Where Life and Faith Meet
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4Ü #244

From mine to ours

20 July 2006

WASSUP - One of a kind

I had the strangest of experiences getting on the plane last week.

As I was checking in the attendant commented, "Mr Norton, you are sitting next to a Mr Andrew Norton."

"Are you sure?" I asked

Now, not so sure she went off and checked higher up her chain of command.

"No, it is correct; there are two Andrew Norton's on the plane today and you are both sitting together."

Over the next few moments of seat allocation I got separated from Andrew Norton and was given another seat. I was however, given Andrew Norton's (the other one) seat number so I could visit during the flight.

The plane took off, lunch was served and off I went in search of my "other". The seat was empty. Not to give up too easily, I asked a steward if they could check the passenger list to find "Andrew Norton." After some time the steward came back and reported that I was he.

At that point I was pleased to meet myself. The search for me was complete. I returned to my seat and sat with myself.

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INSIGHT OUT - From mine to ours

Give us our daily bread.

Mtt 6:11

You've just won a competition to fill as many supermarket trolleys you can in 5 minutes.

It's all yours!

You race through the aisles getting as much as you can in the shortest time possible, all the time thinking, "this is too good to be true."

You get to the check out and confirm once again, "it's all mine and free. Right?"

"Yes, it's all yours and it is free."

Just as you are about to leave the supermarket with your overflowing trolleys, a large security guard makes his way towards you, "whose is all that?"

To which you reply, "it's mine, it's all mine."

The guard, with a look of obvious displeasure, asks the same question again, "whose is all that?"

Now feeling slightly uncomfortable you ask, "is there something wrong?"

The security guard reaching for his pocket pulls out a crunched up piece of paper and unfolding it passes it to you saying, read this
s l o w l y.

The words on the paper are the same as the competition you just won.

You read out loud the words .

"Give US OUR daily bread."

"Now for the last time," asks the security guard, pointing at the trolleys, "whose is all that?"

Your eyes move from the security guard to the trolleys, to the piece of paper and back to the security guard again.

"OURS?" you reply.

"Yes, responds the security guard, "you are free to go".

As you start unloading the trolleys into you car, the word "OURS" burns deeply into your being.

"It's all mine, but it is OURS!"

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Luke 12:48

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OUTSIGHT IN - You can't run. You can't hide

Every day you leave countless footprints of where you have been and what you have done. The foot prints I'm talking about are electronic.

Your life is an open book for all to read; if you don't believe me, Google your name. You will be amazed. And this is just the beginning!

Thomas Friedman says, "in a flat world, you can't run, you can't hide and smaller and smaller rocks are turned over. Live your life honestly, because whatever you do, whatever mistakes you make, will be searchable one day."

I wonder if this has a connection with the verse .

Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

John 3:19-20

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SEE YA SUNDAY - Praying the Lord's Prayer - Give and Forgive

Over the next few weeks I'll be working my way through the Lord's Prayer; taking it very slowly.

Just when you thought you had it all worked out - out of left field comes a twist that you never saw coming. This Sunday you'll experience one of those surprising twists.

This Sunday morning - Praying the Lord's Prayer: Give and Forgive 8.30am & 10.30am

Bread & Wine - 9.45am - (following the 8.30 service) Weekly Communion

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- Enrich others

No man becomes rich unless he enriches others

Andrew Carnegie


© 2008, St Columba Presbyterian Church, Auckland