Fargo Jnr.

Fargo

"Why do Mothers always dress us up in weird stuff?"

Miracles and Random Acts of Kindness

I currently believe that it is potentially a dangerous view to assert that miracles occur because of our radical obedience or actions...this is the sort of thinking that may place Christians back in the 'weird' bucket...and dissapoint many who take radical action - and not be given the miracles they desire.

They will then cry with dissapontment "what is wrong with my faith"...."have I not been faithful enough?".

The working of miracles, I believe is entirely a supernatural act of God...there is nothing "we do" in this!

Yes, when we feel called we can reach out, or go to the elders for prayer and annointing etc., but to link obedience and faithfulness (our works) to God's blessing may well be to return back to the sweet spot of the dodgy Faith Movement / Prosperity doctrine days. I have seen firsthand the dissapointment that this brings - even to radical Christians!

I think the concept of Miracles and healing etc needs to be looked at more broadly....and perhaps we should be looking at the 'miracle' and the wonder of why often times God does not heal!

Christians are to be a reflection of, and witnesss to Christ during both their times of blessing and during times of suffering.

Those "Miraculous Miracles" will occur - but they will be rare by definition....I think we need to look for the "Common Miracles" that occur around us - everyday, in the wonder of life itself!

I do not have the answers...but the thoughts that have are these:

I think we need to start looking at wonder at all of the common miracles around us. The wonder in nature and the Universe, the wonder of man created in God's image...these point to the supernatural and the Wonder of the Creator...

Then I think we have to get much better at rembering to be thankful for this wonder, and everything that God provides for us food, society, family etc...

Then we have to get better at understanding the Father Heart of God, trusting in his infinite wisdom and knowing that ultimately - he wants his very best for us...and that he fully understands and empathasis with humans in our struggles...

in all of this maybe 'We' are to be the agents he works his miracles -helping others through in our words, actions and quiet and discreet prayers!

Then if we are suffering or see suffering to pray for God's help - trusting that through all of this his will is being done, towards progress His Kingdom...regardless of wheteher or not he provides immediate relief...

And then, in all of this just maybe we may actually see the unexpected!

Flesh & Blood

The pentecostal view of communion has been largely been on of the "rememberance meal"...Catholics and others actually believe that when Jesus himself said "take and eat, this IS my body", the participation in communion means we are consuming the flesh (for Catholics it actually means the literal flesh of Christ in that the wafer changes inside the mouth).

From my readings of early Church, these orthodox views would have certainly have been held by the earliest of Christians, as one of the charges laid on them by their persecutors who conveniently took this all out of context was that they were to be percieved as a sect of flesh eating cannibals!

But the emphasis being on 'This IS my body, given for you, for the forgiveness of sins' is something I find somewhat mystical and entirely special....and when I am at a low point, something I spiritually crave - especially when dispensed from a common cup in a more intimate setting.

There is just something wonderful about the whole thing, when considered in this context, that just cannot be put into words.

On the Quiet

“The more I see the less I know”
-U2, ‘City of Blinding Lights’

I have not written much here for a while, as there has been much that has been on my mind.

Presently, I am taking some time out in order to ‘refresh with my spirituality’ and get my head around a few things.

In the meantime, I have being ‘hanging out’ at some of the older traditional Churches in our city. In their quietness I have been impressed.

Last Sunday, I attend an informal Lutheran Church service with a speaker who works with the poor and marginalized in low socio-economic areas.

This Sunday, I plan to attend a formal ‘Taize’ style worship service at an old Church in the City. Soon, for something different, I also plan to spend a weekend with the Monks at New Norcia on a retreat.

Everyday, on the way to work, I pass an old traditional Church in our city that in my arrogance I had written it off as a ‘has been’.

I would often sneer at the corny quote board on the front wall, however, of late the quotes have been uncannily pertinent to my life situation, that the words have just jumped out at me:

1) “If we say we are without fault then the Truth is not in us”.
2) “Likw Light, Truth always Travels in Straight Lines”.
3) “Forget Others Faults By Remembering Your Own!”...

God knows where we are at. I believe that he communicates his wisdom through the quiet things that confound “the wise”—even corny old Church Quote Boards!.

I have a lot to learn!

Silence

“I see that what I am experiencing is moral ache. That this act comes out of the act of reflection and even silence itself. That this act of reflection is of course, important for finding some temporary grace as a writer. But that grace fully realised, comes from living and not reflecting in isolation”.

-Mark Mordue, “A Dog’s Life” pp 22 The Big Issue, No 235 15.08.05 – 30.08.05

Enough said.

On Bono

“I wish I could live the life of someone you could describe as pious. I couldn’t preach because I couldn’t practice. It’s plain to see that I’m not a good advertisement for God. Artists are selfish people”.
-'Bono on Bono: Converstations with Michka Assayas.

I can relate to that.

Ocean

Trigg Beach, Contacio (2005)

Immortal love, forever full,
Forever flowing free,
Forever shared, forever whole,
A never ebbing sea!

No offering of my own I have,
Nor works my faith to prove;
I can but give the gifts He gave,
And plead His love for love.

I see the wrong that round me lies,
I feel the guilt within;
I hear, with groan and travail-cries,
The world confess its sin.

Yet, in the maddening maze of things,
And tossed by storm and flood,
To one fixed trust my spirit clings;
I know that God is good!

I dimly guess from blessings known
Of greater out of sight,
And, with the chastened Psalmist, own
His judgments too are right.

I know not what the future hath
Of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
His mercy underlies

And so beside the silent sea
I wait the muffled oar;
No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.

I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.
(J.G. Whittier, 1867)

(Submitted By 'Halieus' - Much Appreciated)