Spiritual healing, instant gratification, but the work still has to be done.
Recently I have been faced with more than a few scenarios. People whom have been healed spiritually claimed a victorious, new fuller life but find themselves being dragged back by demons resurfacing in various ways.
Almost soul destroyed they sense God distant, unable to deal with the negative thoughts, disabled that they are plunged back to the depths that their faith had initially rescued them. Even immersing themselves back to coping mechanisms that reinforce negativity.
Sometimes we have to stay with the fact that we feel lousy but rely on God to sustain us to function when daily life is even hard. Just putting one foot in front of each other is a super human effort.
During the process of charismatic healing an emotional tap can be released opening up old scars. Initially cathartic but leaving a void that needs filling, or realising a manifestation that requires work.
This can be seen as via negative hanging in there as an individual and looking whatever demon in the eye and actually beginning to love ourselves as we are. Possibly needing to forgive, accepting the way some are and the only way to progress is to change our own attitudes towards them.
God is there, although often can feel distant. The manifestation of the Almighty in human form allowing Jesus sacrifice on the cross shows us that God is fully aware of our pain. Mark 15:The darkness lasted three hours. At three o'clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" (Mark 15:34 MSG)
It is at this moment the crucifixion is at it's most powerful. As Christ totally identifies with the depths of our despair. It was possible for him to avoid the unbearable pain, but it was necessary, he knew it was coming as in the garden Gathsemane, he turned to his closest friends;
Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, "This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me." (Matthew 26:37-38 MSG)
Sometimes that is all we can do just stay alongside whilst individuals face whatever is causing them sorrow.
I find it a privilege as a midwife to be alongside people in the ultimate pain of childbirth and the ecstatic joys, and even sorrows of childbirth. A mother knows that eventually the growing uterus will birth with all the anticipation of hope.
Eventually hope returns, but it has to be sustainable a quick emotional charismatic fix may temporary make individuals feel better, but like Christ we have to face the pain and sacrifice it out of our lives. Then we too can claim;
After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done . . . complete." Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit. (John 19:30 MSG)
L.W-J 30/06/11
Thursday 30 June 2011
Thursday 23 June 2011
God to the Power of Three
God to the Power of Three
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God.
This illustrates how the Trinity can be 3 parts forming one complete whole. Jesus there as God from the beginning.
If you get a calculator and put in 1 then divide by 3 then you end up with .333333333... recurring. Will go on to infinity.
Alpha and Omega. Beginning and end to Eternity.
Agape,
Lorraine
Monday 2 May 2011
Reaction of Pakistan Christians to Bin Laden's Death
This is copied from my Email:
A mixed reaction on Osama bin Laden`s deathLate night between May 1 and May 2 in Pakistan there was a news of a low flying American helicopters having blown up in the city of Abbotabad, Khyber PukhtunKhawa. Three loud blasts were heard near the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul. There were reports, that these helicopters were carrying out an operation on a compound in Abbotabad, City.
The American CIA initiated an operation and succeeded in killing Osama Bin Laden the Chief Al-Qaida, the Americans have reportedly taken the body in custody and the American President Barrak Obama has also confirmed the killing. According to the American media the operation was completed in 40 minutes, the compound was rented by 2 Afghan nationals, the Pakistani intelligence played a vital role in the operation, the compound was being monitored from past several months.
Surprisingly where the rest of the world is celebrating the news of the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the Pakistani Government was quiet for some time, no military official has issued any reaction or statement on the incident as the operation was carried out on the Pakistani soil. The defense analysts expect a worst type of back lash in Pakistan over the incident. The liberals are celebrating, they welcomed the news. Some students at a local university in Islamabad started celebrating the news, several other liberals are celebrating in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. But the situation in Abbotabad is different, they city is deserted, only the Army officials are on the streets, the local media is showing a biased reaction, they seem to be glorifying Osama bin Laden.
