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RE: Just a thought ... - 12/14/2009 5:53:10 AM
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mvic
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This man had tattoos on the fingers of each hand – just near the knuckles.
On the right hand the tattoos read the letters L – O – V – E.
On the left hand the tattoos were H – A – T.
Apparently he ran out of money to complete the tattoos.
If only …
If only we too ran out of money every time we felt Hate towards someone.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 12/21/2009 5:21:14 PM
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mvic
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May I wish all my readers a Blessed Christmas and a Peaceful and Happy New Year.
May God bless you and protect you always.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 1/1/2010 7:29:00 AM
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mvic
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As we start 2010 full of hope, joy and happiness, or perhaps some trepidation, worries and fears of what is to come, let us all make one important New Year resolution.
Let us promise to trust God more in full confidence that He loves us and will take care of us; whatever happens.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 1/10/2010 9:40:24 PM
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mvic
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There are times in life when we all get totally exhausted.
Whatever it is that occupies our time, be it work, raising a family, caring for others or doing voluntary service, takes so much out of us that we can no longer carry on. It could also be a problem on our mind or some other concern that weighs us down to total weariness. We feel physically, mentally and emotionally drained.
Like a boxer who’s received too many knocks we feel like falling to the ground and not get up ever again.
It is said that on His way to Calvary Jesus fell three times. Of course, this is not in Scripture, but we can assume that after being tortured and beaten, and made to carry a heavy Cross, He would have fallen or stumbled at least once.
He could have stayed there on the ground and died on the spot. But He got up and went on to do His Father’s will.
Let this be an example to us when we’re so tired we feel like giving up. Let us try one more time for His sake.
“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 1/21/2010 6:09:24 AM
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mvic
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"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."
Francis of Assisi
What did St Francis mean by this? Here’s my take on it.
If you’re a parent there’s someone watching you. Your children. Watching and learning from you.
If you’re a teacher there’s someone watching you. Your class and your school. Listening to you.
If you’re a priest, vicar or pastor, your congregation is watching you.
If you’re a politician your country is watching you.
Whoever you are, a sportsman, TV or movie star, a famous personality or celebrity, or a nobody like myself. There’s always someone watching you and ready to follow your example – be it good or be it bad.
We are all role models for someone else, whether we know it or not.
So let our life and our demeanour be such that Jesus would be proud of. And that’s one way to preach the Gospel – without words.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 2/4/2010 7:58:49 PM
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mvic
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If I may quote Martin Luther King: If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures.
Many people go through life enduring their job from day to day and treat it as a means to earn a living – and no more. And as time goes by, so does the pride they have in their work, and inevitably their standard of performance deteriorates.
Whatever job we have to do in life, whether it is an influential position of power or a carpenter like Christ, it is our duty, surely, to give it all the attention and skill that we possess. Can you imagine Jesus making a table with a wobbly leg?
No!
Then why should we? Whatever task we have been given to do – let’s make sure it is not wobbly.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 2/14/2010 5:14:18 PM
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mvic
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You must have read or heard about the wish lists of things to do before you die.
Usually they are entitled "20 things to do before you die". The number may well vary but the intention is always the same.
The list sets out such things like undertaking a parachute jump, or swimming with dolphins – always a popular one this, I can’t understand why. Or seeing a blue whale, or bungee jumping, and similar adventures ranging from the normally acceptable to the outright dangerous.
I’ve never seen on the list of things to do before you die the wish:
To prepare to die.
What? What do you mean to prepare to die?
I mean:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.” John 14:6.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 2/26/2010 9:01:22 PM
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mvic
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When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so
that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. — Cherokee proverb.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 3/10/2010 6:12:52 PM
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mvic
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Once upon a time Jesus was in a synagogue on the Sabbath; and there was a man with a paralyzed hand. (Matthew 12: 9–14).
Some people wanted to accuse Him of doing wrong and asked Him whether it is against their Law to heal (work) on the Sabbath.
Jesus asked them if any of them had a sheep which fell into a deep hole on the Sabbath whether they would rescue it. Then to prove His point, He healed the man with the paralyzed hand.
So what is Jesus saying here?
Is He encouraging people to break one of the Ten Commandments?
Of course not.
Jesus is saying: Beware of those who would use God’s Word for their own ends. They would either take it literally or miss-quote it to suit their own argument and to their benefit.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 3/21/2010 10:03:31 PM
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mvic
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Some years ago I put up a notice in my office at work saying: PERCEPTION IS TRUTH.
