Hey bloggers...
First of all, in this hurricane season, I want to speak to your personal storm today...whatever it may be...in Jesus' name. So I release a gift of faith in your behalf, and I say to you PEACE! BE STILL! Put your hand on your monitor screen and connect with me in the spirit realm and in cyberspace...together we are all stronger...we are united...we are one...receive peace now!
Secondly, I want to say thanks for the good comments posted here and on the CITN blog since Sunday (BTW, Jack and Lisa's E.A.C.H. area is up now, so you can send them a good word).
Anyway, I feel your agreement and strength of covenant, and I need for you to keep it coming. Debye's going to have a great and important meeting with the leaders on Saturday, and I'm really looking forward to Sunday...can't wait to see what is going to happen (only one person was signed up to be water baptized Sunday night, so we postponed the baptismal until the October sacrament service), but it's going to be another holy day all day.
Also, this is on a different theme, but I came across a poem that I posted a while back on the CITN site (One On One), and I wanted to share it with you again...just because...
Coming Home
By Joan Wilson
To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be a “learner”.
Most of my Christian experience has been learning about Him, trying to copy Him as much as possible, knowing I could never really do that, but making an effort any way.
It has been an uphill, downhill trek.
Now, my experience is somewhat like that of His disciples who met the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus.
They didn't recognize Him in His resurrection life until they sat down and ate with Him.
Their eyes were opened to see Who it was they had been walking and talking with...
The Resurrected Christ!
The promised Messiah.
The New Creation Man.
The perfect blend of God and man.
This is the quality of life seeded in our earth bodies now - the new quality of life created when God raised His Son from death.
We don't really recognize His abiding presence until we stop working to be like Him and just sit down and rest with Him and eat with Him...partaking of new creation food as we experience Him in the only quality of life He has to give us now -Resurrection life!
He died to put an end to a species of humanity that was raw-naked vulnerable to sin and death.
That breed is under a recall order now.
The death of Christ was not a punishment for sin - it was the beginning of the end of
humanity vulnerable to sin.
We have been walking with Him on the road to Emmaus (Emmaus means, “half-way”)...half way to our final destination: The full revelation of Christ resurrected in us!
The revelation of that reality comes as much and as often as we can bear it, without stripping us of the honor of being a person as He is a Person.
The revelation of Christ resurrected in us literally scares the hell out of us and opens our eyes to see He didn't sacrifice Himself just to take us up to heaven.
He brought heaven down to earth
He made heaven His Home in us!
Let's make this weekend something really special.
39 comments:
Hand on the screen--all stronger as one. And Peace also to you.
Thanks, Bishop, I needed that.
Wordver was unrepeatably rude--funny--but rude. Whatever.
Our God reigns.
In shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet, God leads His dear children along.
NTL
The meditation that goes beyond thought is popular in the modern world, and it is for this reason that I find these two books particularly relevant today. As for the way to getting beyond thought, the English author has a definite methodology. After speaking of good and pious meditations on the life and death of Christ, he introduces his disciple to a way that may well be attractive also to the modern reader, namely the mantra or sacred word:
If you want to gather all your desire into one simple word that you can retain, choose a short word rather than a long one. A one-syllable word such as “God” or “love” is best. But choose one that is meaningful to you. Then fix it in your mind so that it will remain there come what may. This word will be your defense in conflict and in peace. Use it to beat upon the cloud of forgetting beneath you. Should some thought go on annoying you, demanding to know what you are doing, answer with this one word alone. If your mind begins to intellectualize over the meaning and connotations of this little word, remind yourself that its value lies in its simplicity. Do this and I assure you these thoughts will vanish. Why? Because you have refused to develop them with arguing.
As can be seen, the little word is used in order to sweep all images and thoughts from the mind, leaving it free to love with the blind stirring that stretches out toward God.
