GREENE STREET LETTERS: Shiw Me The Way To Go Home

Friday, June 21, 2013

Shiw Me The Way To Go Home

John 14: 5-6
Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

I see it over and over with people in recovery.
"I am not going to read any Bible or Big Book."
"I am not going to church or any meetings."
"I am not going to do any of the disciplines required of me."
"Boy, I hope I can do this recovery thing."

How dumb it is that?
Basic premise is, "I have made a mess of my life and I have the track record to prove it. Now let me show you how good I can make it now that I'm a little sober."
To me, you can't be the problem and then turn around and be the solution also.
It just doesn't work.

What if all this God-stuff I post about every day actually worked?
What if it were true?
Wouldn't that be a hoot?
Well, it is a hoot.
In fact it is is a hoot to the millionth power. Even beyond.
The point of entry is just like what Thomas told Jesus in the verses above.
"Hey....We don't know."
"Hey...I don't know."
"I don't know how to live any other way, other than the way I have lived."
"If there is going to be change for the better in my life, then you've got to show me how, Jesus."

In other words, there has to be this acknowledgement of being powerless.
Powerless to live life on life's terms.
Did you catch how Jesus responded to Thomas' question?
I love His answer.
He tells Thomas..."You need to stay focused on Me!"
Don't get caught up in the drama of your old life.
Don't listen to the council of your old friends or family.
Don't try and figure everything out yourself.
Focus on Jesus.
You want to know how to live and interact with the world around you?
Read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament.
Jesus not only came to die and make the payment for my sins...
He came to show me how to live in a world dominated by sin.

Jesus didn't say, "I am A truth" or "I am some truth" or even "I am one of many truth's."
No! He said, "I am THE truth."
Of all the truth that claims to be truth, there is no greater truth than the person of Jesus.
He is the beacon that leads us all home.
He is the path to follow that will see you through to the end.
He is the way....
He is the truth...
And He is the life.
Jesus.

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow night at Vineyard Recovery.
God on you....
mb

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Shiw Me The Way To Go Home

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD