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Journal Archives – July,
2003 |
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| AN ONGOING SPIRITUAL WEBLOG |
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July 30, 2003
“How do you mend a broken heart?” That is the opening line of a Bee
Gees song, but it’s also a sentiment many can relate to. Indeed, when a
relationship goes sour and a breakup occurs, how does one move from the inevitable
depression to a new and better outlook on life?
This theme, among others, is addressed well at Just4Ladies.com and Heartbreak
University, both web sites for women seeking to restore a broken relationship,
save a marriage or find true unconditional love. You won’t find dating
services; instead these online ministries, part of the work of Michele "Shell" Washam,
are biblically based and full of practical spiritual principles for building
solid, loving relationships. Although Shell is currently happily married and
a mother of three, she knows what it’s like to go through heartbreak. She
shares her personal experience and insight.
Tom Gilbert
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July 29, 2003
Have you ever tried to sit quietly without thinking? It seems impossible. But,
it is not. You can, with practice and dedicated effort, sit in quiet contemplative
prayer. The thoughts won’t cease completely, at least they do not for me,
but you can let them go by without dwelling on them.
As you quiet your brain you calm down, you stop the “squirrel cage running” of
your mind. And God’s presence can be noticed. God does not shout at us.
God waits patiently until our attention is turned towards the Divine. Then He
whispers!
A combination of quiet contemplation, study and action can make for effective
living. When your mind is like the smooth surface of a still lake you are more
receptive to learning. Then take that learning and put it into daily application.
We’ve introduced another “tool” in the Spiritual
Toolbox: the Living
the Solution DVD Rental store gives you access to thousands of terrific educational
DVDs. The subjects are wide-ranging, from religion to science, math to history,
art to health and fitness. When you rent the DVDs you can keep them as long as
you like and return them in postage-paid mailers already provided for you. This
is a great resource for students, home-schooling and anyone interested in learning
more. Like you. See more here.
Tom Gilbert
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July 28, 2003
We think of him as a comedian and “funny guy”, but like all entertainment
icons he was much more. Bob Hope made it to the century mark on May 29 and passed
away peacefully with family gathered around on Sunday night (July 27).
Thanks for the memories, Bob.
Tom Gilbert
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July 25, 2003
Today’s Daily Thought is
about how the little things help. The example used is when Moses’ mother
made sure she waterproofed the basket she laid him in before setting him in the
water amongst the reeds and bushes of the Nile, to hide him from Pharaoh’s
men who had orders to kill the male babies of the Israelites.
Sometimes we forget that prayer is part of the “little things”, especially
when interceding for others, even those we do not personally know. Take a moment
to read about the recent escape of a missionary in Asia who had been captured
by terrorists. Coincidentally, his name is Moses. Read the dramatic story at Prayer
Results.
Have a blessed and grateful weekend!
Tom Gilbert
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July 24, 2003
Sometimes I feel like I am right on the verge of living a transformed life. It’s
a process, of course. Those moments of feeling God’s love and just knowing
everything is ok are rare. More than feeling, more than knowing, the doing and
the being are essential.
It seems you can’t easily separate this knowing, feeling, doing and being.
It’s all intricately tied together. And it should be. I can’t just
live in my feelings, or in my head, or full of activity or off contemplating
my navel. The transformed life is the integration of all the parts into a whole.
It’s not complete without God’s presence and power in each of us,
both experienced and shared.
Tom Gilbert
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July 22, 2003
William R. “Bill” Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, the
world’s largest Christian ministry, died July 19 from complications related
to pulmonary fibrosis. He was 81. While I personally have drawn from many inspirational
sources for the Living the Solution web site and articles, some
of the writing of Bill Bright was particularly helpful to me when the site was
first being prepared.
You can visit the Memorial
Site, but also take time to learn more about Campus Crusade for Christ here.
Tom Gilbert
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July 19, 2003
"Unless virtue guides us, our choice will be wrong" — William
Penn from Some
Fruits of Solitude (newly edited into today's English by Eric K. Taylor).
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July 18, 2003
In case you haven’t noticed yet <smile>, the latest newsletter from
Living the Solution is out. You can read it online here,
or register to get it delivered straight to your email
box. (Don’t forget to confirm your subscription – you’ll get
instructions).
The ezine features an article about traveling ministry (Traveling
Salvation Show) and the Spotlight Specials features
a good opportunity for you current or would-be journal keepers.
Our gratitude is ever present for all of you who visit here. I hope that we
encourage you to explore your faith and that you share your journey with others.
Tom Gilbert
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July 17, 2003
I saw this painting recently. It was of a bearded man who appeared young. He
had on a wool hat and his eyes gazed out at me with a mixture of sadness, compassion
and just being. He looked like he’d been through a lot for his age.
His face transcended his lot in life. How do I know this? Because I recently
read the story of his portrait. He is a homeless man in Albuquerque who hangs
near the University of New Mexico. Like most street people his days are probably
filled with moments of survival strung together, one after another, being more
in the now than the busy people who pass him by each day without “seeing” him.
What kind of longing is in his heart? Does he crave recognition from others?
Does it matter much to him? How would I feel in his place? There but for the
grace of God go I.
His sitting for the painting was about three hours. Probably a long time for
anyone, especially someone who is used to being suspicious of the people who
pass him by. Will they see him, will they approach him, and will he get eye contact?
Will they abuse him, condemn him, judge him or rip him off? The survival skills
must be well-honed.
The painter was someone who cares about other people, no matter their status.