In Privy Counseling the author speaks of two clear-cut steps on the way to enlightenment. The first is the rejection of all thoughts about what I am and what God is in order to be conscious only that I am and that God is. This is what I would like to call existential prayer because of its abandonment of all essences or modes of being. But it is only the first step. The second step is the rejection of all thought and feeling of my own being to be conscious only of the being of God. In this way the author leads to a total self-forgetfulness, a seemingly total loss of self for a consciousness only of the being of him whom we love. This is interesting doctrine. How can we twentieth-century men who talk so much about personality accept it?
Exceptional blessings everyone...
youtube.com/watch?v=ygvTW-6dH8g
youtube.com/watch?v=mTv1Dmu5CYc&feature
Thanks for the opportunity to join with you in recieving peace this morning. BTW yesterday's clip that you added was hilarious.
JB
TGIN, too! Thank God it's now! Thanks "cloud of unknowing" for the focus we get from keeping it simple. Power is no good without focus. Just one word can change everything. I am blessed by that one today. My word today is "acceptance".
Not a single bad word in this one. Not one, nope, promise...
myspace.com/jamesblackshaw
I'm off,
You all have a glorious day in God. And in that moment when your heart is still; tune in with your lover. He'll be there in that very moment.
My mantra today is definitely peace.
Touching the screen in the Now...it will never lose its power...have a great and joyous day all!
Blessings of Peace Blog Fam!
Hey All
Last Summer I went to the beach and this poem came out. I believe it is for someone today.
Waves Of Life
As I start to enter the ocean
Waves start to hit my legs
Trying to knock me down but I stand
As I go out a little more, the waves hit a little higher
Trying to knock me down but I stand
I go out to about my waist
The waves try to knock away my grace
It’s then I see the waves are like the situations I face
Some are small and I glide over them and I stand
Some are bigger and I stumble but I get over it then I stand
Some are bigger still knocking my feet out from under me
I struggle to stand but I stand
Bigger the waves become
Knocking under from where I begun
I struggle even more and yet I find my bearings and I stand
As the waves try to pull me to the ocean floor
I struggle even more because I know I must stand
No matter how big the waves of life hit
Learn To Stand
In the standing you grow strong
You can get through anything
The waves will try to knock you down
Hold Tight and STAND
Laura Benson
7-25-2007
Oh, and Avatar...I agree...the wordver has cursed at me before too...rude, but funny...OMG...I just looked at the one I have now...sexbirp...lol! (I know...I shouldn't be laughing at locker room or stoner humor...but I can't help it...they are my peeps...Part of Heathens R Us! In the immortal words of Pat Benatar...WE BELONG!--also on my Ipod™)
I just saw that video from yesterday.
Bob Hope blankin' rocks!!!!
I can't describe how hilarious that really is without cussin'.
And yes Bishop I receive that blessing of peace!! Thanks.
Very Incouraging Bishop. Thanks for the blessing, I'll have one or two.
Preston Eby is a great story teller. His writings are replete with wonderful stories. I’d like to share one of these short stories from his “God is Love” booklet.
“In this story a man who was entirely careless of spiritual things died and went to hell. And he was much missed on earth by his old friends. His business manager went down to the gates of hell to see if there were any chance of bringing him back. But, though he pleaded for the gates to be opened, the iron bars never yielded. His cricket captain went also and besought Satan to let him out just for the remainder of the season. But there was no response. His minister went also and argued, saying, "He was not altogether bad. Let him have another chance. Let him out just this once." Many other friends of his went also and pleaded with Satan saying, "Let him out, let him out, let him out." But when his mother came, she spoke no word of his release. Quietly, and with a strange catch in her voice, she said to Satan, "Let me in." And immediately the great doors swung open upon their hinges. For love goes down through the gates of hell and there redeems the damned! Our Father and God, incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ, holds in His nail-pierced hand the keys of death and hell. O grave, where is Your victory? O gates of hell, you shall not prevail, for the Redeemer of Israel and the Saviour of the world, the God who IS LOVE holds in His triumphant hand your key!”
