Seasons
Lying
about the truth
Euphemisms:
a word or phrase to lessen the hurt.
Like saying someone has 'passed away', when 'died' seems too
abrupt, too brutal. And soon 'pushing up
daisies'.
Or being 'let go', when actually you're
being 'fired'.
Euphemisms:
sometimes used to hide the truth.
Like some of the Bush administration speaking of 'enhanced interrogation
techniques' when they meant torture.
Or
where 'collateral damage' actually means the bombing of women and children and
other civilians.
Or us substituting 'mistake' for 'sin',
or ' busy' for 'lazy', or 'sick' for 'evil'
Perhaps
we are all 'spiritually challenged'.
Let's tell the truth about truth -
with love.
'How many legs does a dog have if you call
the tail a leg?
Four; calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a
leg.' Abraham Lincoln
re-forming
church - Preaching, and
a fundamental error
It's
variously expressed: "I've heard it all before." "Why should I come when I know it all?" "So when do you get to graduate from sermons?" "I didn't get anything out of that."
Such
reactions point to a fundamental error about preaching, thinking that the primary
purpose is communicating information. No, the primary purpose of preaching is
transformation - changed lives, changed lifestyles. Information (from the Bible,
theology and life) is important, but is used by the Holy Spirit to probe and convict
and challenge and inspire. God's word is
more than words, his revelation is more than information. Now that you know these things. you will be blessed if you do them
(John 13:17)
The preacher
is not looking to give a diploma examination.
The
preacher is praying and preparing, and hoping for people seeking life
transformation.
So
maybe we need to hear that familiar material again and again until....
Sometimes
a relevant question is, "What did I learn today?"
But
always the key question is, "What has God challenged me to change today?"
an intriguing
book title -
'Just Do Something: How to
make a decision without dreams, visions, fleeces, open doors, random Bible
verses, casting lots, liver shivers, writing in the sky etc'
Life and peace -
Verse: The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
Prayer: Lord, let this be the checklist,
is
my day marked by life and peace?
Lord,
let my mind order my day,
with
the life and peace you provide.
Drop your still dews of quietness, till all
my strivings cease
Take from my mind the
strain and stress, and let my ordered life confess
The beauty of your
peace.
Amen
sunday@discovery - Psalm 99 for worship, and the Sovereignty of
God
sign off -
I
saw the movie 'Defiance' the other day; a portrayal of Jews living for three
years in the forests of Belarus fleeing capture by Nazi hunters. But also a
story of the struggle to stay human, of dealing with the need to kill, of
surmounting family breakdown, of hope in the midst of despair. Defiance indeed! Good movie.
Meanwhile
we work the work of God today.
Blessings
Garry
End
Quote: 'He who wishes to paint Christ's
story must live with Christ.' Fra
Angelico (1387-1455)
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