#ItSeemsToMe…A journal ​can be a​ metaphor for ​your faith journey​.

Your cover may be ornate, artsy, or​ plain. The pages may be bound or spiral. ​Call it a diary or your notebook. Small or large. Personal or ​customized for a group.

In any case, it gives you space to articulate your faith.

• Clarify your beliefs.
• Take notes on teachings.​
• Quote wisdom.​
• ​Set forth your convictions and commitment​s
• ​Write down what you learn from conversations with other believers.​
• Express worship and praise.
• Compose prayers that ​reveal the desires of your heart.
• Describe your attitude or view of life,​.
• ​Remember ​opportunities when you share your faith.
• ​Identify ​occasions of serving or caring for others.
• Acknowledge struggles of how to balance righteousness​ ​and justice​; law and liberty.​

​Everyone has a unique journal that tells the story of their life of faith.

Some journals are well-worn with uncountable notes, questions, stories, maybe some poems or doodles.

Some look brand new. Not much to see or read. Maybe empty.

Phil Miglioratti @ The Reimagine.Network

Excerpt from the book: You were made for this moment, by Max Lucado

 ‘To whom will you compare Me? Or who is My equal?’ says the Holy One. 

— Isaiah 40:25

 As Moses announced:

 Who among the gods is like You, Lord? Who is like You — majestic in holiness? — Exodus 15:11

 And the psalmist asked:

 Who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord? — Psalm 89:6 NASB

 As Augustine prayed:

 What then are you my God? What, I ask, except the Lord God. For who is the Lord besides God? Or who is God besides our God? — Most high, most good, most powerful, most omnipotent, most merciful and most just, most secret and most present; most beautiful and most strong; most stable and incomprehensible; unchangeable (yet) changing all things; never new, never old; making all things new, and bringing the proud to (the collapse of) old age; ever acting, ever at rest; gathering, and not needing; carrying and filling and protecting (all things); creating and nourishing and perfecting; seeking, though you lack nothing.¹

 Consider the work of His hands.

But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

Speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea tell you.

Every one of these knows
that the hand of the Lord has done this.

The life of every creature
and the breath of all people are in God’s hand. — Job 12:7-10 NCV

 The next time you feel the weight of the world, talk to the One who made the world. As your perception of God grows greater, the size of your challenge grows smaller. If God can sway the heart of a Persian monarch, if He can reverse certain death into victorious life, if He can turn a scheduled holocaust into an annual holiday, do you not think He can take care of you?

 I’m sorry for your exile in Persia. I’m sorry for your deep wounds and weariness. I’m so sorry that you so quickly understand the meaning of words like pain, fear, and sadness.

 Springtime seems like forever from now, I know. But, friend, it isn’t. The story of Esther dares you to believe that God, though hidden, is active. He brings life out of broken things. The apostle Paul was summarizing Esther when he wrote:

 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. — Romans 8:28

 “We know,” Paul said. There are so many things in life we do not know. We do not know if the economy will dip or if our team will win. We don’t always know what our kids are thinking or our spouse is doing. But according to Paul we can be dead certain of four things.

 We know God works. He is busy behind the scenes, above the fray, and within the fury. He hasn’t checked out or moved on. He is ceaseless and tireless.

 He never stops working for our good. Not for our comfort, pleasure, or entertainment, but for our good. Since he himself is the ultimate good, would we expect anything else?

 To do this He uses all things. Panta in Greek. As in panoramic or panacea or pandemic. All inclusive. God works, not through a few things or just the good things, best things, or easy things, but in all things God works.

 He works for the good of those who love Him. Good things happen to those who trust God. The umbrella of God’s providence does not extend to cover the evil and hard-hearted. But for those who seek Him and His will, in all things God works.

 A puppet in the hands of fortune and fate? Not you. You are secure in the hands of a living and loving God.

 A random collection of disconnected events? Far from it. Your life is a crafted narrative written by the Author of life, who is working toward your supreme good and a sublime ending.