It is my hope and prayer that the Lord of Love manifests in each of you, that love that surpasses even the love of a mother for her children to embolden you to push back the gates of Hell, of darkness, superstition, religion, and ignorance found in the lives of those around you and all over the world. May God use you as an instrument to bring His glorious light, love, life, mercy and liberty into their inner beings to set them free spirit, soul and body.
You are His Body. You are His Ambassadors on this earth, His agency for change. Whether you are aware of it or not, you have been called to knock down the Gates of Hell established in men and women’s heads and hearts. There are prisoners all around us behind huge walls composed of all sorts of lies, propaganda and misinformation. They are our brothers and sisters. They are our family. It is not enough to know that “one day” they will be set free. Fatalism does not serve God, entering into His labor, joining His army does. We are to be co-laborers with Christ.
P Dennis
Blurking like crazy lately. I don't really like that word. Too close to sounding like one is in dire need of an antacid. Oh well... 'it is what it is!'
P Dennis, just had to stop in and tell you that the hat is too cool! You remind me of a 'Hemingway'... observing the world... prepping for a great written word.
Big hello to everyone else. Been zoning somewhere between silliness, exhaustion and insanity. Flooring escapades! Who WAS that foolish woman who wanted a slate floor?!? Oh yeah, um... that would be me ;{ What should've been finished at some point Tuesday will be finished tonight. A very LONG, LABORIOUS Labor Day weekend. Apropos, I suppose. Still have the guest bath and, quite possibly, the front porch stoop left to do. But it will be soooo nice to have the master bath back functioning. All I can say is that when it comes time in a year or so to gut the kitchen, someone else will be doing it!
My crazy Izzy turned seven yesterday. Had to put her pic up... proud mommie! (stop rolling your eyes, people)
Oh yeah, I'm feeling left out. The word ver has never cussed at me. What's up with that?
Elle, you nailed it. I've been trying to figure out who Pastor Dennis reminded me of. Your right, Hemmingway minus the cigar.
JB
Hey, Laura. Your poem gives an interesting perspective on learning to walk on the water. Thanks.
Mystic, (i'm not laughing, i'm not laughing). How are you doing "TM"? That would be "trademark symbol"--don't go anywhere else with that--smile!~~
Pasor Dennis, "the Gates of Hell established in men and women’s heads and hearts"--okay, that was cool! And blessings to you, too.
My, my, Izzy, what strange fur you have! I'm removing that cheesecloth finish on a ceiling, Elle. I feel ya!
Bishop, Emmaus="half way". First time that's made it into my consciousness. Half way, he joins them, shares prophecy the rest of the way, He starts to go farther than they are going but they ask Him to stay. (testing to see if they have ears to hear anything else?).
Then at dinner, breaking bread--that's when they recognize Him...and He disappears immediately. Interesting.
Good Day BITN
I've been a blurker for months and just wanted to say "I'm with you"
After purchasing a Wash By the Word cd about 10 years ago at my local church I finally searched out Bishop Swilley in 2006 and started getting cd messages. Then I had to have all of the SOTB teachings. I was hooked. Everything I'd felt in my spirit was confirmed. What a liberating feeling to find such a NOW church.
Blurking on this site continues to expand me.
Thanks one and all for all your input.
Peace
It's great to have you hear/here Lisaa. The more the merrier. Share with us what's on your heart anytime.
You are welcome here.
Thanks Avatar I always love feedback.
Av...teeheehee...can't help it. As for the TM...come on! Do I have to tell y'all all my secrets? If I do that...then I'm just like one of y'all...wait a minute...oh yeah...I AM ONE OF Y'ALL...AND DAYUM PROUD OF IT!
Here ya go...it's &#trade#; with #'s removed. ™
I think that's the one that should follow Bishop's phrase...Real People™
It's either that or ® which...in case anyone wants or needs the copyright mark above is like this: &#reg#; w/o the #'s.
Blessings Blog Fam!
With Love from a Proud CITN/BITN and E.A.C.H.™ Member
Also Laura, that poem is powerful and very practical.
