#TheNarrowWay

Driving Ireland along the Narrow Way...

click arrow below for video

https://youtu.be/hguMzXyJGCw

Driving in Ireland... On our travels through Ireland, we set our Garmin to avoid the highways and drove the beautiful country sides. Along the way, we got a surprise! A big tractor on a very narrow road! It had stormed the night before, knocking down a tree, but that day, the weather was beautiful and our rental car was very small. What good fortune we had! This event on the narrow road reminds me of Jesus’, “#Sermononthemount, where He states, “…NARROW is the road that leads to LIFE and FEW find it,“ even as few could have gotten past that tree and tractor. In the text, Jesus is using the narrowness term to describe a life of liberty; one that He would make available to His disciples,(disciplined followers). But why use narrow, to describe a broad term like Liberty? Did you know that this same sermon contains the foundational texts for AA’s #12steps and #CelebrateRecovery’s 8 principles? Over the years, millions of steppers worldwide, can attest to the grace and strength they found when they, “Realized that they are not God,” and surrendered their wills to a, “Higher Power,” who is genuinely trustworthy; whether religious in the traditional sense or not. Through their testimonies, I have heard repeatedly how these steppers appreciate experiencing the kind of freedom and liberty Jesus spoke about! But have their lives actually become narrow? Have they lost freedom? How can liberty equate with a loss of freedom? I can’t help but think that many equate the term, narrow with, “#narrowminded.” And see them as being, narrow minded? Can realizing that I am not God make me a narrow minded dullard? But the preceding verse also makes a claim. It states. “BROAD is the gate and WIDE is the ROAD that leads to destruction; and MANY go thereby. Here, I can’t help but think about how broad and wide and destructive that tractor could have been to our car. So what about this promise? How can becoming narrow, or practicing narrowness broaden our horizons and bring #liberty? At the time, much of Jesus’ sermon challenged the religious people of His day, especially the religious leaders. Does this challenge continue? Why does He say, most people will not seek the liberty He offers? And if not, what will they be seeking? On another occasion, at the Synagogue, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him and He found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, to heal the broken hearted and bring recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord… and He ended with… Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21) Jesus declared an ongoing process that would include many positive events. But this would not negate His other claims for those that chose destruction. The liberty that He talks about is not a singular event; it is an ongoing process that transcends the process taking place in the world around us. The common denominator among the steppers that have found freedom is their willingness to see their bondage and desire to be set free. They discovered that their purpose was to be set free to share a message of liberation with others. Jesus talked about a similar mission stating, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. But many of the listeners became enraged expressing pride in their heritage and traditions stating they had never been slaves to anyone! Still, Jesus continued, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34) Our liberty comes through God changing our hearts and opening our minds to enable us to understand that we are in bondage. We have all submitted to bondages of vain pride, false power, deceptive lusts and addictive pleasures to name a few. He offers us freedom, but this freedom sets us at odds with what the world around us idolizes. Before we can become effective in His kingdom we must be set free from our loyalties to His opponents. Where are you in this process? Many years ago I wrote a workbook that explains some of this process. Originally it was a booklet, then a blog, you can find it at www.morethanmanagement.life For more writings like this one you can go to, www.seekinghigherbeing.org For social and political events consider www.thesubwaywalls.com

 

Rising Above! Negativity, Judgmentalism and Disappointment

 Rising Above!   

As you can see, I recently got an opportunity to go for a hot air balloon ride. It was really fun. But it was also surprising.

My expectation was for a few solid hours of casually flying very, very high above the desert terrain with no regard for anything. Not direction or regulations or any of the other practical realities of ballooning. Had we followed this plan to only fly high and fast, who knows where we would have landed or possibly crashed!

Fortunately our balloonist diligently prepared and tediously completed the many tasks of ballooning to give us a safe and enjoyable flight.

Recently while reading through the Bible, I read portions listing other tedious tasks and details listed in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Wow! Not only are there details. There are layers and layers and layers of them often addressing topics I don’t even understand.

Similarly, even though flying a balloon seems simple, the reality is, there are many tedious details. Balloons do not auto-pilot themselves and then self land. There are many steps based on careful attention to observation while simultaneously metering correct responses. I was surprised at how detailed and tedious the task of flying was, but our pilot was well prepared and appeared to enjoy it. He made it look fun.

