This is based on a viral that is going round social media, I can't remember it precisely, but this will do...
1 + 1 = 3
2 + 2 = 6
3 + 3 = 9
5 + 5 = ?
You may answer 15. I did first time as well.
Actually, the answer is 10.
If you see a bundle of incorrect statements, there is no reason to follow the logic into another conclusion. 5 plus 5 is still 10, even if others say it isn't.
You see?
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 June 2013
Friday, 31 August 2012
Victory
I think it is "Christus Victor" on my mp3 player (another Kingsway freebie) which ends with a short sermon of sorts from the singer.
He talks about football team "victories", countries taking over other countries "victories" but he says that these are all temporary, it all changes, beit in a year, or a hundred years, someone else gets their time and so on and so forth.
Only one victory is permanent. Selah.
It's difficult to express my attitude towards a certain situation at the moment without sounding like I'm "giving in", but I think some people need to let go.
If I was directly affected by it, I would feel differently, sure, but at the same time I think I would need to stop and ask some important questions:
Who is the Master of life and death anyway? Who has control of this person's life? Who has already won the victory?
The answer to all of them is the Answer to the problem. Trouble is, too many people have decided they know what's best and are, effectively, in my mind, telling God what to do, when they should just...let...go and give it to Him. Yes, it's painful. Yes, the result may not be what you are praying for. But who is Master of your life? Who is Master of their's?
My friend, who had a brush with death, the other week said "What I care about is that God's will is done." I believed them. But with their mouths other people are saying "Thy will be done" (...but as long as it's mine too)
For someone in Christ, death is not an ending. It can seem like an ending to those left behind and I can hardly begin to empathise. But something in my nature is seeing the practical side of all this, that one day, I will see all of my friends again, and I may actually end up kind of jealous if they go before me.
The fear of years and years of loneliness is something I have lived with - but this fear is starting to dissipate. Incredibly, all this stuff going on in and around the churches, mine and others I've heard of, those critically ill, or had a brush with death, or lost a spouse due to critical illness...has improved my prayer life 100 fold and...given me hope that I can cope for a time that has a high chance of occuring. And this, in itself, was an answer to prayer...
Late edit approx 16:45: It's over. Another spirit gone to be with the Lord Jesus, and another lonely heart on earth. It's a circle we may never understand and will only be ended once the final victory is won.
He talks about football team "victories", countries taking over other countries "victories" but he says that these are all temporary, it all changes, beit in a year, or a hundred years, someone else gets their time and so on and so forth.
Only one victory is permanent. Selah.
It's difficult to express my attitude towards a certain situation at the moment without sounding like I'm "giving in", but I think some people need to let go.
If I was directly affected by it, I would feel differently, sure, but at the same time I think I would need to stop and ask some important questions:
Who is the Master of life and death anyway? Who has control of this person's life? Who has already won the victory?
The answer to all of them is the Answer to the problem. Trouble is, too many people have decided they know what's best and are, effectively, in my mind, telling God what to do, when they should just...let...go and give it to Him. Yes, it's painful. Yes, the result may not be what you are praying for. But who is Master of your life? Who is Master of their's?
My friend, who had a brush with death, the other week said "What I care about is that God's will is done." I believed them. But with their mouths other people are saying "Thy will be done" (...but as long as it's mine too)
For someone in Christ, death is not an ending. It can seem like an ending to those left behind and I can hardly begin to empathise. But something in my nature is seeing the practical side of all this, that one day, I will see all of my friends again, and I may actually end up kind of jealous if they go before me.
The fear of years and years of loneliness is something I have lived with - but this fear is starting to dissipate. Incredibly, all this stuff going on in and around the churches, mine and others I've heard of, those critically ill, or had a brush with death, or lost a spouse due to critical illness...has improved my prayer life 100 fold and...given me hope that I can cope for a time that has a high chance of occuring. And this, in itself, was an answer to prayer...
Late edit approx 16:45: It's over. Another spirit gone to be with the Lord Jesus, and another lonely heart on earth. It's a circle we may never understand and will only be ended once the final victory is won.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
God likes patterns
Schedules (which are man made) He dislikes.
His patterns do not necessarily have to be symmetrical, like a kaleidoscope for instance, although the patterns are forever changing. No, just look at the petals on a flower, the clouds in the sky, leopards, giraffes, zebras, peacocks, in fact any animal that is highly decorated and there isn't a pattern in our own understanding; we like things to be neat. Ordered. Something we can understand. Something that is easy to copy. Something within our comfort zone that is pleasing to the eye - we think we need things symmetrical, yet, what causes us to look at a non ordered landscape and agree that it is an area of outstanding beauty? Yet, unless you want your life to reflect your artistic tendencies, (we all have them) you want your life to be checkerboard, or at least predictable.