Thanks You
"Why do we get knocked down?"
"So that we can get back up!"
Ok Laura,
While I was leaving my comment you just posted one the same time, and now I look like I was complimenting your poem after the fact that you thanked Avatar. Not the case. Haha...
Mystic,
Where do you come up with this stuff?
Who me? :o
I ain't done nuttin' ;)
That's it! Y'all are right! Hemingway! Lovin' it! Now all he needs is a Key West sign and a wild rooster or two...I have a sign I can loan ya from Sloppy Joe's...um...oops...no I don't...I have no idea what that place even is! Um...check please!
Oh and WELCOME HOME LisaA!
Blessings Blog Fam!
O.K., ditto me on the Hemingway look-a-like for P. Dennis... there is a contest every year at Sloppy Joe's
-- you could definitely compete!
Mystic... I've never been there either.
Hey SOZ I read this poem at another church last Fri. and when I wrote it I didn't realize how much it really meant to others & myself.
Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks for the great comments and conversation, people...
Welcome, LisaA, and thanks for the good report...I think you are our first participant from FLA...
Peacemaker, I thought that aliens had abducted you, or that Gabriel had blown his horn and I missed it, but then I noticed that you posted as a "follower" on my dashboard...I'm still not exactly sure what that is, but I'm glad to know that you're still with us...
And, Machion, I liked "TGIN". Cool!
Glad to hear from you, Elle...
Mayam, I know that you've been going through the fire of late, but I miss hearing from you every day...
And what happened to you, DBA? I thought for sure the airing of the RNC this week would cause you to resurface?
All you children of the 60's sing along with me:
"Where have all the bloggers gone?
Long time passing...
Where have all the bloggers gone?
Long time ago...
Where have all the bloggers gone?
Lost in cyberspace everyone...
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?"
Well, not >everyone/<, fortuneately...
Abraham, tithing is a form of karma? Hmmm...interesting...PM, that sounds like something you should weigh in on...you guys made up, right?
Got your e-mail, Mystic...thanks...
Wait, I didn't do the italics right. Yikes!!!
everyone
fortunately
Bishop this is David Marson… I miss and love you, Debye and the kids…
Some friends of mine, John Gray and others, produced directed acted a movie clip that is in the final 15 out of thousands in a nationwide film contest… the film is one of the most griping moving things you will ever see. You will cry and laugh… see the film, 10 minutes, and vote for it.. you must view all 15 to vote but you can just click on one as you work then comeback 15 minutes later and click on another… this film deserves life… you will keep it in your heart always… send this email out to everyone… get this picture to win….. hurry you only have til sept 10 to vote…
Go to:
http://www.thedoorpost.com/
click: “SIGN UP”
then fill out the form… real short
click: “CONTINUE TO NEXT STEP”
click: “WATCH NOW”
click on the movie: “before i wake”
Film Synopsis:
A man who has lost hope has the ability to restore hope to the one that took it from him. Paralyzed by the memories of pains past, therapist Ryan Mason has been given the opportunity to walk towards freedom, deliverance, intimacy and the hope for the abundant life he has always desired-if he is willing to face the past and make the seemingly impossible choice to release it. With a marriage in shambles, a son in need of a father and confined to an emotionally isolated prison of his own making, Ryan Mason must make a decision that will change everything. Either that, or he will lose it all.
Hey, Av...
Would you be referring to 'popcorn ceilings' that were POPular (sorry) in houses, like mine, built in the nineties? If so, what are you doing to get rid of it? That look is most unpopular now (according to everyone on HGTV), and I would love to change mine... but not if it's gonna take a million man-hours! Would probably need to hire someone to do the great room, as the ceiling is quite high. Just curious...
Again your welcome, Bishop...and don't worry about the backwards <'s...it happens to me all the time. And though I'm actually a child of the 70's, musically I can definitely sing along...P,P & M are also...you guessed it...on my IPOD™ It's another awesome protest song from an amazing era in music...it's a good thing the program iTunes® (and yes, now I'm just showin' off...lol) has no limit on number of songs it will hold.