A number of my staff asked me what it meant. I explained that no matter how clever you are, how hard-working, conscientious, diligent and self-motivated. If others get the impression that you’re not really that good then, in their mind at least, that image of you is correct. You’ll have to work really hard to convince others that you’re not really as they perceive you.
The same applies to us Christians. What image of Christianity are we portraying to others? How do others perceive our behaviours and lifestyles?
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RE: Just a thought ... - 4/17/2010 8:09:22 PM
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mvic
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Jesus was discussing with the crowd and said to them “I am the Bread of Life” John 6:25-59. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood … you will not have eternal Life”.
Jesus was pointing out to His followers that He is the one to lead them to God.
However, many of the followers of Jesus did not understand what He was saying and grumbled amongst themselves. Many decided to leave Him and follow Him no more. John 6:60-70.
So Jesus gave them a choice. A get out clause in the understood contract they had with each other. He did not follow them or begged them to stay. He did not try to explain what He said, or meant to say, in order to make them change their minds. He just allowed them to go.
Then He turned to His twelve disciples and asked: “And you – would you also like to leave?”
So the choice here seems somewhat clear. We either accept that Jesus is the Way to God. Or we don’t.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 4/26/2010 2:18:38 PM
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mvic
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Have you ever watched a video of new born birds attempting to leave the nest for the first time?
The parent bird is there on nearby branches singing away: no doubt encouraging her young to take flight. They hesitate. They look around, look down at the ground which seems miles away, and then they politely say to each other: “You first.” “No, no, after you …” “Ladies first, I always say.”
And none of them has the courage to take off, whilst the mother is cheering heartily: “Come on, you know you can do it!”
Eventually one of the little ones gingerly jumps out of the nest, his wings flapping madly, and somehow lands safely to the ground. In time he is followed by his siblings and yet another generation takes flight and leaves the nest.
Our first steps with the Lord are no different I suppose.
We question, we analyse, we debate and then … perhaps … in time, we come to believe.
Eventually, we make that first step in Faith. Believing, without having all the answers. Without knowing everything about the aero-dynamics of flight, or the effects of gravity as we leave the perceived safety of our nest.
God does not ask us to know everything about Him, how He thinks, how He works, and how He manages the universe.
All He asks is that we trust Him and believe, without question and without hesitation.
His Holy Spirit will then do the rest and help us through our journey to the Father.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 5/8/2010 3:48:16 PM
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mvic
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“After sunset all who had friends who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; He placed His hands on everyone of them and healed them all.” Luke 4:40.
“Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin-disease came to Him, knelt down before Him, and said, ‘Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean’”. Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him. “I do want to,” He answered. “Be clean!” At once the man was healed of his disease. Matthew 8:2-3.
Some people brought Him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hands on him. So Jesus took him off alone, away from the crowd, put His fingers in the man’s ears, spat, and touched the man’s tongue. Then Jesus looked up to Heaven, gave a deep groan, and said to the man, ‘Ephphatha’, which means, ‘Open up’. At once the man was able to hear, and his speech impediment was removed, and he began to talk without any trouble. Mark 7:32-35.
The woman who followed Jesus on the way to Jairus’ house only had to touch His cloak and she was healed. Luke 8:40.
Jesus was a very powerful man. He healed the sick and raised the dead. His power was such that He could just think about something and it would happen; if He wanted to.
When news came that Jairus’ daughter was dead, Jesus could have easily clicked His fingers and she would be raised. Yet He walked all the way to the house and there He performed His miracle.
Time and again, we see Him touching people, putting His hands upon them, holding them up and being gentle with them. Despite His supernatural powers, He did not forget the importance of gentleness, the importance of caring, and of loving people; showing and feeling compassion towards them, and making them feel worthy of His care and attention.
Many people work in the caring professions; whether they are doctors, nurses, counselors, pastors or whatever.
How often do they have the time to stop and think: “This is a person I am dealing with; not just another case in a long line of other cases. They have feelings, fears and hopes. Let me share some kindness as I do my work.”
The fact that people are busy in their daily work doesn’t mean they can switch off their kindness dispenser.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 5/27/2010 3:47:24 PM
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mvic
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A discussion the other day: What if you could eliminate one characteristic out of human nature, which one would it be?
