Posted by giveawayboy on October 15, 2002 at 08:15:39:
In Reply to: thanks to everyone last nite..once again posted by Mister Metal...maybe soon known as mister emo on October 14, 2002 at 09:26:34:
...but hey..we are all in this together..and yesterday at church was a true representation of that..
: its neat.
Yes Raul/Emo Boy, you are right--Sunday at Church really WAS a representation of something real. It wsn't the pinnacle of spirituality. It wasn't a place to stop and set up camp. If anything (oh I've known you too long), it was a good example of what Christians should normally be up to, praying for and ministering to one another. It was truly a good thing, and it is something that we can experience as a normal part of our lives. I think a large part of what I've been learning lately, and Steve has confirmed in his talks at church, is the part the will plays in the spiritual life. You get to a point beyond emotions where you decide to do something, beyond the level of mere emotion. This is a powerful place. Of course, I'm talking about using your will as God enlightens it. I'm not talking about merely being strong willed. I think recently we've caught glimpses of this as a community. This has been a foretaste of Heaven so to speak. However, we can't calcify! We need to take the next steps, whatever forms those will take. The real neat thing to me was that it was a moment where all of us had willed to become aware of God's presence. I think this is something we can practice moment by moment. Throughout our day we can WILL to become more aware of God's presence, and once we begin to become aware of his presence, it will begin to transform us. And once we begin to become transformed, we can being to see the importance of being present to each other as well, as if God in us were encountering God in them. When this occurs suddenly even small encounters become huge gateways of God's grace. We simply are beholding his glory in every encounter. Another thing, and I am only learning this, through prayer and efforts (aided by God of course) we can WILL to become present to each other. This is something that will happen once we become more aware of God's presence and our union w God. Once we know our union w God (not spooky spirituality, but truly KNOWING our union w him, which is more intimate and real than we often think) we will begin to know our true power as sons of God, not earthly power that seeks to dominate and control, but God's power which seeks to compassionately serve. Then we will be more willing to become present to each other, to be 'gifts' to each other. This can come through practicing the presence of God in every moment. Also, by meditation on the cross. You can't go wrong. It's a win/win situation.
See you later, Bill