Where Life and Faith Meet
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4Ü #288

Presentism

2 August 2007

WASSUP - Compassion

Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.

Fredrick Buechner

I'm concerned that we are losing our capacity for compassion.
The distance between us fails to touch skin, let alone get under it.
When was the last time you cried with another human being, to feel their pain as if it were your own?

But that would be fatal!
It would cost too much - time, emotion and energy.
Exactly.

I rest my case.

Andrew

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INSIGHT OUT - Do this and you will live

Read these words very slowly

He (the expert of the law) answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love you neighbour as yourself". "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live".

Luke 10:27-28

Here's my take on this passage

Stop living as though you are the centre of the universe. Live in relationship with God; passionately, prayerfully, purposefully and intellectually. No half measures. Give it all you've got! Stop living the self-centred life, you'll come up empty every time, you'll get what you wanted and will never be satisfied with it. Live life embracing and serving others as one who has learnt the secret of loving yourself. When you do this you'll discover a life beyond your wildest dreams!

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OUTSIGHT IN - Presentism

Presentism is

  • being present in body while the mind and heart are absent
  • looking busy but accomplishing nothing
  • going through the motions
  • clocking in but signing out
  • running for the urgent, slacking on the important
  • doing stuff all.

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SEE YA SUNDAY - Love your Neighbour, The Secret discovered

"The Secret" is a book written by Rhonda Byrne. Some people will read it and think it's fantastic, while others will view it as dangerous. What do you think?

This Sunday we'll explore "THE SECRET discovered"

"Do this." and you will have life.

It'll be a great Sunday to invite someone you know who is reading this book or who is interested in discovering the Secret to life.

8.30 & 10.30 Love your Neighbour - The Secret discovered.

CANVAS this Sunday evening at 6.30pm with Matt Chapman and crew.

Can't wait ... see ya Sunday

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 - Courage

A man of courage is also full of faith.

Cicero


© 2008, St Columba Presbyterian Church, Auckland