Thanks for layin' down some cover fire for me, g8trgrl...maybe someday we'll not go there together *grin*
Thanks for the info, Mr. Marson...sounds great...I'll try and do that. (Did anyone else hear what he typed as read by Don LaFontaine besides me?) :o
Blessings Blog Fam!
For prayer: It was Donald last week (MS). Now, Elle, what's the hurricane status where you are in SC?
Elle, ours is a spackle pattern. I think the popcorn has styrofoam in it. You (or a pro) can put up wall/ceiling board to cover it. But for several reasons [main one being we planted the money we would have spent into the soil at CITN--which is why it seems appropriate to give HGTV info here--smile] I decided to try scraping it off.
For a bedroom, if you consider the excellent underarm, lat and ab workout hours as sunk costs, you can consider the 20 actual man-hours are only 10! Selah!
I started with a spray bottle of water, spray an area, wait a few, spray again, then scrape with a 4-inch blade. Cool thing is it came off like flakes of snow instead of dust (ie--falls to the ground instead of floating all over the house through the AC system) and a sheet under the ladder gathers most of it to be shaken into an ice chest in the garage. Again, very little dust.
When I remembered we had a small paint sprayer, the most irritating part of the process (hand pumping the spray bottle) was eliminated!
Hurricanes have a lot of water too.
That wasn't right--I went for the cheap joke. You guys okay?
Anyone still awake
Peace to all
I've been thinking of how much this ministry means to me personally.
When I came to CITN I had basically
given up on churches all together. I wasn't ready to start in another one. I had very good reasons why I would never go into church at all.
It seems the more I try to run away from the Father the more He puts roadblocks in my path. I guess I was destine to stay.
The first time I came in contact with members of CITN was when the Cherry Blossom Festival was moved to the Horse Park. I was walking around and a teen with purple balloons came and gave me a flyer about the church. It said the church was non-denominational & Non-racial. I hadn't heard of any church like that since I went to church on a military base. That piece of paper sparked my interest. I had to see for myself.
I have made many good friendships here. This site is great for reaching out to those I may not ever get to meet in person. We have been on a roller coaster ride lately but the thrill is here.
It's time to climb up the next hill. We are moving forward into a new day. A new destiny has been set for us. We are going to move into a new awareness of what the word NOW really means. I feel it's not where or even what we done or been but where we are going. It's fun to remember the good things in our past. Take a moment to remember but we are to move forward. The city is ours for the taking. There are many like I was when I came to CITN. They know the Father but have given up on church life altogether. People are running. Can we be their roadblock? Look where we are off I-20 on Iris Drive.
Bishop you and Pastor Debye have not only spoke into my life. You have became more than ministers to me. You have became friends.
[What is the definition of guts?]
Grace under pressure.
Ernest Hemingway
Hey, Bish!
We're fine. Joe and I were hoping that we'd get significant rain from Hannah, but it drizzled a little last night, and I think that will be about it. His sister and housemate live in Charleston, and were going to head this way if need be. But they stayed put... just lots of rain. Haven't checked weather.com yet, but am anxious to know what Ike is gonna do.
MIGHTY AVATAR :} That workout should last you for a month, at least! Sounds like everything went smoothly! Am tempted to take a really stiff broom to mine to see what happens. On the other hand, I am hoping that God will 'lead us not into temptation,' because I'm really kinda tired of all of this stuff. Will probably just live with it! And hal-el-to-jah... the floor came out great despite a couple of definite screw-ups (if you only knew)!
Blessings!
Said "thanks, Mystic" to myself when you shared your trade<&trade> secrets (I was driving)--then forgot to say thanks here. So, THANKS. (clearly, I need more coaching tho, since that was supposed to be a tiny TM up there--smile)
Elle, I'm still workin' on it. Planning on a pro to put up the final smoothing so it will be pro-feshnul AND finished in my lifetime.
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