So why, all of the lists of details in the bible? How do we benefit from understanding these ancient dictates, principles and values in the context of today? What do these ancient texts have to do with our modern lives? And how can they provide direction when our lives seem so different?

Answer: By empowering us to truly accept our present reality! In the same way that a balloonist is empowered to control his craft, when he observes and understands the dynamics of the changing wind currents and temperatures in the sea of air around him.

Empowerment is to become aware enough to competently deal with what is happening NOW in the context of the BIG PICTURE. It needs to happen on a moment by moment basis, and it is hindered by our preoccupations with illusions of control. In reality, we actually control very little. These illusions cause is to ignore our real priorities of spiritual growth and seek relief from minor discomforts like boredom. Illusions cause us to exchange seeking Gods Kingdom with the vain glory of controlling stuff.

The chasm between empowerment and our illusions of control is huge.

Although we have been created in the image of God, and may have even submitted to His Lordship to be empowered by Him to accomplish all that He has planned for us. We are not, “in control.” He is.

When we first boarded the balloon, my wife asked, “How do you control where the balloon will go?” Not liking his answers, she rephrased her question several more times before she realized that even though we were totally, “at the mercy of the wind,” and would only be able to go where the air currents would take us, the balloonist’s knowledge and experience with the air currents and his diligence with his craft gave him a valid confidence in his ability to have a safe and purposeful flight.

What he didn’t say was that he had no actual control over how the wind would direct our flight whatsoever. Although dynamic, the wind moves in mostly predictable patterns. A balloonist is wise to accept and appreciates this. He is also required to be very attentive to what he sees and to frequently bend his will to match the sea of air that directs him. It is his ability to understand and cooperate with these realities that empowers him to succeed.

Understanding this difference between vain imagining and reality is the key to benefiting from the writing of the text in these ancient books. Although we are not presently walking through a desert receiving a daily miraculous provision of food from God, or needing instructions in how to carry out a theocratic form of martial law, we are still dependent on this same God.

King David wrote about the difficulties we may create when our expectations do not match the realities of life around us. 

In Psalm 78: 17-24 He wrote about the amazing good fortune provided by God to His people and their unwillingness to come closer and to be empowered by it. They were caught in the trap of rejecting anything out of their control, including the God that saved them.

“But they sinned even more against Him By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they ‘spoke against God: They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold He struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, Can he give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?

Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; His anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His saving power. Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and He rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.”

But the wind is impersonal and our God is not.

There is also a big difference between being, “at the mercy of ,” any overwhelming power source and being “empowered by it.” Empowerment is a form of, directive control.

This difference is greatly multiplied when the source of the empowerment comes through a relationship. The dynamic of this benefit is often multiplied to multiple generations and even cultures when it is relational. Consider the case of a father empowering a son or daughter to start a business, or a king commanding an army to come to the rescue of a city. Or of God bringing forth a nation through His promise made to their forefathers.

But why all the details in the bible?

It is very common to feel bogged down and discouraged when we face seemingly endless details. We may dread, and seek to avoid them. We may discount their importance and ignore them, or see them as too tedious and give up. We can become frustrated, especially when we don’t understand or feel there is a reason behind them. We may feel that they don’t relate to any of our interests, plans or goals and resent how they consume our days. Left to ourselves, unaided by an awareness of the bigger picture, we can easily become angry and resentful and reject this God that robs us of our time and our sense of control.

Saul, renamed Paul, the student of Rabbi Gamaliel wrote, “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the Red Sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did and were bitten by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us on whom the end of the age is come.

The balloonist’s careful attention to the dynamics of the changing wind currents and temperature at different altitudes helped him direct his craft to its planned destination. In like manner, May we also become truly attentive to study and appreciate the processes that were used to demonstrate honor and order, respect and loving kindness, mercy and power and majesty in honor of our great and awesome God! And may we become empowered to both see and understand and do His will here on earth even as it is done in heaven.

Below is the hot air balloon ride we took! 

Above and Beyond ! FINDING INSPIRATION in a Hot Air Balloon!

Jack and Carla

The following playlist is from the Church we attended in Arizona, a series of sermons on the Prophet Daniel. I found it very informative and very sobering. I would title it, "Even when it looks like God has left us... God is in full control. Hear it at; 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMuQBpld2iA&list=PLFZUXnMNr-bxlX7Z8GK7W08VQP2uB8ViR 

Discovering Our Calling on Saint Patrick Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

 Have you ever stopped to ponder about purpose?

