Questions with Hidden Answers...

Questions I sometimes wonder:

• What will it be like to be in the presence of Holiness?
• Will I be able to fly in eternity?
• When the bible says we are surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses", does that mean there are souls that surround me...always, whenever and whereever?
• How does a world without death and decay exist?
• What would happen if we used all of our brain power, not just 10%?
• How can scientists claim our far ancestors were primitive (of lesser intelligence) when they were more genetically pure? (and their legacy still stands, for example - machu picchu)
• Why is water so mesmerizing?
• Did angels and humans intermingle on earth?
• Why is there a hexagon on Saturn's pole?
• Because Eve was taken from Adam's rib, would that suggest that "soul-mates" do exist?
• Why do we talk and not sing conversations?

Any thoughts or questions of your own?

What Will We Do In Heaven?

I was watching a Nova program last night. The series is exploring the telescope past and present (and future), and being fascinated by the heavens, I was greatly awed at the images and the vastness of the universe being shown. It was pointed out that we have only seen 5% of the universe (not sure how that number was determined, given that the universe could be infinite). Using that number and factoring in the reality that we only use 10% of our brain...there are a lot of unknowns yet to be discovered! What we are truly capable of is yet to be determined.

This realization comes at a time when I am wondering what we all will be doing in heaven. I mean, I do not believe for an instant that we will be strumming harps and singing hallelujah 24/7...so what will we be doing? And won't it be boring if there is no challenge? Think about that. If heaven is perfect, where are the challenges? Will we not require stimulation, just exist in a state of contentment? What will we do in heaven?

It is not a topic that you hear much of, perhaps it is because there is not much said in the Bible accounting details of our existence at that point. Some have postulated that we will carry on in a modified version of what we are doing now. So, if you are an engineer, you will continue to do engineering type work. I think that suggestion falls far from the mark when you consider those who never worked, those who are doctors (who are they going to stitch up?), and what about funeral directors?! 

Personally, I believe that what we will do for eternity has something to do with the other 90% of our brain power and the vast universe that remains a mystery to us at this point. We are explorers, we are inventors, we are keepers, we are God's children...He will provide and He will not disappoint!

Back to the present. Because there is little said about the afterlife and much said about getting there, I would have to resign myself to the idea that Abba wants our focus to be on the now with hope in the life to come. Without that focus, many would not experience the wonders of the life to come and we know that Abba wishes that none would perish, but all have eternal life with Him...We need to spread the Word! So, as much as I am in awe of the vastness of the universe, the wonders yet unknown, the potential of our being, I must remember our primary calling at this point: Matt 28:19-20
We are called to share the Love and Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ - in what we do and in what we say. In doing so, others will come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour and they too will share in the wonders of eternal life with God.

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
~Phillippians 3:12-21(The Message)

What Does "I believe in you" Mean?

Who believes in you?
Who do you believe in?


I have always had trouble with this phrase. I mean, what does it mean to "believe" in someone. To "believe" in God - I understand. To believe in a person...well, it leaves me wondering. I don't say, "I believe in you" very often. If I have, it was meant as encouragement, but I am really not sure what I mean by it per se.


For example, I can say: "I believe you can do it!" Which makes sense right? You perhaps see that the person can surpass their expectation and you are encouraging them to do so.


But, "I believe in you." Does that mean the person didn't exist until someone believed in them? (That's pretty disheartening on many levels.) Does it mean that you believe they can do anything they set their mind to do? Does it mean you idolize them?


For some reason, I like the phrase, though I don't really understand it. It is comforting in the sense that someone is willing to care and show support, but it still baffles me.

What does it mean to you when you say, "I believe in you?"



(This Youtube video is [my favourite singer;)], Josh Groban singing, "You're Still You.")

Just throwing it out there.

I Want Your Help

Dear God in Heaven, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!

All of you.

Seriously? What does that mean? Am I to become a "Mother Teresa" or a "Beth Moore" figure?! How practical is that?! I have responsibilities here...hellllloooo!

~

I am sitting here with my coffee having a lively discussion in my head with God, and if you can't tell by what I have written, I am struggling with His request. It is not because I don't want to give Him my all, it is just the fact that I really have no idea what it looks like. And everytime He requests this of me (and...Oh yes, we have been over this concept many times in the past year or so), I still struggle with it.

Now, since I seem to hitting a major hurdle in trying to truly understand what "All of you" really means, I thought I would throw it out there to you.

What do you think it means - What does "All of you" look like to you?

Describe Jesus...Part 2

Describe Jesus in one word.
Thank you for the responses!

