Ever been thirsty? Really, really thirsty? Where do you go and what do you do to quench your thirst; that thirst for loving acceptance and a hopeful tomorrow? What will you do to quench your thirst this week?
An encouraging understanding of God is that our creator seeks to satisfy our physical and our spiritual needs. As we see in Exodus 17-God created water in the desert for his people, when Moses struck a rock with his staff. As we see in John 4 - Jesus compared his teachings to those of water saying "The water I give to you will last you for your lifetime.
How can we quench our thrist for meaning, fulfillment and peace? This movie talks and shows us how.
Psalm 42 speaks well to our longing and desire for God. "As the deer pants for the water, so my sould longs for God." May we seek after God this week and be refreshed by God's love.
Be refreshed and blessed this week as you quench your thirst for God with God.
Blessings
Rev. Bill McBride
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
REBIRTH? - YEA RIGHT!
Now isn't this an intriguing topic?
Actually in the history of religion the concept of being literally born again was taught and accepted. It wasn't until sometime in the 6TH CENTURYthat the organized church in Rome started teaching against this topic, called "Reincarnation." (Reincarnation was removed from the bible during the COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE [ 6TH CENTURY AD])
Some even today in the larger spiritual realms still teach it, believe it and have developed process to help one get in touch with their "past lives." (Here is a short news story to just get you thinking)
So while this concept of being born again, reincarnated literally is still in vogue today, there is strong split division amongst believers about its truth and reality.
BUT the one more spiritual concept we are actually addressing today is the spiritual understanding of being "REBORN" again in a real spiritual sense. This is the lesson Jesus taught a learned Pharisee and scholar by the name of Nicodemus in John 3:1-18.
Can one enter a second time into their mother's womb and be born again? That was the Nicodemus question to Jesus Christ one dark and question-filled evening. Christ then taught that just as one is born of the water, they too must be born of the spirit to enter the kingdom of God.
REBIRTH? Yes very real and possible in the strictest spiritual sense, by opening one's heart, mind and soul to the influence and presence of God's Spirit.
Reincarnation - a physical rebirth when our souls and minds are reborn into another physical body? Maybe. Don't know for sure. But that is not the focus of today's post. Intriguing, but better left for another day. Let's focus on being born of the spirit and the heart.
Blessings
Reverend Bll McBride
Actually in the history of religion the concept of being literally born again was taught and accepted. It wasn't until sometime in the 6TH CENTURYthat the organized church in Rome started teaching against this topic, called "Reincarnation." (Reincarnation was removed from the bible during the COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE [ 6TH CENTURY AD])
Some even today in the larger spiritual realms still teach it, believe it and have developed process to help one get in touch with their "past lives." (Here is a short news story to just get you thinking)
So while this concept of being born again, reincarnated literally is still in vogue today, there is strong split division amongst believers about its truth and reality.
BUT the one more spiritual concept we are actually addressing today is the spiritual understanding of being "REBORN" again in a real spiritual sense. This is the lesson Jesus taught a learned Pharisee and scholar by the name of Nicodemus in John 3:1-18.
Can one enter a second time into their mother's womb and be born again? That was the Nicodemus question to Jesus Christ one dark and question-filled evening. Christ then taught that just as one is born of the water, they too must be born of the spirit to enter the kingdom of God.
REBIRTH? Yes very real and possible in the strictest spiritual sense, by opening one's heart, mind and soul to the influence and presence of God's Spirit.
Reincarnation - a physical rebirth when our souls and minds are reborn into another physical body? Maybe. Don't know for sure. But that is not the focus of today's post. Intriguing, but better left for another day. Let's focus on being born of the spirit and the heart.
Blessings
Reverend Bll McBride
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Ah Temptation!
Like it or not, we all get tempted.
Temptation from Kevin Anderson on Vimeo.
Temptation comes in all forms...including me
You'd think by the way some people act, maybe some folks you know, they really love getting tempted? Do we walk right toward a temptation or put ourselves into the midst of a situation where we know we will be tempted to make a choice that is unhealthy, life-diminishing and bad for us and others?
Maybe you think you can not resist temptation? Like the BORG attack, you quickly say "Resistance is Futile." That's what the BORG thought in the face of Captain Picard. Is resistance futile like this movie clip would suggest?
How 2 Resist Temptation from Bill McBride on Vimeo.
We all get tempted. The question is what can we do to remain strong in the face of temptation and make choices that enhance my life and others? Resistance is possible.
Remember this week: Prayer-Deteremination-Action
Blessings
Reverend Bill McBride
Temptation from Kevin Anderson on Vimeo.
Temptation comes in all forms...including me
You'd think by the way some people act, maybe some folks you know, they really love getting tempted? Do we walk right toward a temptation or put ourselves into the midst of a situation where we know we will be tempted to make a choice that is unhealthy, life-diminishing and bad for us and others?
Maybe you think you can not resist temptation? Like the BORG attack, you quickly say "Resistance is Futile." That's what the BORG thought in the face of Captain Picard. Is resistance futile like this movie clip would suggest?
What can we do this week to resist temptation?
Watch this movie for some sound ideas.How 2 Resist Temptation from Bill McBride on Vimeo.
We all get tempted. The question is what can we do to remain strong in the face of temptation and make choices that enhance my life and others? Resistance is possible.
Remember this week: Prayer-Deteremination-Action
Blessings
Reverend Bill McBride
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Why Wait?
Great. Now are you telling me I have to wait? Yes and no. So much of the things in our world demand we wait. Right? Here is a short movie about the good thing about waiting.
Think of all the things you wait for.
Now let me tell you that waiting well and in the right way can build character and add style.
Waiting can show trust in God and patience for others. Waiting also can bring about some rewards you may not have experienced had you not waited.
Wait well this week. Wait with style.
Blessings
Rev. Bill McBride
Think of all the things you wait for.
- Traffic lights
- Pedestrians crossing the street
- Lines in the store
- The elevator at work
- The proverbial "Waiting Room" before an appointment.
- Other people to get ready.
Now let me tell you that waiting well and in the right way can build character and add style.
Waiting can show trust in God and patience for others. Waiting also can bring about some rewards you may not have experienced had you not waited.
Wait well this week. Wait with style.
Blessings
Rev. Bill McBride
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