On this day of remembering, St Patrick, let us also consider the loss that led to  to his greatness.

Kidnapped from a life of privilege and subjected to years of slavery, he returned to invite his captors to enter the Eternal Kingdom he had discovered. He became a valued son, and after receiving a vision from God, an obedient ambassador of the King of Kings! But I am certain, if given a choice, this journey was not what he would have freely chosen.

Considering this drastic account, I am reminded of a short book by C.S. Lewis that also portrayed a stark contrast. It is titled, 

“The Great Divorce.”

It begins with a desperate scenario. One where frantic suburban commuters board a bus with hopes to escape to a better reality. In deep dissatisfaction they were leaving a, virtual utopia; a place where any material possession or comfort would simply appear, as inhabitants casually thought them into existence.

But their preoccupation with self, and their inability to tolerate their neighbors, or act in a way that their neighbors could tolerate, turned their utopia into a jail of torment.

This is a Heaven turned Hell. 

One seemingly suitable for creatures, formed in the, “Image of a Creator God.” A place for those who failed to embrace His character and discern His purposes, or desire His will. 

The book goes on to describe the task of preparing for heaven.

Personally, I find Lewis’ descriptions intriguing. Considering the miracle of life and all I see around me, I cannot help but wonder about my own future. By faith I accept my position as a valued ambassador in a glorious kingdom, because of my Savior’s sacrifice.

But I also wonder about my role and my purpose. Am I prepared?

In the book of Genesis, the fallen angel, Satan, invited Eve to have her eyes opened and join him in his rebellion. It was a rebellion of religious autonomy. He called for her to rise up in defiant self-confidence and, ”be like God,” even as he challenged God’s integrity.

In the account, her willing submission to his enticement was the door way. This doorway to self-deception was opened through an appeal to her appetite. An appeal for her to seek and experience a different form of knowledge and wisdom. Satan was aware of her appetites and used them to gain influence and control over areas of her life.

Satan’s involvement in shaping our appetites can influence us as well.

His enticements, especially to our pride or vanity, when cherished and held tightly combined with the intriguing mystery of forbidden fruit can add great allurement to the vises we muse.

And like Eve, after committing, we readily allow these alluring distractions to reshape our thoughts and convictions. Like Eve, we may even flee from the God we knew, or imagine a reformed god, that is more amenable to our new prejudices and passions.

Soon, our entanglements identify us and dictate who and what we are willing to tolerate, or associate with. Eventually our commitment becomes enshrined and our right to religious autonomy may define our entire identity reshaping our existence.

Jesus was confronted by this type of shifting prejudice during His ministry.

Early in His ministry, His message of love and hope was strongly embraced by both the crowd and the established leaders in the Synagogues.

But as He continued, His call for ALL to repent became intolerable to the religious leaders. Soon, they would reject Him and as was their custom, they would create self-righteous reasons to justify putting Him to death.

But what about, “The Kingdom?”

Jesus describes a different kind of Kingdom. One even more glorious than any here on earth!

During His ministry He reported the coming of, “The year of the Lord’s favor,” which include freedom to prisoners, sight to the blind, oppressions broken, the dead raised and the gospel, (good news), being preached to all.

Before Pilot He stated, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest... But now my kingdom is from another place.”

And yet we still experience it’s influence today and reflect on those changed by it, Like, Patrick!

In Matthew Jesus said, “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.

Are you ready? Join us as we explore this beautiful site.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5ZbMjQHqDc

Imagining at Ashford Castle on St.Patrick'sDay, Imagining Faith and Duty

shot at(website)

THE LODGE AT ASHFORD CASTLE 

We were fortunate to spend most of this last winter in Arizona The following playlist is from the Church we attended of sermons on the Prophet Daniel. I found it very informative and very sobering. 

I would title it, "Even when it looks like God has left us... God is in full control, and we are His ambassadors. Hear it at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMuQBpld2iA&list=PLFZUXnMNr-bxlX7Z8GK7W08VQP2uB8ViR

A Prayer for Healing, Starting With Our Hearts, Extending to Our World

A Prayer for Healing, 

Starting With Our Hearts, 

Extending to Our World.

Will You Join Me?

(originally shared on FB on Dec, 1)

Jesus said Love your enemies... He identified himself as, "The light of the world," stating, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. And about this light he said, "This light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it."