Ameer Jamat-e-Islami Syed Munawar Hasan, has denied the reports, he came on the media and said that this is all a propaganda against Pakistan. Another MNA ( Member National Assembly) Marvi Memon criticized the Pakistani government, she said, " Where is our President? Where is our Prime Minister? Where is our sovereignty? Why was an operation authorized on our soil without taking the parliament into confidence. President Obama is the President of America, not Pakistan, where is our President? Why didnt he address the nation? Our men, women and children have been killed in the so called war against terror."
The Prime Minister in a meeting with the cabinet, Military officials and the intelligence agencies termed the killing of Bin laden as a victory in the war against teror. The Government will be issuing a balanced statement to avoid a backlash. The Pakistani extremist school of thought are not happy on the news. The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Taliban have said that this is all a false operation, we still believe that Osama is alive, but the Afghan Taliban have refused the reports. Retired Brig. and Ex Chief ISI ( Inter Services Intelligence) Hameed Gul has said, " The statements by the Americans dont seem a reality, in the visuals of Osama, he seems much younger and they claim that no American was killed in the helicopter crash, I doubt all this. Obama is a smart person, this is a great start to his election campaign. The time is tough for Pakistan now."
Pakistani Government officials and the Military officials have refused to comment on the situation. ISPR ( Inter Services Public Relations) has also not issued any statement on the operation. Some Analysts think that Al-Qaida Network in Pakistan and Afghanistan will become weak, but others think that they will respond more aggressively. There are reports that the American and other allies are having a meeting regarding closing down the Embassies in Pakistan for some time to avoid any backlash. The Pakistani Nation is awaiting an official statement from the Prime Minister and the President. The Political parties are reluctant to comment on the matter.
Many Christian institutions have closed their offices and several schools across Pakistan have been shut down to avoid any reaction.
(Author omitted for their safety)
Sunday 13 February 2011
WWJD? Weddings marriage
I have just come back from the Cathedral and there was a big wedding show on I dare not contemplate one of my children getting hitched there with all the trappings. I mused Jesus bursting through the Western doors and starting to knock over a few stalls. Left dry by the sermon my mind wandered.
What can I comment? I had a full blown white wedding in 1986 costing £2,000 (I think I would have to add another 0 for inflation today). I could have saved a bit of money IF I had allowed the funeral directors cars, Rev father in law had a done a few favours.
What makes a successful marriage? I may have a few ideas, been through 25 years of the roller coaster ride. It has been financially stressful, but God has provided. The hardest, most expensive, but most rewarding part is of course bringing up children. The greatest stress like most has been financial.
A lot hinged on our wedding setting the standard. I changed the Methodist Service. I was no chattel to be handed over from one man to another, so Rev father in law said to my Dad... 'Who supports Lorraine in her marriage to David'. Both families were in this together. David gave in he never wanted the whole package, and only ever promised until death for the day.... that was 365.242 days x 25 years later = 9,131.05 promises.... and still counting, until I am dead I suppose. But we both knew exactly what we were getting with each other.
Christ was the centre right from the start, first brother and sister in Christ before lovers, and then married. We actually took communion together, and the hymns we chose?
Mendelssohn's Wedding March
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4ldxAEQr3Q&feature=related
All Praise to our Redeeming Lord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArgG6VwhEKE&feature=related
Jesus Stand Among us at the meeting of our lives
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpUOgAGGlus&feature=related
Let there be love shared amongst us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edOTo38pckc&feature=related
Bind us Together Lord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emCaGJfM0gs
Trust me we have had our moments, both individually and as a couple. The need to realise when the other is needing the other and being able to give and receive that unconditionally and equally. Both blessed with the ability to recognise when we are individually needing God to move working on self as well as each other.
Starting off
What can I comment? I had a full blown white wedding in 1986 costing £2,000 (I think I would have to add another 0 for inflation today). I could have saved a bit of money IF I had allowed the funeral directors cars, Rev father in law had a done a few favours.