 Relief will come.
Will you be a part of it?

 It seems to me that the entire world is in a state of trauma. People do not know why they were born or where they are destined to go. This is the age of much know-how and very little know-why. The invisible enemies of sin and secularism have left us dazed and bewildered.

 The world needs you! We need people with the resolve of Mordecai and the courage of Esther. The world is in desperate need of a people of God who will stay steady in the chaos.

 People like the ones who gathered in war-torn London. No one would have blamed them for canceling church services on that Sunday morning. A bombing raid had roared in the city throughout the night. London was a circle of fire. Buildings were destroyed. Even the walls of this church were flattened. Members arrived to find pews covered with dust and mortar. But rather than despair, they chose to worship. Amid the heaps of stones they began to sing:

 The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is His new creation, By Spirit and the Word: From Heav’n He came and sought her

To be His holy Bride,
With His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died.

 Can you envision that circle of brave souls? Smack-dab in the center of global chaos, they worshipped. They set their faith on our unfailing God. The song was an admonition of sorts, a declaration of truth amid a crumbling society.

 The song may well have saved the life of Ben Robertson. He was an American war correspondent who had arrived in London the day before. The night bombing left him undone and terrified. The explosions, sirens, and cries of the wounded caused him to despair of life itself.

 “If this is what modern civilization has brought us to — if this is the best that modern man can achieve, then let me die,” he prayed.

 At some point he dozed off. He awoke to the unexpected sound of people singing a hymn. He looked out the window and saw the congregation gathered in the rubble.

 He later wrote: “Suddenly I saw in the world something that was unshatterable — something that had endured through millennia, something that was indestructible — the spirit and life and power of Jesus Christ within His Church.”²

Bombs are still dropped. Worlds still explode. Walls still collapse. Pandemics still rage. But in the midst of it all, the Lord still has His people. And when they proclaim the truth of God in the middle of a crumbling world, you never know who might be changed.

 God is in the middle of this. This steep climb. This uphill struggle. This cold, fierce headwind you are facing. You feel overwhelmed. Weary. Ill-equipped to weather it. But lift up your eyes. That is your Father standing on the driveway. He is in this moment with you. Who knows but that you have been chosen for such a time as this?

Deep thanks for everyone's concern and prayers ...

We hope to return home Saturday.

Extremely grateful our house appears to be intact, especially after seeing so many who have endured loss of property, many now homeless and without the huge sums of money needed to rebuild.

This has really messed up my praying.

I am not doubting God nor losing faith in prayer.

Just having trouble knowing how to thank God in a way that would not make me distrust or hate God if I heard that prayer while my house were not spared.

If I credit god for diverting the storm in an unexpected direction to bless me, does that mean God overlooked my cousin (damage to his home) or our friends (lifelong missionaries of the Church) in Fort Myers?

I am remembering afresh that faith, prayer, and life with God are rooted in both truth (there are some things we can know for certain) and mystery (there are some things we will never fully comprehend in this life).

I know the Spirit is leading me on is to expose blind spots, weak areas, and incorrect applications of biblical truths that infect my faith.

Recognizing answers, as well intentioned as they might be, that are simplistic is a part of that journey. I know Jesus wants to strip away the explanations I have created and replace them with the simple but radical truth of Scripture.

The Spirit is stirring up good-trouble.

#ItSeemsToMe...That's good.

Why #ReimagineCHURCH…?

Because many congregations are using rotary phone mind-sets and methods in a touchtone age (digital; texting; video).

The http://Reimagine.Network was created to help you make the mindshift .

“In the decades after 1963, rotary dials were gradually phased out on new telephone models in favor of keypads and the primary dialing method to the central office became touchtone dialing, but most central office systems still support rotary telephones today.”

John 17 BSB 

Prayer for the Son 

1When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. 2For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 3Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.

Prayer for the Disciples

6I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. 8For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

9I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours. 10All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified. 11I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You.

Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one. 12While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

13But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them. 14I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

15I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.

Prayer for All Believers

20I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

22I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— 23I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

24Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

25Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me. 26And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Giving our burdens to the Lord, from Sally McClung's blog

https://floydandsally.com/blog/2022/8/12/our-faithful-burden-bearer

A letter to those who contribute to my ministry (which includes The Reimagine.Network). . .

1:1: Jesus talking with Peter           1:3: Jesus in the garden with Peter, James, and John 

1:12: Jesus with the disciples         1:72: Jesus commissioning outreach teams of two

1:120: The rooftop congregation  1:5,000: A hungry crowd 

 

#ReimaginePRAYER...with two words.

"So That" Praying

#ReimaineCITIES...with prayer

Impacting Communities and Cities Through Prayer

"I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee." - Job 42:5

This is the best Christmas greeting sent to me this year.  It reserves the word “Merry” for those who celebrate the winter solstice.  For what reason should mankind be merry that the Word had to become flesh?

Years ago, to save advertising costs, the promoters of “Merry Commerce” took Christ out of “Xmas.”  Christ has now been restored, if only in the vernacular.

But Evanlogically, has Christ actually been restored to the hearts of people?  This could be aided by changing the name and date Christ’s Birth is remembered:

The Commemoration of Christ’s Birth, held annually on Worldwide Communion Day.

But as it was in the beginning… organized religion opposes change to its centuries-old practices.   Perhaps those who run the business of organized religion could have their hearts softened by a former commercial business practice:  taking something out of Christmas.

Drop the “Merry” for something less gruesome, more befitting honoring our Redeemer for what the Birth of Christ meant… and means.

Listen to the PODCAST or

Read the BLOG POST here!

https://youtu.be/3xe66mqUZlM

My current pastor shared a Christmas poem called: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Manger. If you'd like to view it, just click on the link.

So, I sent Bill the following message:

Was this a parody?  I sensed the meter of the secular poem, “The night Before Christmas.”

Would it be OK with you if this poem were shared with the 1^st Evanlogical Church congregation when they Commemorate the Reason for the Birth of Christ?

You could present it yourself!  The Commemoration will be held Sunday, October 2, 2022 in conjunction with Worldwide Communion Day.

1^st Evanlogical Church of Open Your Eyes, Look Around and Pay Attention.

Located in the forest through the trees.

Seekers of needles in hay stacks welcome.

If you make a grievous mistake, then realize it, shouldn’t you correct it?

Organized religion made such a mistake when it officially set December 25^th as Christmas.  This overlapped a pagan feast, now called the winter solstice.

Over the succeeding centuries, Christmas was infiltrated by pagan practices.  Fir trees were incorporated in the 16^th century.  Father Christmas arrived in the latter part of the 19^th century.

Christmas became commercialized early in the 20^th century.  Later “Xmas” was used to reduce advertising costs for merchants.  Near the end of that century, what was now called holiday shopping season expanded.  It now encroaches on the 4^th of July.

This 1700 year-old tradition, Christmas, is annually buried under pagan based, secular commotion.  Each year Christians participate in this procession:  a funeral procession that is reburying Christ.

It’s time for Christianity to confess its Christ dishonoring error.  It’s time for Christianity to correct its conduct.   It’s time for Christianity to commemorate, not “celebrate,” the reason that Christ had to be born on earth.  A more Honoring time would be the first Sunday in October – Worldwide Communion day.

https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/RichardHSkibaJr

Contrary to congregational opinion, Evanlogicals do not hate December holidays.

Christians say that Christ is the reason for the season.  Evanlogicals hear that.  Amen!  Opening their eyes, looking around and paying attention, however, Evanlogicals wonder if the Christian slogan rings True.

You better think
When you go out on that shopping spree

Yeah, think
Think about it Evanlogically

Christ’s message would come through more clearly if we separated the commemoration of the birth of Christ from the winter solstice holiday shopping season.

