a Jesus thought...
Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (John 16:23)
a Godly thought...
In contrast with today, when so much of our Christianity is being with the right people in the right places, at the right times, Jesus was always in the wrong places, with the wrong people, at the wrong times, according to the religious establishment. (p114 Frost & Hirsch)
a leading thought...
Although followers will have gifts that the leader doesn't possess, the leader cannot expect character in followers that is lacking in themselves. (p64 Court)
a Dave thought...
Yesterday I dropped in to Footscray where there was a group of youth leaders gathering for a few days to share ideas and set up a Salvation Army Youth Workers Network.
Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (John 16:23)
a Godly thought...
In contrast with today, when so much of our Christianity is being with the right people in the right places, at the right times, Jesus was always in the wrong places, with the wrong people, at the wrong times, according to the religious establishment. (p114 Frost & Hirsch)
a leading thought...
Although followers will have gifts that the leader doesn't possess, the leader cannot expect character in followers that is lacking in themselves. (p64 Court)
a Dave thought...
Yesterday I dropped in to Footscray where there was a group of youth leaders gathering for a few days to share ideas and set up a Salvation Army Youth Workers Network.
What grabbed my attention, as my son Noah & I filled in some time until lunch, was the labyrinth that had been mapped out (100 points to Heather Power) - pictured left.
The labyrinth is a universal symbol for the world, with its complications and difficulties, which we experience on our journey through life. The entry to the labyrinth is birth; the center is death and eternal life. In Christian terms, the thread that leads us through life is divine grace. Like any pilgrimage, the labyrinth represents the inner pilgrimage we are called to make to take us to the center of our being. It is but one example of how early Christians adapted pre-Christian allegories to Christian doctrine.
I was first introduced to this concept of reflection this year when I visited Sydney and attended an emerging church gathering at Mars Hill Cafe with good friend Aaron Mills. I must admit although it was extremely foreign to me that day to walk the labyrinth it did help me reflect on my spiritual journey.
It is essential that we all continue to expand the ways we interact and talk to God and never dismiss what is valuable to another. Many of our worship tools are also looked at with bewilderment as visitors come to join us, but remember that even through sometimes bizarre experiences God speaks to us on our journeys.
Just a thought.
1 comment:
I was struck by the simplicity of the idea that the layrinth was"...but one example of how early Christians adapted preChristian allegories to Christian doctrine". We live in a day and age where many new things are sweeping through the Christian church. Some of these alternative directions are simply a reflection of changes in style and formate. However, in our exploration towards alternative forms of spiritual expression - particularly as we try to build relevance in a post-modern culture - it is imperative that doctrinal discernment and discretionary principles come into play.Sadly, we as Christians often flounder in doing our homework, and in that vein may inadvertently open ourselves and congregations to highly questionable choices and spiritual experiences. Labyrinth prayer walking is very ancient and orginates from some very pagan rituals, rites of initiation, myths and fables. The layrinth was/is an achetype, a divine imprint, found in all pagan traditions. They were known as sacred gateways and have been found at the entrances of ancient sites around the world. Thus, because somewthing is spiritual doesn't make it biblical.
WJE
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