When considering all of the division, blame and fear I see around me I remember the statement from Martin Luther King Jr. stating... “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, and adds deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Praying in this time of darkness and fear and blame and sickness...

That it will pass quickly! That we will abandon our panic and our illusions of control of this pandemic and begin to see clearly. Help us to enhance and not hinder it's decline! Limit the damage we do to each other as it decreases and decreases and decreases with, or even in spite of our efforts. Help us embrace sanity and act rationally and humanely! 

Lord, we admit that we have become frightened, overly frighten, and suspicious of each other and divided. We have ignored and punished and cast aside our higher values in our attempts to impose or even preserve, "ideas of control." Elevated ideas about control over our own bodies and over the bodies of those around us. But we have never actually had control! Not even of ourselves! And we never will! For only You are God and all of our self righteous actions and judgements are little more than filthy rags before You. Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us our arrogance.

We ask for the blessing of future health! For mercy and health and Light! Through Your provision oh loving Creator! Lead our efforts Lord! And improve the effectiveness of our healthcare actions. Cause us to help and not harm! Cause us to become considerate and gracious to each other and temper our emotions Lord!

We pray a prayer of thanksgiving for your good provision. If it pleases You, may we become humbled like the milkmaids of old embarrassed, but protected by the cow-pox rashes they bore. Lord we ask that You remove the harshness of this scourge!

I pray that this new virus, (Omicron if harmless), or another very soon, that is harmless, may be to Covid as Cow-pox was to Small-pox. 

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Consider: From Smallpox To The Coronavirus: The History Of Vaccinations Explained | NBC News April 2020... To view video Click Following Link >  :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iRatByNw08 

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May it spread and provide a natural protection across Your globe! Especially to those we have disregarded. For in our fear and our selfishness we have certainly failed our global community! And forgive us our selfishness in withholding the supportive medicines, and punishing those that provided them here, while ignoring the needs of our Black and Brown neighbors in places like Africa, and lavishing multiple doses of the vaccines on ourselves.

................................................................................

 

Most recently they were disheartened with our decision to vaccinate children, but earlier,  Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme, Described it at at post 00:23:12 in the W.H.O. press conference like this: “We're planning to hand out extra life jackets to people who already have life jackets, while we're leaving other people to drown.” see original W.H.O. post at https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/covid-19-virtual-press-conference-transcript---18-august-2021

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And forgive us Lord for how we punish those that resisted our arrogant demands and intimidation here! Forgive us our trespasses Lord and help those we have punished and frightened whether through our punitive mandates, or our rebellious defiance in refusals to consider and protect our neighbors! 

Forgive us Lord! And comfort the thousands and thousands that have lost loved ones! Bring them comfort Lord! For You are our Comforter! And cause us to consider the burdens they have left behind. Let us be attentive to those needs.

Strengthen those whose consciences are weak! Comfort and encourage those with suspicions. And to those that resist for obedience sake; give them better jobs Lord! Prosper their families Lord! Restore them Lord and help them to seek Your face and walk in Your ways.

And prosper our neighbors! The countries that our policies have crippled! Give their leaders wisdom! Protect their vulnerable and restore their economies Lord!

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Click picture or link below to hear his plea at-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpY5GIo2UI0

Covid variant Omicron: 'No scientific justification for curbs,' 

 According to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa  

Nov 28, 2021

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Forgive us our trespasses Lord! And extend Your grace that we may learn how to forgive our neighbors and receive forgiveness for our trespasses as well.

And Lord We Thank You for your Love and Mercy! We celebrate Your presence and the light that has come through the Incarnate Gift of Your Son! Help us to turn from darkness and abide in the Light of Your mercy and grace! Strengthen us Lord and cause us to follow You closely! Amen.

Also Consider...

November 30, 2021...  Click Link below to view video.  https://www.dw.com/en/ask-derrick/av-56502253

Could this already be happening? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BbJWx_t7AA

Time to prepare for omicron exposure,

 Dec 19, 2021

and 
Consider the mechanics of..

How it is less threatening.

Click picture above or link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84XMFVcLScw

First Omicron science December 19, 2021

Dr. John Campbell

Dr. John Campbell

Considering that it started in, and then 

swept across South Africa first...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rijcP5hZTg

Displacing Science with blame! Jay's
extremist accusations and 
fear inducing message.
consider...