Someone suggested anger. Someone else said envy … jealousy, hatred, prejudice, fear … and so on.
What if this were possible; what would you get as a result?
A robot. Someone pre-programmed by you with whatever emotions you feel should stay in and which ones taken out.
But God decided differently.
He gave us all these emotions, both positive and negative ones, and with them He gave us a responsibility.
The responsibility to keep them under control and to use them properly.
Even some negative emotions have a purpose if controlled properly and used in the right circumstances. If we didn’t have anger we would not be so disposed to stand up against evil. Fear keeps us from being foolhardy and reckless at times.
So there you have it: negative and positive emotions and a responsibility to control them.
Phew … I’m suddenly tired with all these responsibilities!
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RE: Just a thought ... - 6/7/2010 9:53:10 AM
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mvic
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Just after Christ’s Resurrection, two of His followers were going to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35).
They were totally distraught about Jesus’ death, and even though there was now news that His tomb is empty and that Christ is alive, they were still down-hearted and confused.
Jesus appeared to them on the way. They did not recognize Him. They spoke with Him and told Him their news. They said that their Lord and leader had been crucified, and there were rumors going around that He was alive again.
Jesus did not tell them who He was but explained to them the prophets’ predictions about Him. He walked with them all the way to Emmaus, but still they did not recognize Him. It wasn’t until He broke and blessed the bread that they recognized Him.
Why? I ask myself.
Why did they not recognize Him when they first saw Him, or when He took the time to explain to them the writings of the prophets?
Could it be that their minds were more pre-occupied with their problems and their dilemma rather than listening to Him?
You can just imagine how their mind worked and how concerned they were about their predicament.
Their leader is dead. What are they to do now? Is it all over? Every thing He said and taught comes to nothing? And what of the future? What are His followers to do now?
But aren’t we just the same.
How often do events touch our lives and turn it upside down. Events perhaps of our own making, or events that we did not contribute to but they affect us all the same.
And we panic. What are we to do now? What will happen next? We fear the future, we fear matters getting out of our control and we turn our attention to our problems and our dilemma. Just like those two on the way to Emmaus.
Yet, all the time we are panicking Jesus is there. Walking beside us. Quite literally. Waiting for us to recognize Him, hold His hand in the full knowledge and trust that He will see us through our darkest hour.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 6/19/2010 6:50:56 AM
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mvic
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Not much is spoken about the devil these days. When’s the last time you heard speaking of him in a sermon on Sunday?
His job description is easy: keep people away from God.
And by keeping silent about him, is not the church unwittingly complicit in the devil’s attempts to make us believe he does not really exist?
Our world is full of temptations to lure us away from God and all it takes is a slight diversion of attention, a momentary loss of focus, and we can so easily drift away.
Jesus warned us about this, for He too was tempted, several times. He prayed to His Father as we should too, using His words:
“And lead us not into temptation … but deliver us from evil.”
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RE: Just a thought ... - 7/11/2010 9:32:41 AM
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mvic
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Make me a channel of your peace … (St Francis of Assisi).
It is not a condition for God to use us as a channel of His peace and love in the lives of others that we should be full of Faith, strong in spirit and in control of every situation.
Moses was hesitant at first, when approached by God, citing his stammer as an impediment to the task ahead. But look what he achieved.
Paul was a declared enemy of God, in fact he fought God by killing the early Christians. And look what he accomplished.
To be a channel for God’s use we need to be willing to listen to Him, to obey Him and to trust Him in every respect.
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RE: Just a thought ... - 7/25/2010 4:22:04 AM
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mvic
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There are times in life when we are faced with seemingly insoluble problems. So we work hard at finding a solution. If the problem involves others we try to persuade them to our way of thinking, we disagree, we argue, and perhaps friendships are put at risk as a result.
Whilst we’re struggling to find a solution, we forget that God already has the answer. And the wise thing to do is to stop for a while, pray, and hand over the problem to Him.
As we let things rest for a while, God will suggest a reasonable solution to what irks us.
I know, this will sound strange, humorous even, to an un-believer. But the realities of life are that God knows about every inconceivable problem that we can imagine, and even those outwith our imagination. And if He knows about the problems, He also knows their solutions.
He wouldn’t be an omnipotent all-knowing God otherwise.
Our hesitation to hand over our problems to Him, is itself a problem of our own making – not His.
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