Session Notes

Q&A: Christ and my job:

“Just remember that we are not bound by the rules of the world,
including the (company) world. Their rules are THEIR rules, they are not OUR
rules. I have found I can submit to THEIR rules simply because I know
who I am because of who is my life. They want me to take out the trash,
I can take out the trash. They want me to fill out a form, no problem.
My freedom is not found in resisting their sometimes silly or
superfluous rules, my freedom is found in the reality that I am truly
free in Christ.  I have discovered time and time again that the life of
Christ has blown away the idea that I need their rules in order to
truly accomplish the real stuff.”

This is a good article on the difference between living under the law vs Christ. Unrealistic demands and definitions will not produce love for God, others or ourselves.

Q&A: Learning grace:

“ I wrote to him quite a few times after that but never heard back from him till this day.It was a very hurtful, but VERY strengthening time of my life. As much as I had learned from it, I saw how systematic theology was easily maneuvered to establish a measuring stick to judge another’s spirituality to determine if someone ”gets it“ or not. I have come to see that ALL spiritual knowledge is exactly that: spiritual. No one achieves a higher level because they understand more. You know what I have learned from all my understanding from Him? That in Him there are no differences because His Spirit has truly made us one!! True understanding comes as my ”measuring sticks“ keep getting snapped and I once again have my eyes opened to the measureless life of Christ who is MY life. Wow!! < << God has worked on my heart (he is so patient!) for many years, teaching me his precious grace. I am a slow learner :-) >>>It sounds like you and I have MUCH in common. It has taken a LONG time for me to learn of this grace … but I think that this is the only way we really learn it. Oh, some may learn an awful lot of ”information“ about the grace of Christ (I’ve had that happen from time to time), but since grace is NOT a ”doctrine“ but LIFE itself it is slowly being worked through us. It truly is so much better than just getting some kind of ”degree of achievement“, isn’t it? ”

This is a great article on only judging all truth by God. May it be so.

Party Game Central- Party games and birthday games for kids and adults:

“Four or more people stand in a circle facing in and holding hands. Two people go around the outside and when ready, tap someone’s clasped hands, breaking the chain. The Dutchmen run around the circle racing against the two whose hand-clasp was broken (who run in the opposite direction). The slowest team gets to be the Dutchmen for the next round. Variations on this game are many including hopping or skipping, or perhaps in piggy-back.

 ”

Also Duck Duck Goose

Q&A: Food fears | Food and drink | Life and Health:

“Stay away from certain foods. Sodium benzoate is widely used in soft drinks and artificial colourings are used in confectionery, drinks, ice creams and cakes, although some manufacturers and retailers have been trying to switch to natural ones. Additives should appear on the label by name or E number, but since many of these foods are sold loose, they are not always labelled”

Q&A: Where did you learn all this about grace and the Bible?:

“That something that keeps drawing you back to the truth that seems frightening is the very life of God within you. You have already made it obvious to me that something seems wrong to you about the fear-based teachings you have learned. Who do you think really makes you know that? Yeah, the Spirit of God within you. The reason that the freedom of Christ makes a connection with you is that it speaks to the real you … the one who has been set free. His Spirit witnesses with your spirit. Book knowledge will always be something that you try to apply, but the knowledge of God actually works within you.”

This is a solid article on encouraging us not be satisfied with finding an answer to have one or sticking to basic teachings of the “Christian” religious faith. This security/safety may not be of God.

Q&A: Fearful of the stigma for believing a certain truth:

“When it all comes down to the bottom line our
”beliefs“ and ”issues“ (even a belief labeled ”the completeness of the
cross“) are usually shown up to be little more than our intellectual
leanings at a given time … and real faith is revealed as being the
miraculous reality of Christ that it really is.”

This is a good brief encouragement. I pray we wouldn’t be afraid of stigmas for believing certain truths. Lord give us the freedom to share for connection, knowing that you are constantly renewing our minds.

Q&A: Trying to find that magical place of filling:

“Like you, I have seen that cold, clean and empty ”doctrinal“ stance taken by many who talk as if receiving the Spirit is merely technical, or ”positional“, and not really real … when you get down to it. I have also seen the desperation that comes from trying to reach that magical place that might be called ”filled“, etc. Neither ”side“ has exclusive rights to that desperation, either, for I come from a non-charismatic background and we tried over and over again to ”get IT back“ … whatever ”it“ may mean … devotional, filled, sold-out, mature, vibrant, ”a man after God’s own heart“, etc. You know much of the terminology.”

This is an excellent description of what it means to “try” rather than “resting” in believing in the Finished Work of Christ.