People at the mall every day
Buying gift cards at the stores
With time getting short, they lose focus

Ah, be careful you don't lose yours

We shouldn’t be trying to fool God as to what we’re actually doing this time of year. He can see for himself.

You better think

Hanging ornaments upon that tree
Think
Think about it Evanlogically

Paraphrasing the Bible, let’s render unto the winter solstice that which is the winter solstice’s.  Then render unto God that which is God’s – on Worldwide Communion day.  That is closer to a possible time of the year for the Birth of Christ anyway.

There’s no Scriptural prohibition on shopping for gifts in December or even having parties. Just don’t worship any sun gods.

Then Christians could sincerely wish everybody a merry commerce without any spiritual guilt whatsoever.

Contrary to congregational opinion, Evanlogicals do not hate December holidays.

Christians say that Christ is the reason for the season.  Evanlogicals hear that.  Amen!  Opening their eyes, looking around and paying attention, however, Evanlogicals wonder if the Christian slogan rings True. 

You better think
When you go out on that shopping spree

Yeah, think
Think about it Evanlogically

Christ’s message would come through more clearly if we separated the commemoration of the birth of Christ from the winter solstice holiday shopping season.

People at the mall every day
Buying gift cards at the stores
With time getting short, they lose focus

Ah, be careful you don't lose yours

We shouldn’t be trying to fool God as to what we’re actually doing this time of year. He can see for himself.

You better think

Hanging ornaments upon that tree
Think
Think about it Evanlogically

Paraphrasing the Bible, let’s render unto the winter solstice that which is the winter solstice’s.  Then render unto God that which is God’s – on Worldwide Communion day.  That is closer to a possible time of the year for the Birth of Christ anyway.

There’s no Scriptural prohibition on shopping for gifts in December or even having parties. Just don’t worship any sun gods.

Then Christians could sincerely wish everybody a merry commerce without any spiritual guilt whatsoever.

What Did Jesus Do?

and what can we do?

by Alan Doswald

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,”

            Hebrews 10:24_NIV

Several years ago, people had bracelets and bumper stickers that said “WWJD”-what would Jesus do?  It might be better to ask, “What did Jesus do?”  We don’t have to wonder about that.  In His keynote address Jesus told us what He came to do:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19_NIV

James was anointed or set apart by God to do these 4 things:

1. To preach good news to the poor.
2. To proclaim freedom for the prisoners.
3. To bring recovery of sight for the blind.
4. To release the oppressed.

The gospels tell us how Jesus did these things.

He preached good news to the poor.  

He shared good news with a despised Samaritan woman that changed her life and her entire community.  He also started his most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount with, “blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God.”  Luke 6:20_NIV  He preached good news to the harassed and helpless-the lost. (Matthew 9:35)  Jesus loves the poor-in fact the first people to hear about Jesus coming were very poor-the shepherds. 

He proclaimed freedom for the prisoners. 

Jesus delivered several people that were possessed by demons.  In one town, Jesus freed 2 men from bondage to demons and in doing so, he freed their town from having to put up with them (Matthew 8).  He also freed a woman caught in adultery from a death sentence (John 8).  Even on the cross, he gave freedom to a dying criminal and said he would see him in paradise (Luke 23:43).  Jesus freed those trapped in many types of bondage. 

He provided recovery of sight for the blind. 

He healed people who were physically blind (Matthew 9, Mark 8, John 9).  One of them was challenged by enemies of Jesus and said in reply, “one thing I do know, I was blind, but now I see” (John 9:25_NIV).  What a testimony!  Jesus also made one man blind, then restored his sight and gave him his marching orders-the Apostle Paul. 

He released the oppressed. 

In Mark 1, a leper came to Jesus and asked to be made clean.  Lepers were the most oppressed group in that day-totally excluded from society.  Jesus had compassion on him, touched him and healed him.  By the way, no one touched lepers.  In Luke 7, Jesus forgave and restored a sinful woman, who was oppressed by those around her.  Jesus told her “your faith has saved you, go in peace” Luke 7:50_NIV. 

