The following is from an online daily reading I receive from The Ransomed Heart, John Eldredge's website. It's free if you go to the link below.
A Story Not as Dangerous12/02/2006
Some of the sentences the Enemy accuses each of us with have been there since we were young; others were added in the ensuing years as Satan saw opportunity to strengthen our fear and cynicism through “interpreting” those events in our lives that seem to verify our particular Message of the Arrows. His purpose is to convince us that we need to create a story to live in that is not as dangerous as the Sacred Romance. As long as we do not admit that the deep things of our heart are there—the rejection and hurt, the shame and sorrow, the anger and rage—these rooms of our heart become darkened and the Enemy sets up shop there to accuse us. I am not just speaking metaphorically or poetically when I refer to the Enemy accusing us. Each of us, Christians included, is oppressed directly and specifically by the Enemy in the way I am describing. This attack happens in the spiritual realm, using the sentences and voices we are familiar with from the past. We feel as if we are simply speaking to ourselves in our heads. And this is the Enemy’s first deception: “I am not here. It’s just you struggling with all these things.” Many of us live our whole lives being defeated by this accusation. And indeed, deep in our hearts, the anxiety, shame, and self-contempt we often feel are like the attack of a roaring lion no matter what calmness or other personality device we learn to cover it with on the outside. We hide the lion’s roar because he has convinced us that it is just us and we would be roundly scorned if we were to admit these things to others.
(The Sacred Romance , 116)
From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 336 Ransomed Heart Ministries www.ransomedheart.com
Saturday, 2 December 2006
Thursday, 23 November 2006
WILD AT HEART
Hi guys.
Welcome to the new blogsite. I hope it becomes a handy tool for us to throw out some thoughts regarding what we're watching and discussing on Friday nights. Even a place to throw around a few controversial thoughts.
By now we've watched the first two session of John Eldridge's book 'Wild at Heart'. We've looked at 'The Heart of a Man' and 'The Poser'. We've also had some really good discussions and I hope you're enjoying the night, even just for the fellowship aspect.
Following the last one Matt Hanlon forwarded the following email posing a few pertinant question. I've posted it here, without any of the feed backs that he got. If you gave him feed back perhaps you'd like to share it on this side. Just click on the feedback link following Matt's comments. Here they are.
MATT'S EMAIL
Hi men,
I have enjoyed looking at the different slant that John Eldridge has put forward in 'Wild at Heart'. I am wondering how much we have been thinking about the things we've watched & spoken about on Friday nite, & if you have opportunity to apply them.
I love the way God has created blokes as critical analytical thinkers (of course, we thank God for our wives who bring a sensitivity to our humanity that helps prevent us becoming machines). But I throw out these questions that have silently niggled me.
Question 1 : Is God a 'God of risk or is risk a by product of love'? Is He ' a wild God'?
Question 2 : One of the things that John said in the video was that when God made Adam, He made him outside the Garden(I think John likened it to wilderness) and then brought him into the garden. John said that being made in the environment, thats where we should live. Did God make a mistake in bringing Adam into the garden?
I like some of the insights he puts forward & how he questions male spirituality in the church. It may be that some of these questions are answered more fully as we continue on. I think the direction is right & wonder if we could perhaps get an email discussion group going so we can challenge & encourage one another, & grow in the knowledge of we are as followers of Jesus Christ. (What about an email group ?)
Pro 27:17 As iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
I look forward to hearing some of your thoughts on these things.
I hope you're having a blessed week.
Matt
Welcome to the new blogsite. I hope it becomes a handy tool for us to throw out some thoughts regarding what we're watching and discussing on Friday nights. Even a place to throw around a few controversial thoughts.
By now we've watched the first two session of John Eldridge's book 'Wild at Heart'. We've looked at 'The Heart of a Man' and 'The Poser'. We've also had some really good discussions and I hope you're enjoying the night, even just for the fellowship aspect.
Following the last one Matt Hanlon forwarded the following email posing a few pertinant question. I've posted it here, without any of the feed backs that he got. If you gave him feed back perhaps you'd like to share it on this side. Just click on the feedback link following Matt's comments. Here they are.
MATT'S EMAIL
Hi men,
I have enjoyed looking at the different slant that John Eldridge has put forward in 'Wild at Heart'. I am wondering how much we have been thinking about the things we've watched & spoken about on Friday nite, & if you have opportunity to apply them.
I love the way God has created blokes as critical analytical thinkers (of course, we thank God for our wives who bring a sensitivity to our humanity that helps prevent us becoming machines). But I throw out these questions that have silently niggled me.
Question 1 : Is God a 'God of risk or is risk a by product of love'? Is He ' a wild God'?
Question 2 : One of the things that John said in the video was that when God made Adam, He made him outside the Garden(I think John likened it to wilderness) and then brought him into the garden. John said that being made in the environment, thats where we should live. Did God make a mistake in bringing Adam into the garden?
I like some of the insights he puts forward & how he questions male spirituality in the church. It may be that some of these questions are answered more fully as we continue on. I think the direction is right & wonder if we could perhaps get an email discussion group going so we can challenge & encourage one another, & grow in the knowledge of we are as followers of Jesus Christ. (What about an email group ?)
Pro 27:17 As iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
I look forward to hearing some of your thoughts on these things.
I hope you're having a blessed week.
Matt
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