But God doesn't work like that. His artist pallet has colours and mixes which cannot be duplicated here on earth, for His patterns are not only visible in creation manifested, but some are sensed, like music, or the overwhelming impetus in a church to sing, pray, reveal the mysterious gifts described in Romans and Corinthians, all by the move of His awesome Holy Spirit.
He shows me patterns in what I do, and this helps me understand Him more. Through the choruses chosen, there is a message. Sometimes that message is repeated back, verbally, through the leader or the speaker. It's then I know that God is still in charge, that He is moving, to mould us and shape us into His perfect pattern.
His patterns do not necessarily have to be symmetrical, like a kaleidoscope for instance, although the patterns are forever changing. No, just look at the petals on a flower, the clouds in the sky, leopards, giraffes, zebras, peacocks, in fact any animal that is highly decorated and there isn't a pattern in our own understanding; we like things to be neat. Ordered. Something we can understand. Something that is easy to copy. Something within our comfort zone that is pleasing to the eye - we think we need things symmetrical, yet, what causes us to look at a non ordered landscape and agree that it is an area of outstanding beauty? Yet, unless you want your life to reflect your artistic tendencies, (we all have them) you want your life to be checkerboard, or at least predictable.
But God doesn't work like that. His artist pallet has colours and mixes which cannot be duplicated here on earth, for His patterns are not only visible in creation manifested, but some are sensed, like music, or the overwhelming impetus in a church to sing, pray, reveal the mysterious gifts described in Romans and Corinthians, all by the move of His awesome Holy Spirit.
He shows me patterns in what I do, and this helps me understand Him more. Through the choruses chosen, there is a message. Sometimes that message is repeated back, verbally, through the leader or the speaker. It's then I know that God is still in charge, that He is moving, to mould us and shape us into His perfect pattern.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Power and Authority
Had a bizarre day yesterday - everything I touched fell to pieces, but somehow I could only laugh at the various scrapes I got myself into.
I realise now that He has me strong enough to face minor difficulties, and all the tribulations of the last few months have just strengthened my armour.
And practice tonight was more than just practice, it was worship. We practice in a place that is also a voting station (separate room of course), fairly close to the front door, so we were giving it large to those coming in and going out...
The worship this week is very much Power Praise, I wasn't really thinking of it being polling day when I was choosing them, more that one had been put on my heart (see earlier post) and trying to fit others around it.
Where the worship recently has been all about God the Creator, the theme has shifted to Power and Authority - recognising His, obviously, but maybe also the Power of His Promise..
...hmm must look it up. Pray about it. Perhaps I can share it. After reading a post in another blog which discussed whether WL's should say anything during worship or not, I was gratified to find out that they should mostly stick to their anointing and leave to God the rest, however, I strongly believe a service is for everyone, and if I, even the WL, has something to share, I should share it.
I may be undertaking a new task within the church group too. God's getting me linked in good, discarding the last vestiges of doubt.
Also, today I relieved myself of an old skeleton, or at least took steps to dismantle it. I agree with something Bossman said recently: we should be squeaky clean, anything that is in our power to sort out, we should try, asking God to hold our hand through it. I did, the rest is up to God. I will bear any consequence from this, but, somehow, as a King's Kid, I believe it will turn out for good. I certainly feel better for it already.
I realise now that He has me strong enough to face minor difficulties, and all the tribulations of the last few months have just strengthened my armour.
And practice tonight was more than just practice, it was worship. We practice in a place that is also a voting station (separate room of course), fairly close to the front door, so we were giving it large to those coming in and going out...
The worship this week is very much Power Praise, I wasn't really thinking of it being polling day when I was choosing them, more that one had been put on my heart (see earlier post) and trying to fit others around it.
Where the worship recently has been all about God the Creator, the theme has shifted to Power and Authority - recognising His, obviously, but maybe also the Power of His Promise..
...hmm must look it up. Pray about it. Perhaps I can share it. After reading a post in another blog which discussed whether WL's should say anything during worship or not, I was gratified to find out that they should mostly stick to their anointing and leave to God the rest, however, I strongly believe a service is for everyone, and if I, even the WL, has something to share, I should share it.
I may be undertaking a new task within the church group too. God's getting me linked in good, discarding the last vestiges of doubt.
