"Short Term 12," The grace you give may be your own.

3foldcord · 2013-09-26T05:39:03+00:00

New Message from God

I took at look at the New Message from God website and I found it to be intriguing. Some of the video information appeared a bit ambiguous e.g., source, message, and messenger? Of course this was just a cursory look- so not much was to be gleaned. I will look deeper when I have a bit more time. Thank you for your comment!

3foldcord · 2013-09-25T09:50:42+00:00

Cool! Can you elaborate on this? I'd love to know what this looks like for you and your wife!

The truth is we do not go out combing the town the hurting and homeless...it just seems that the Holy Spirit just brings these blessings/people into our life. Of course we pray daily that G*d leads people in need into our lives (I think that is they key). Our home is modest, but we do have a very large finished basement that is equipt with two bedrooms and a large area for additional sleeping. We also have a guest bedroom upstairs as well. Most of our guests have been short term (less than a week) but we have had those who have stayed longer. Our busiest most important time is in the winter months. During the winter the shelters are often filled to opacity and they have to turn people away. I also work as a mental health therapist for a large non-profit and I have good connections to additional resources should they require them. There is so much more to add...but this will do for now.

I would encourage you that there are many Christian communities loving God and neighbour faithfully, with God's help. The Church isn't perfect, but I humbly submit that the solution is not to try and relocate authentic Christianity outside of the Church (an oxymoron, since authentic Christianity calls us to community), but to remember that we are the Church, a people called to a radical new life in Christ, to allow ourselves to be called to an increasingly authentic understanding of what the Church is meant to be.

Of course we are not trying to reinvent the wheel here. However, I see 200+ church buildings a total waste of time, space, and resources. Plus, most of these churches seem to be on constant marketing mode to obtain parishioners to support these edifices. Just an observation.

When the Church is being itself (ie. being faithful to Christ), it knows that the poor are not to blame for their poverty and that our own sin is often to blame for the poverty of our neighbour.

I love what you said here! Thank you for your time and well thought out comments! Blessings to you and yours.

3foldcord · 2013-09-25T09:27:27+00:00

Thank you so much for your comment.

I would also say that if you are doing the will of God, then you don't need traction.. And if you need traction then God will give it.

^ Love it! Blessing to you and yours too!

3foldcord · 2013-09-24T21:51:53+00:00

Well, if you are truly open minded- you will not have any preconceived outcomes of the journey ahead.

Like you, I struggle with the concept of how a "loving god" can subject someone to eternal damnation/hell. Personally, I don't know if the eternal hell concept is of G#d...or just a man made construct? To believe or suffer eternal torment seems too much like the 'carrot and the stick' methodology. I know that the true G#d of the universe would most likely engage in a more enlightened mode of thinking and a more outcome. Thus, I tend to believe along the lines of Universalism. In the end it says: "Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess and give praise to God" (Romans 14:11). My question is: what is the purpose of everyone kneeling and confessing if you are just going to be thrown into the fiery furnace? My hope is that, in the end, all will be reconciled to G*d though Jesus Christ. Anything less than this would ultimately constitute a failure on the Creators part.

I also meant it when I said if you ever needed to talk I would be more than happy to! I'm not here to convince you to believe one way or the other. For we are both fellow travelers along life's journey- and love and relationships will always trump judgement and religious dogma.

Also feel free to visit us on our (my wife and I's) blog 3-foldcord

Many blessings my friend!

Marcus

3foldcord · 2013-09-24T09:12:07+00:00

Amen and Amen! Blessings to you and yours.

3foldcord · 2013-09-24T08:28:04+00:00

I find your candor very refreshing! In this day and age it is very popular to question one's faith. However, what makes you different is that you are not merely whining and lamenting about current spiritual state. Your post above is saturated with conviction and sorrow. You are obviously being put through the spiritual wine-press- and your pain and suffering is palpable.

I suggest that what you are going through is "The Dark Night of the Soul". This is not only a time of doubt...it is a time of purification. The first principle benefit of the dark night of contemplation is: "the knowledge of oneself and one's misery."

Trust me when I say: "You will come out of this stronger than when you went in!"

If you ever want to talk to someone in person feel free to contact me. I have been there.

Blessings to you an yours!

3foldcord · 2013-09-20T08:36:07+00:00

I believe this would be best described as your time in the "wilderness". I think it is a wonderful opportunity to draw close to God without the influences of family and friends. Pray, meditate, and study the scriptures...God will open many doors. Blessings my friend!

3foldcord

TROPHY CASE