Where Life and Faith Meet
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4Ü #228

Functional Atheism

2 March 2006

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WASSUP - The tyranny of precedent

It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I cannot afford the luxury of a closed mind. I go for anything new that might improve the past.

Clara Barton

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INSIGHT OUT - Functional Atheism

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."

Ps 53:1

For a long time I thought an atheist was one who didn't believe in God.
I'm now realizing that many who claim to believe in God practice a form of functional atheism.

Denying beauty and calling it chance,
worrying over things outside your control,
wearing a mask,
ignoring the signs,
refusing to hear the whisper of God.

Faking it,
faith that is nothing less than superstition,
prayer without action,
action without prayer,
empty religious words.

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OUTSIGHT IN - Forget it

Most people I know complain that they don't have a good memory.
I think most people's memory is too good. In fact, their memory is what holds them back.
Memory of the way things have been prevents people seeing what could be.
Memory of failures prevents people having another go.
Memory of successes keeps them doing the same thing over and over again.

If you want to move on right now there are some things you'll need to forget.

Forget the rules: If you want to play a new game you will have to forget the rules you are currently playing by.
Forget balance: Balance is a conspiracy to prevent you from extraordinary discoveries and achievement.
Forget normal: "This is the way things are done around here." This is the prison of normality.
Forget consensus: A vote for the lowest common denominator. Consensus is where cowards go for courage.

About now I'm sure many of you are coming up with your list of "buts;" words of caution and moderation all in the name of "commonsense".
Now, we are back on the same page again. What I'm talking about is not commonsense. Forget it, and go looking for some un-common sense.

All great truths begin as blasphemies.

George Bernard Shaw

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SEE YA SUNDAY - Welcome Home: The experience

This Sunday morning - Welcome Home: The experience 8.30am & 10.30am
Is this home?
The place that remembers my birth and has carried me in her arms
Where each year is carved into the back of the wardrobe door
The place from which I was freed to explore the world, knowing that I could forget home, but home would never forget me.
A place where a return is always possible, no matter what!

Bread & Wine - 9.45am - Weekly Communion

Starting March 12th at 6.00pm - The St Columba Institute of Life and Faith
The Institute of Life and Faith will operate during the school terms offering a wide variety of courses and seminars

Thanks for this time to chat

Andrew
St Columba
Where Life and Faith Meet
andrew.norton@stcolumba.org.nz

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It's free but don't steal

If this is of help to others, you are welcome to forward it. This e-mail letter is 97% original - 3% cut and paste & 100% fat free. 4U is copyright to Andrew Norton. That means you can't cut and paste it and call it your own (that's stealing). I'm happy for it to be used but please refer to the author.

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LAST WORD - Unfaithfully with us

If you are here unfaithfully with us, you're causing terrible damage.

Rumi


© 2008, St Columba Presbyterian Church, Auckland