Also, today I relieved myself of an old skeleton, or at least took steps to dismantle it. I agree with something Bossman said recently: we should be squeaky clean, anything that is in our power to sort out, we should try, asking God to hold our hand through it. I did, the rest is up to God. I will bear any consequence from this, but, somehow, as a King's Kid, I believe it will turn out for good. I certainly feel better for it already.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Highest calling
"In my opinion the role of the worship leader is one of the highest callings anyone could receive. As such, make sure the desire of your heart is not for a position or a church appointment but rather that you might glorify and worship God in everything you do. Forget about status. Forget about leadership. You cannot be ambitious as a worship leader because your role is to decrease that He might increase." Robin Mark
This short article touched me to the core. You can read all of it here.
This short article touched me to the core. You can read all of it here.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
The Kingdom Clock
I offloaded some of my concerns to a good Christian friend yesterday, and was relieved to have him back me up for most of it. It's nice to know you're not alone, and he's closer to my age than most others I know...
Some people just want to fast forward the Kingdom Clock, or at least have the pendulum move a little quicker. It doesn't work like that.
The Race, it seems to me, will be a dead heat. And God will make sure of that. He doesn't need anyone to make it go any quicker than it is.
And everyone has their own pace.
Some people just want to fast forward the Kingdom Clock, or at least have the pendulum move a little quicker. It doesn't work like that.
The Race, it seems to me, will be a dead heat. And God will make sure of that. He doesn't need anyone to make it go any quicker than it is.
And everyone has their own pace.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
What's your ministry?
Worship leading is, of course, a ministry in itself. But as any leader will tell you, God gives you a sub-ministry, a specialism if you like.
I've observed other worship leaders and Christian songwriters, and they do indeed have a specialism. Where do you find the one for you, you may wonder. Exactly where the other leaders, pastors, elders, missionaries and apostles find theirs. Isaiah 61:
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (KJV 1611)
Every Christian is all of that, but think about it, we are all a little bit of God, and mortal, we can't be expected to be everything in full measure. So God gives you an annointing in one particular area.
Brian Doerksen's, for instance, is "bind up the brokenhearted"
Robin Mark's is "proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord"
Matt Redman's, I believe, is "beauty for ashes"
You could add to this, you get my point.
Yesterday, I think God was telling me what mine was. I need confirmation before I state it here, but it was surprising. I had some precious meandGod time in Rhos, sitting in a place where you can see the North Wales coast from Prestatyn to Colwyn Bay, really getting my feelings into perspective...
I'm sorta at a loose end today, no singing lesson, and a stretch of about 8 hours before a Praise Night, glorious anticipation of what is to come. Oh, and I decided I would mention my feelings about it. I decided I had nothing to lose by being honest, and saying it out loud.
I've observed other worship leaders and Christian songwriters, and they do indeed have a specialism. Where do you find the one for you, you may wonder. Exactly where the other leaders, pastors, elders, missionaries and apostles find theirs. Isaiah 61:
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (KJV 1611)
Every Christian is all of that, but think about it, we are all a little bit of God, and mortal, we can't be expected to be everything in full measure. So God gives you an annointing in one particular area.
Brian Doerksen's, for instance, is "bind up the brokenhearted"
Robin Mark's is "proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord"
Matt Redman's, I believe, is "beauty for ashes"
You could add to this, you get my point.
Yesterday, I think God was telling me what mine was. I need confirmation before I state it here, but it was surprising. I had some precious meandGod time in Rhos, sitting in a place where you can see the North Wales coast from Prestatyn to Colwyn Bay, really getting my feelings into perspective...
I'm sorta at a loose end today, no singing lesson, and a stretch of about 8 hours before a Praise Night, glorious anticipation of what is to come. Oh, and I decided I would mention my feelings about it. I decided I had nothing to lose by being honest, and saying it out loud.
Friday, 2 September 2011
Many gifts, one body
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. KJV 1611
Paul was talking about gifts of the spirit, but this can apply to gifts or talents in the church.
Musicians, "technically", are higher up the pecking order in church heirarchy. Doubtless, in Corinth, there was this "I prophesy, but you only speak in tongues, nyah nyah nyah" going on.
Each has their own gift, or talent, to give to God, via the church. But to "puffeth oneself up" is wrong, causes division, and hurt in some cases.
Pride is something I fight with all the time. I try to remind myself that I'm not doing this for me, or the church, primarily, I'm doing it for God.
Paul was talking about gifts of the spirit, but this can apply to gifts or talents in the church.
Musicians, "technically", are higher up the pecking order in church heirarchy. Doubtless, in Corinth, there was this "I prophesy, but you only speak in tongues, nyah nyah nyah" going on.
Each has their own gift, or talent, to give to God, via the church. But to "puffeth oneself up" is wrong, causes division, and hurt in some cases.
Pride is something I fight with all the time. I try to remind myself that I'm not doing this for me, or the church, primarily, I'm doing it for God.
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