check back in with one another later, for..
TIME WILL TELL
Another point I have been convicted of at the start of this New Year is to trust that “people (including me thankfully!) can change.”…. for the worse yes, but even more importantly…. for the better.
“Yet, O Lord, you are our FATHER, We are the clay you are the potter, we are all the work of your hand.” (Is. 64:8)
Let us not hold on to old negative judgments we have made about anyone (including ourselves) but remember that our FATHER is the God of the ‘second….and third and forth…. chance.” He is “the potter” who can break and remold his creations.
What we have chosen to do over this ‘holy-day’ season, is we believe, scientifically sound, fully responsible behavior, free of guilt and fear.
I will continue to post what I believe I’ve been given to share. I am no pope, and don’t claim to be an ‘expert’ so as you read these blogs please do not take my word for anything. Instead take responsibility to do your own research. Discern and decide for yourself what is real and true. Then take a loving and courageous stand for what you are given to personally believe – in your heart. “Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Rm.14:23)
If you have found the blogs or the links helpful please feel free to pass them on as lead, as I know some of you do. While I am reluctant to get into much discussion outside of a live encounter, I welcome all input, positive and negative, and am happy to answer any questions.
Real science is never ‘settled’ and thrives on questioning. For those of you who want to pursue things further, I am posting three more recent studies/articles below that have confirmed to us personally how we have chosen to celebrate and live our daily lives.
……….and finally, a video of how on Sunday a row of “schrunchingly distanced” beautiful little girls (like the two at the top!) – from our family and the neighborhood, demonstrated ‘The Miracle of Love’
Watch the gravity disappear! : – )