What makes a successful marriage? I may have a few ideas, been through 25 years of the roller coaster ride. It has been financially stressful, but God has provided. The hardest, most expensive, but most rewarding part is of course bringing up children. The greatest stress like most has been financial.
A lot hinged on our wedding setting the standard. I changed the Methodist Service. I was no chattel to be handed over from one man to another, so Rev father in law said to my Dad... 'Who supports Lorraine in her marriage to David'. Both families were in this together. David gave in he never wanted the whole package, and only ever promised until death for the day.... that was 365.242 days x 25 years later = 9,131.05 promises.... and still counting, until I am dead I suppose. But we both knew exactly what we were getting with each other.
Christ was the centre right from the start, first brother and sister in Christ before lovers, and then married. We actually took communion together, and the hymns we chose?
Mendelssohn's Wedding March
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4ldxAEQr3Q&feature=related
All Praise to our Redeeming Lord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArgG6VwhEKE&feature=related
Jesus Stand Among us at the meeting of our lives
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpUOgAGGlus&feature=related
Let there be love shared amongst us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edOTo38pckc&feature=related
Bind us Together Lord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emCaGJfM0gs
Trust me we have had our moments, both individually and as a couple. The need to realise when the other is needing the other and being able to give and receive that unconditionally and equally. Both blessed with the ability to recognise when we are individually needing God to move working on self as well as each other.
Starting off
Monday 31 January 2011
Exclusion
http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_christ
Nicholas Christakis shows this connectivity with general health, and it struck a strong cord as a health professional whom had studied sociology.
I am finding it interesting where are social standing and networks can positively or negatively affect our relationships with each other.Our connectivity affects our health behaviours, it can also affect our spiritual health.
As a Christian you end up with a need for 'fellowship' to share your faith, but what if you cannot? 'Homophily' is the need to flock together you look for similarities, and you search them out. So what if your local church does not meet your 'homophily' requirements, suffering a sense of rejection you may search for like minded individuals on web social networks... ie second life facebook etc.
People who do not find themselves within the clusters of positivity within a church specifically seek out other models of fellowship.
Interestingly though these connections we make on the internet are also tainted. Christians come from different cultures, and have expectations projected onto each other of how the other should 'be'.
A specific example some Southern US Christians were horrified that my daughter sang in a Cathedral, viewing traditional worship as 'lazy and lead by satan'. They were 'defriended' on facebook. I personally have experienced other cyber-bullying by Christians who wanted to build a closed network to enforce their roles within a cyberchurch set up called the Second Life Anglican Cathedral. These are needy people needing to have a sense of importance and belonging to the exclusion of others.
This is not of the Principality of God. We are called to share love and be hospitable. We are called to focus on being like Christ not being like what we perceive we should act like a 'church'. The building and our self perceptions become the idol of our worship and that is against the First Commandment. We must blend being local with being global and not impose anything but God.
I challenge you to look at your social networks.. do you have some 'dodgy characters', and do you have those on the magins of church life? Then AMEN you are an Evangelist.
Thursday 27 January 2011
Time I did summat had it since 2007
Sat at my computer wondering to blog or not to blog that is the question. Everybody else does so?
Scripted Scriptures is waiting to get going AGAIN on osgrid, and I am not sure where it will be taken but if anybody wants to have a play in virtual reality let me know.
Getting pretty despondent about what the government are doing in pulling the plug on the funding for vulnerable people. It could just be hype, but when your family are facing redundancy issues and all they wanted to do is help people it stinks a bit.
Oh and if anybody reads this and would like a Grilli3D http://grilli3d.com/home.html
Then I have some, contact.
Scripted Scriptures is waiting to get going AGAIN on osgrid, and I am not sure where it will be taken but if anybody wants to have a play in virtual reality let me know.
Getting pretty despondent about what the government are doing in pulling the plug on the funding for vulnerable people. It could just be hype, but when your family are facing redundancy issues and all they wanted to do is help people it stinks a bit.
Oh and if anybody reads this and would like a Grilli3D http://grilli3d.com/home.html
Then I have some, contact.
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