I had written a quote about society which for a time was listed in the greatest quotes of all time even number one for a while. It went like this:
We humans tend to expand or shrink our social circles relative to the circumference of the circumstances.
What is meant by Shrinking our circles - we sometimes get motivated, secure and want to just reach out to the world, in our blogging, in our giving - sharing thoughts. Then maybe we get caught up in work or our financial situation changes, or our motivation is diminished. We tend to shrink the circle to just family preservation, then sometimes just self preservation.
This is nothing to be ashamed of it is a human reality, sometimes we need a break from saving the world or perhaps need to put food on the table, maybe our priorities adjust. When my grandchildren were born , they became an important part of my inner circle. I stopped my TV cable and put aside that monthly bill for their futures. My eating habits changed , no longer went to restaurants as frequent - because I love my grandchildren.
I have a child who has disabilities , downs syndrome- he still lives with us and is 29 years old. I had to shrink my circle to take care of his needs at one time his medical expenses were tough but he has always brought us great joy.
We then find our footing and are able to give to mission work or help out in the community. I was always a coach or manager of little league, pee wee football , challenger league baseball for my handicapped son. Spent a lot of time in community service , in church youth organizing etc. but there were times when I felt inspired to reach the world. With so much going on how was it possible to have time to expand my circle to the entire world. I prayed on this and started to write poetry not just from a natural sense but sometimes shed tears. Writing poetry is not always a joy- it can bring out all your emotion. My wife would see me with a tear sometimes and say what is the matter, I would say oh, just writing a poem.
What is expanding our circle- During my early years in ministry I had friends that were beside me for over 30 years , imagine a long friendship such as that , how precious. Then one day God spoke to my heart and wanted me to expand my circle again. He wanted me to reach beyond the christian community to the Hindu, the followers of Buddha, the Jewish, the Aboriginal and the Islamic. My friends of 30 years abandoned me - they thought I was no longer a christian. I said - yes, Jesus Christ is my Lord but my journey has led me to a path of peace that even I did not understand.
The Lord if he were here today, would he be speaking at the local Baptist or Lutheran church. Would he become a Catholic priest, or Episcopal clergy. I think not- what do you think? I believe he would reach the world his desire was that the gospel be shared with the entire world. This means crossing religious barriers not an easy path. I can tell you when my friends of 30 years abandoned me, it broke my heart - my wife stood beside me which helped. They held onto their religious prejudice - I had to learn every custom or belief possible so as not to offend. My complex theology changed because God willed it , all those years of learning mans theology. Why was God pulling me out of my comfort zone, I agonized over this.
Love your enemies - Blessed are the peacemakers, how did this all fit in. I started to minister at Jewish funerals, Catholic funerals found myself speaking to gurus about their spiritual journeys. I studied aboriginal beliefs , read many , many books on religion. God then led me to Love, Hope and Forgiveness. I found inner peace like never before- no longer did I condemn others for their beliefs, Jesus came not to judge the world but to save it. It all started to make sense my circle still has Christ in the center but reaches out to the world, even if dogma or religious hatred get in my way, I must Love my enemies. Not only love them but be with them in their grief, embrace not their beliefs but embrace them.
I reached out to the interfaith community to find common ground- to end war. To end human suffering caused by religious indifference. Jesus actually scolded me for not reaching beyond the christian community, my journey was to change - I was to become a stone not just a christian. Some of the churches would not me let speak in them. They knew I was embracing their enemies no longer wanting to speak evil of them but Love them. I did however find people like me , some were reformed Jews, some were Islamic , some were Catholic priest, and some Hindu. They wanted peace and were willing to expand their circles to reach out for peace in Love, Hope and Forgiveness. Yes, they had the same desire put into their hearts.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
We humans tend to expand or shrink our social circles relative to the circumference of the circumstances.
What is meant by Shrinking our circles - we sometimes get motivated, secure and want to just reach out to the world, in our blogging, in our giving - sharing thoughts. Then maybe we get caught up in work or our financial situation changes, or our motivation is diminished. We tend to shrink the circle to just family preservation, then sometimes just self preservation.
This is nothing to be ashamed of it is a human reality, sometimes we need a break from saving the world or perhaps need to put food on the table, maybe our priorities adjust. When my grandchildren were born , they became an important part of my inner circle. I stopped my TV cable and put aside that monthly bill for their futures. My eating habits changed , no longer went to restaurants as frequent - because I love my grandchildren.
I have a child who has disabilities , downs syndrome- he still lives with us and is 29 years old. I had to shrink my circle to take care of his needs at one time his medical expenses were tough but he has always brought us great joy.
We then find our footing and are able to give to mission work or help out in the community. I was always a coach or manager of little league, pee wee football , challenger league baseball for my handicapped son. Spent a lot of time in community service , in church youth organizing etc. but there were times when I felt inspired to reach the world. With so much going on how was it possible to have time to expand my circle to the entire world. I prayed on this and started to write poetry not just from a natural sense but sometimes shed tears. Writing poetry is not always a joy- it can bring out all your emotion. My wife would see me with a tear sometimes and say what is the matter, I would say oh, just writing a poem.
What is expanding our circle- During my early years in ministry I had friends that were beside me for over 30 years , imagine a long friendship such as that , how precious. Then one day God spoke to my heart and wanted me to expand my circle again. He wanted me to reach beyond the christian community to the Hindu, the followers of Buddha, the Jewish, the Aboriginal and the Islamic. My friends of 30 years abandoned me - they thought I was no longer a christian. I said - yes, Jesus Christ is my Lord but my journey has led me to a path of peace that even I did not understand.
The Lord if he were here today, would he be speaking at the local Baptist or Lutheran church. Would he become a Catholic priest, or Episcopal clergy. I think not- what do you think? I believe he would reach the world his desire was that the gospel be shared with the entire world. This means crossing religious barriers not an easy path. I can tell you when my friends of 30 years abandoned me, it broke my heart - my wife stood beside me which helped. They held onto their religious prejudice - I had to learn every custom or belief possible so as not to offend. My complex theology changed because God willed it , all those years of learning mans theology. Why was God pulling me out of my comfort zone, I agonized over this.
Love your enemies - Blessed are the peacemakers, how did this all fit in. I started to minister at Jewish funerals, Catholic funerals found myself speaking to gurus about their spiritual journeys. I studied aboriginal beliefs , read many , many books on religion. God then led me to Love, Hope and Forgiveness. I found inner peace like never before- no longer did I condemn others for their beliefs, Jesus came not to judge the world but to save it. It all started to make sense my circle still has Christ in the center but reaches out to the world, even if dogma or religious hatred get in my way, I must Love my enemies. Not only love them but be with them in their grief, embrace not their beliefs but embrace them.
I reached out to the interfaith community to find common ground- to end war. To end human suffering caused by religious indifference. Jesus actually scolded me for not reaching beyond the christian community, my journey was to change - I was to become a stone not just a christian. Some of the churches would not me let speak in them. They knew I was embracing their enemies no longer wanting to speak evil of them but Love them. I did however find people like me , some were reformed Jews, some were Islamic , some were Catholic priest, and some Hindu. They wanted peace and were willing to expand their circles to reach out for peace in Love, Hope and Forgiveness. Yes, they had the same desire put into their hearts.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
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