Click picture or link for video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmUiZKzb6IY

Discussion | Vaccine mandates divide the nation

     eNCA 1.11M subscribers,   Dec 11, 2021

And bringing it all home consider...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJzc8bSaqe0

Lee's Measure To Exempt Those With Natural Immunity 
From Vaccine Mandate Blocked By Murray, December 9, 2021

And more recently.. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HN6cIfp5T4

Most omicron hospitalizations incidental  

Dec 29, 2021, Dr. John Campbell

FINALLY...

Bill Gates tells how the natural antibody-protection was stronger in multiple ways and was spread more effectively through the naturally occurring, much milder Omicron variant than the entire International Global Vaccination effort. Presented on Day One, Feb 18th, of the  BR24 Security Conference 2022 held in Munich Germany. See full Conference Broadcast at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygi8GlMHon0

Fast forward to hear Bill at hour 4 minute 19.

SO AFTER THE PANDEMIC.... 

HOW WELL DO THE ANALYSTS 

SAY WE DID?

AND WHY?

About a month earlier, On January 24, 2020 Scott Atlas addressed the audience at Hilldale College with the following  lecture on this topic.

And Now, Consider the International Political landscape, messaging and costs. 

(click arrows on pictures to see videos)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tuIEktlf98

Why China isn't backing down on its zero-Covid strategy

389,858 views

Apr 18, 2022

4.1K       as of  April 23, 2022                                                     

CNBC International

An infusion from God!

ARE YOU DYING? 

THE WORDS I SPEAK 

ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE TO YOU

(from- John 6:33)

Is knowing and heeding God's word in the Bible, the essential ingredient of your Christian faith?

Is the scripture breathed out by God, truly your most profitable and essential training tool for living by giving you access to His grace, His peace, His knowledge and His power? Does it gently whisper to you as you teach, reprove and correct? 

(from- 2 Timothy 3:16–17)

Are you finding the things that pertain to life and godliness through knowing Him and learning about Him through His word? Is His word truly your trainer in righteousness equipping you for every good work? Is it your, glory and your excellence?
(from- 2 Peter 1:2–3)

Have you committed to His understanding and fellowship with Him? Or are you rejecting what He has revealed in His instruction book to embrace your culture and it's views?

(from- Proverbs 3:6-8)

Do you seek Him or exclude Him?

THE WORDS HE SPEAKS 

ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE!

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 

(from- Matthew 13:43)

Light

We can only walk in the light we have been given, 

and if we don't walk forward 

we limit it's effect.

So, which direction should we go?

Every direction at the same time!

As far and fast as we can!

Until the job is done!

I have three blog sites.

This one which is a devotional, https://www.seekinghigherbeing.org/

A second which is in an anger/life management group recovery format, https://www.morethanmanagement.life/

And the third ponders social events and issues, https://www.thesubwaywalls.com/

Feel free to comment either on the blog itself, or on FB and even cut and paste the browser web addresses of any of the posts from these blogs to share with others on FB or other venues as you wish.

Redeeming Love

Redeeming Love

Add caption

When attempting to relate to our fellows... the struggling image bearers in hiding or those experiencing defeat around us. It is easy to feel piously humble as we plan our charity or even proud of the seeming tolerance of our actions.

But Christ calls us to much more. Our salvation is not a mere nod or whisper to attain an assurance that we will avoid eternal fires. It is not merely a commitment to a self improvement program. He calls us to walk with Him.

He calls us to join Him in His walk of obedience, To accompany Him and take up our cross on a walk of fellowship with Him. A walk of dying to ourselves and becoming alive again in a new acceptance of self and those around us.

The love mentioned is, that of God loving through us;

 a Redeeming Love.

Hear and See excellent summaries on the 

"Image of God" at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-rzM5EojJY

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H_4UJfOigA

Sinews of strength and liberty.

See Corrie Ten Boom quotes by clicking the blue link at the bottom of the page.

Below is the Movie, "The Hiding Place," created by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

It portrays Corrie's fears and the persecution she endured after hiding Jewish refugees in her families home during Hitler's occupation of their homeland.

After it starts Click the bottom Right corner to see it full screen.

The Hiding Place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeV7Otqlyzw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2e56rZOj9M

The Holy Spirits Power

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xAJA1hNcUI

A conversation about prayer

Corrie Ten Boom quotes: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring-quotes/40-powerful-quotes-from-corrie-ten-boom.html