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Archive for Thinking outside the box

Dying to self/ the self that must die(?)

September 9, 2007 at 5:05 pm · Filed under Celtic Spirituality, Christianity, Church, Everyday faith, God, Thinking outside the box

Sometimes our prayers are for deliverance from conditions which are morally indispensable–that is, conditions which are absolutely necessary to our redemption. God does not grant us those requests. He will not because He loves us with a pure and implacable purpose: that Christ be formed in us. If Christ is to live in my heart, if his life is to be lived in me, I will not be able to contain Him. The self, small and hard and resisting as a nut, will have to be ruptured. My own purposes and desires and hopes will have to at times be exploded. The rupture of the self is death, but out of death comes life. The acorn must rupture if an oak tree is to grow.

–Elisabeth Elliott

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Ireland is full of water

August 11, 2007 at 5:45 pm · Filed under Celtic Spirituality, Christianity, Church, God, Inter Faith Dialogue, Irish Christianity, Looking outside the box, Prayer, Thinking outside the box

(Moy river. Photo by Jan)

The one desire which grows more and more is to give … Giving and receiving are at bottom one thing, dependent upon whether one lives open or closed. Living openly one becomes a medium, a transmitter, living thus, as a river, one experiences life to the full, flows along with the current of life, and dies in order to live again as an ocean.

~ Henry Miller

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Internet Shopping 2: SPRITUAL THERAPY

July 13, 2007 at 10:00 pm · Filed under Bible, Christianity, Church, Contemporary Theology, God, Inter Faith Dialogue, Mission, Thinking outside the box

babyhedge.jpg

Cutie picture apropos of nothing….but here’s another liberal helping of superlative bloggery

Congratulations to Cranach Blog for receiving the Riversmeeting God’s Golfball Award for thinking outside the box.

  • Adrian Warnock The one where all Noel’s sermons come from?
  • Albert Mohler He’s the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who also does a daily live radio show.
  • Between Two Worlds What can I say? I love bridge-builders… even the title picture had me hooked.
  • Desiring God Blog We are always referring to John Piper. Check out this uber-blog.

    • And a few hon mentions:

  • Exegetical Reflections
  • Expository Thoughts
  • Girl Talk
  • Gospel Driven Blog
  • Gospel Driven Life
  • Helm’s Deep
  • In Light of the Gospel
  • Jim Hamilton
  • Josh Harris
  • Pure Church
  • Pyromaniacs
  • Reformation 21
  • Spirit of God
  • Stand to Reason
  • Terry Virgo I once shared a lift in a Bristol hotel with this guy and I can assure you that he says “What floor do you want?” in the kindest possible tones.
  • The best is yet to come All this and heaven too.
  • The Shepherd’s Scrapbook High quality pastoral exposition
  • Tim Challies
  • Together for the Gospel
  • Word and Spirit
  • Worship Matters

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    So sad (frightening and confusing)

    July 8, 2007 at 1:45 pm · Filed under Bible, Christianity, Contemporary Theology, Thinking outside the box, Videoblog

    I’m so sad..

    (and frightened and confused).

    Most of you at Rivers will know that G. overdosed a couple of days ago. Some of the guys are going down to the funeral on Tuesday. It’s sad because his life was just beginning. Some of you were with us at Mary’s a few weeks back when he prayed to let Jesus into his life.

    It’s frightening because there is just so much addiction ruling our lives all around here….

    It’s confusing because sometimes you think that as soon as someone becomes a Christian all their problems are over. Sometimes, the opposite is true. When you come into the real world of God, the pressures can mount.

    Remember Cirroc, the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer from Saturday Night Live in the 90’s. As he would speak to the jury, he would always say “I am just a caveman.  Your world frightens and confuses me.”

    Join the crowd. 

    I read a story posted about a woman who bled to death in a convenience store while others shopped.  One lady even took a picture of the dying woman with her cell phone.  Frightening and confusing.

    In the midst of everything frightening and confusing in this world, we’re reminded of 1 Peter 3:14: 

    “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened.”

    Don’t be afraid. Now is the time to trust him more. In a frightening and confusing world, the rock stands firm. Even when your life threatens to crumble… the rock stands solid.

    (Thanks to http://floatingaxhead.com/2007/07/08/this-world-frightens-and-confuses-me/)

    Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!

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