As followers of Jesus what can we do as we follow Jesus and His example?  1 John 2:6_NIV says, “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”  As children, many of us played “follow the leader”.  Let’s never stop following our leader.  Acts 10:38_NIV says that Jesus went around doing good.  We can do that.

We can preach good news to the poor.

They’re all around us, even people with lots of money, can be poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).  Look around you-your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow students.  Ask God to open your eyes to their poverty.  A few years ago I got to know an elderly man across the street.  In time we became friends and he learned I was a minister.  He asked to be born again and baptized.  Later he told me “this is the moment I’ve been waiting for my entire life.”  It’s good news.

We can proclaim freedom for prisoners.

One night, years ago, I got a call from a friend that I knew was an alcoholic.  He was in the hospital and he told me he had been an alcoholic for many years and couldn’t stop drinking.  He asked me if God could help and I said yes.  I immediately took him a Bible and led him to Christ.  God freed him that night and he never took another drink.  I know that it doesn’t always work like that, but God has the power to free people from addictions of all kinds.  We can lead people to freedom.

We can provide recovery of sight for the blind.

Blindness is both physical and spiritual.  In 2 Corinthians 4:4_NIV it says that Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers so they can’t see the light of the Gospel.  We can shine our light into their darkness and help the blind to see.  John Newton, a former slave ship captain, wrote a song called Amazing Grace that said “I once was blind, but now I see.”  Do you know people who are blind?

We can release the oppressed.

The oppressed are those who suffer the consequences of someone else’s sin.  Do you know people who are abused, neglected, bullied, left out, lonely, lost?  You can, help free them from their oppression by simply loving and befriending them.  Every child in school can befriend someone who is lonely and left out-it will change their life.  Even during COVID, people are only a phone call away. 

One thing Jesus did that we can’t do is to atone for our sins.  Jesus was called, “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29_NIV).  The Bible says that Jesus would save His people from their sins, which is the very thing that can change our lives forever.  We can follow Jesus and serve others as Jesus did.  Jesus said that He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for others.  Let’s be followers of Jesus and serve others.

“…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16_NIV

Read this book>>>

                                                                          black hole - Hubble Telescope image 

                They think the whole world revolves around them! 
                                      EZEKIEL 38:12 NLT



Rabbi Hillel asked a good question in Ethics of the Fathers:
     “If I am only for myself, who am I?”
     Selfishness runs counter to My will, and isolates you from others.

The earth is not the center of the universe—the Eternal One is.
     Earthly-mindedness is limiting and worrisome.
     Go about your business, ignoring Mine, and you will go spiritually bankrupt.

The sun is not the center of the universe—the Son of God is. 
     The Light of the World illuminates the Way to the Truth of Life.
     The Sun of Righteousness holds everything together, including you.

The north star is not the center of the universe—the Bright Morning Star is. 
     The Creator of the cosmos directs the traffic patterns of the galaxies.
     The Star-Maker inspires hope in the darkest night of your soul.

You are not the center of the universe—I am. 
     Self-centeredness is laughable and sinful.
     Egocentricity breeds lust, impurity, greed, idolatry, anger, and slander.
     Egomaniacs eventually self-destruct—they love themselves to death. 
     Arrogant enough to take a do-it-yourself approach to life?
     Self-righteous to the point of taking center stage and claiming holiness?
     Convinced you are strong enough to handle any problem you may face?
     Smart enough to figure out all the enigmas of the world?
     Bragging you have it made, the world wrapped around your finger?

Christ-centeredness alone is eternally significant.
     Find a nobler purpose—honoring your Savior in all you do.
     Enjoy greater pleasure—celebrating the joy of His company.
     Experience higher power—surviving difficulties by His grace.
     Celebrate greater purity—thinking your Master’s thoughts.

Live His way—beyond yourself.

                                         

                                    (c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond 
                           Day 288,  Gentle Whispers from Eternity