It is an odd thing, isn't it...describing Jesus in one word. If I asked you to describe your partner or your parent in one word, would it be easier or more difficult? I mean, we know the "right" answer to describing Jesus...something positive...something glorious, right?! Are we brave enough to analyze our relationship with Jesus with the same scrutiny as we would describe our partner or our parent?

That aside, do we have a relationship with Jesus?

For quite some time now, I have been paying attention to different churches locally and abroad. I have been listening to their message, watching...

The thing that has struck me the most in many circles, is that we are not being taught about having a relationship with Jesus so much as having a relationship with the church institution and with each other. Now, this is not entirely a bad thing, but it does leave one left to engage in a lonely search to discover who we base our faith, our life/lifestyle, morals, and ethical existence upon. We are Christians...Christ-followers...Jesus Christ. But who exactly is He?!

Who is Jesus? I mean, who was Jesus when He was on the earth in human form?

To determine that, we need to go to the Bible and read...not just read, but investigate context. I think that many of us read the Bible looking for the do's and don'ts, the promises, the hope, and we when we look at the story, we only skim the surface.

To know who Jesus was/is, we need to understand the context of the story and of the words written. Basically, we need to dig deeper and learn about the history and culture. Sounds like work? Don't sweat it! Remember, we claim we have a relationship with Jesus, shouldn't we want to know Him better...wouldn't you learn all you can about your partner...why would you not do the same (and more) for your God? It does take time, as with any relationship, but it is worth it!  God wants us to know Him, He desires a deep, loving relationship with us, not a superficial "I'm God and your not - so suck it up and do as I say" existence.

My challenge for you today is to pick one of the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) and begin to read and investigate the text. Pick the scripture apart, imagine yourself there as part of the story, question things that just don't make sense to you and find out who Jesus really is!

This is not a challenge that you should partake alone. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you and do speak to others about what you are learning and what you question...and let me know what you find.

May you seek and find, learn and grow, and experience Perfect Love...and share...all to the Glory of God.

Describe Jesus to Me in One Word - Part 1

What do we need in our lives right now?
A RELATIONSHIP with Jesus.
Have you really given that much thought lately? I know we give the whole "personal relationship with Jesus" thing some mildly convincing lip service, but do we really pursue knowing who the person Jesus really was and is?

If you had to describe Jesus in one word,what He means to you, right now, what would it be?
Radical?
Freak?
Gentle?
Holy?
Prophet?
Friend?
Crazy?

I want to know.

Describe Jesus to me in one word.

You Can POSSESS Something and NOT OWN It

You can POSSESS something and NOT OWN it and you can OWN something and NOT POSSESS it. ~Rob Bell

I went to a Rob Bell lecture last night. He was discussing suffering and creativity and how the two are linked and how it links us to others, and to God. I was grateful for the opportunity to go. Rob's presentation was thought-provoking and humourous - a wonderfully insightful night laced with a few audience participatory object lessons. Mr. Bell certainly has a gift...but we knew that already, didn't we?!

His NOOMA videos are famous among church communities in the US and Canada. These clever, entertaining, and informative short films stir the heart and the mind of the viewer. That being said, in the presentation last night, he included a clip from a trip he took and in it were people worshipping...I will not tell your more about what he presented around that clip so as not to spoil the experience for any of you who might attend this lecture, but the clip was absolutely beautiful. It made me want to stand and join those on the screen. You see, they possessed something. And ironically, what they possessed, they also gave away, or rather, shared with others - even unintentionally.

What struck me was that the expression of worship exhibited by the people in the video encouraged me to want to express myself without inhibition also.  Others viewing this video may feel just the opposite. They may feel afraid to release themselves....but why? Pride? Fear? Ignorance? ?

As Christians,  how much do we hold back thus hindering not only ourselves but others? By not sharing what we possess, by not freely give what we have been given?  What we possess, we do not own...it is not ours to hoard.

This reminds me of another quote I read not too long ago, "The function of freedom is to free someone else." ~Anne Lamott

If God has given us all we need...if He has provided for us...if He has allowed us to partner with Him...if He has set us free...who are we not to share all that we have to glorify Him?

We can possess something and not own it, we can own something and not possess it. All that God has given us, our talent, skills, food, intelligence, wealth, experiences, faith, etc....He has given to us so that we can share with others, and in doing so, we glorify Him; we are further liberated to be all that we were meant to be, and we are blessed more than we could have ever imagined. 
Think about it. And then don't just sit on your thoughts, but share them, put your thoughts into action. Be free, share freely, and give God the glory.

I Ask You to Answer the Question

Philippians 3:13-15 (The Message)
Focused on the Goal
12-14 I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
15-16 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

..."everything God has for us." What do you suppose that means? Do you have any ideas?