She had often seen him and always acknowledged his presence. She gave him dignity.
He returned the dignity with his pose and the blessing of his face on canvas.
Such is the power of one person loving another without conditions. That power
mysteriously was captured with paint and hangs on a wall at the Center
for Action and Contemplation. It can be easy to pass the painting by without
really looking at it. Just like his daily experiences. But, if you take a moment
to stop by and look at it you just might see something that helps you transcend
your selfishness. You might discover that God is present. Those eyes might stare
into your soul and you might feel unsettled, you might be disturbed, you might
even be changed.
Tom Gilbert
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July 16, 2003
This month we’ve encouraged you to keep a journal. Maybe you are just starting
out. Perhaps you’ve been journaling, but fallen away. Or you may already
be faithful to writing your thoughts and ideas. Journaling is powerful. Right
now we are able to offer you a special on “The 5 Year Journal” created
by Doreene Clement. It is for a limited time and is available at a great savings.
The offer expires this Saturday, July 19th at midnight, so hurry and check it
out.
Tom Gilbert
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July 15, 2003
“Patience is hope in action” – Thomas Keating from “Open
Mind, Open Heart”
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July 14, 2003
What is it about Mondays? Perhaps years of conditioning has us thinking we have
to begin the work week with a “here we go again” or “back to
the grind” attitude. It’s hard to escape this mentality even if you
like your job. I love what I do and I know it is part of God’s work and
is stretching me and growing me spiritually, too. Yet, at the beginning of the
week I can still find it hard to get going.
Our lives as believers in a loving God should be full of joy and enthusiasm.
No one, though, will live that way constantly. There is a time for everything
(). As far as our work attitude let us remember that living in the day
and the now with a conscious contact with God will shape our attitudes. This
means more than quiet time alone in prayer and meditation, although that is certainly
important. It means being around other people and loving them with your thoughts
and actions. Do that and every day can be special.
Tom Gilbert
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July 8, 2003
How are you doing on your journaling? This month we are focusing on how keeping
a journal can help in many areas of your life, especially with your spiritual
development. Just this morning I met a woman who leads retreats on spiritual
journaling. It seems that God puts people in my path that I need to connect with.
I pray that I keep my eyes open to them!
Here’s an interesting site to visit that deals with journaling: The 5
Year Journal is the website of Doreen Clement.
Tom Gilbert
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July 7, 2003
What does being wild mean to you? It conjures in my mind images of raging rivers,
jungle animals, tribal dancing and great passion. It also makes me think of the
sometimes crazy and out-of-control things I’ve done. Wild is not safe.
Being wild can require courage, but it just as easily can be acting out in fear.
War and destruction are wild, too.
There is also the issue of being wise. Wisdom is not the same as intelligence.
It’s also deeper than just knowing. Becoming wise is typically a process.
God’s truth becomes internalized in us and infiltrates our thinking, changes
our attitudes and ultimately expresses itself in our actions.
These thoughts are with me today as I process the amazing past three and a half
days. Over the 4th of July weekend I attended a men’s conference on male
spirituality. The conference was titled “Wild Men to Wise Men” and
dealt with men learning about and becoming aware of their various core parts
that are part of the life journey and spiritual awakening/growth. These archetypes
of warrior, magician (or magi), lover and king are well documented elsewhere
(see Robert Moore’s
website).
The weekend was full of many wonderful moments, good fellowship and new friends
and several “ah-ha” moments. The issue of awakening to our true spiritual
natures and discovering that we are all beloved sons and daughters of God is
very important. Indeed it is critical. For this awakening allows us to become
who we already are and for God to empower us with His Spirit and help lead other
men and women on their journeys. That is mentoring. That is becoming an elder.
That is the path of wild man to wise man.
Tom Gilbert
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July 3, 2003
Tomorrow is Independence Day in America. The July 4th Holiday celebrates our
freedom and we commemorate the birth of the United States. The USA has prospered
as a powerful and wealthy country, but like all great powers there is also much
abuse. We pray for our leaders that God will enlighten them with wisdom to know
His ways and to follow His guidance.
Of course, there is a much greater freedom that we should cherish and celebrate
daily. All believers will share in the inheritance of eternal life. Freedom from
death and the bondage of sin Have you heard this Good News?
Tom Gilbert
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July 2, 2003
Life is full of questions. So often we want immediate answers. But, it doesn’t
always work that way. You might have questions that you dwell on for years and
the answers are slowly revealed. That’s ok. Sometimes it is good to live
in the question. Try asking God to keep you open-minded and to reveal answers
to your questions that speak to your heart and not just your head.
Tom Gilbert
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July 1, 2003
The first day of July and we are certainly feeling the summer heat in New Mexico.
It’s hot, dry and (just maybe) we’ll get a quick afternoon thundershower.
The harsh beauty of the desert is something that always speaks to me on a spiritual
level. Depending on where you are around Albuquerque you can see the towering
Sandia Mountains or a wide vista of mesas and blue sky that goes for miles. It
is not unusual for those billowing clouds to form in the afternoon and then we
can get a lightning show and rain that falls, but often evaporates before hitting
the ground. It is quite a site.
This month we are spending time on the process of journaling. This online weblog
(the Internet populace calls them blogs) is one way of doing it. You can create
journals for many different purposes. I hope that you discover the gift of writing
a spiritual or prayer journal. There is a new article that you might want to
read, “The Journey of Journaling” now
on the site.
Tom Gilbert
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Read more past Journal entries here.
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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