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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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AUGUST 18, 2004 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
The journey to discover your true self requires many
guides along the way. Otherwise we end up just getting lost. It’s hard to know our true
self when we have so much of our personal agenda blocking the view.
On Thursday, August 19, over one hundred men will be discovering
more what it means to become the true men God has created them to
be. The Men’s Rites of Passage at Ghost Ranch in Northern New Mexico
is an intensive five day combination of learning, sharing, discovery and
letting go. I’m excited about attending this event, and even a bit anxious.
I’m sure it will be good, but I’m also sure there will be some pain.
I must pay the price for letting go and that means dying to the false self.
While I’m there I hope to stay as much in the moment as possible.
Later there will be time for reflection and to share some of the
experience with you, my fellow travelers of Living the
Solution.
Peace and joy,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature Article: Scared and Ready to Run
In The Spotlight: Male Spirituality
Daily Thoughts: Joyful Anticipation
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: Better Preaching
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Scared and Ready to Run
By Tom Gilbert — August 2004
There are a lot of scary things in life. I’m not
referring just to “monsters under the bed and things
that go bump in the night”, although to a young
child that can be truly frightening. The very real acts
of terrorism, continuing warfare around the globe and
a spate of recent natural disasters are enough to make
anyone want to pull the covers over their head.
What causes our fear? Almost always it can be traced to our concern that we can’t
face up to something. It doesn’t have to be a global catastrophe. More
often it’s the fear that grips us over sudden illness, a new job or commitment
in a personal relationship – the list for each of us is lengthy.
Do Not Be Afraid
It’s interesting that the Bible records many instances of the Divine breaking
into our world and how overcome with fright are the people who experience it.
Trembling and even fainting away are common reactions. Inevitably words of reassurance
follow. The most frequent term is “do not be afraid”. A search in
the NIV translation reveals over 80 uses of these comforting words, beginning
with Genesis and continuing right through to the last book of the New Testament
(Revelation). Clearly God does not want us to be afraid of Him.
Read the entire article here
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Male Spirituality
 What
does it mean to be a spiritually awakened man? What is "male spirituality"?
These are questions many men struggle with, especially in the Western world.
Recommended Resources:
Living
the Solution e-store special section - many resources including
books by John Eldredge and Richard Rohr.
Abba
Father - the website of Gordon Dalbey
Male
Spirituality - a website that focuses on
the topic of male spirituality, including information
about M.A.L.E.s (Men as Learners and Elders).
Real Men Are
Real - Living the Solution article
See more at our Spotlight
Specials page
Many people are discovering the great prices, selection
and ease of shopping at our Living the Solution online store. It’s secure, extensive
and worth a look. Visit our online
store. There's something for everyone.
When you shop with us, you support our ministry – thank you!
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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Wildly Extravagant Life
The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming
next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins
it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released
at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful
anticipation deepens. (Romans 8:19-21, the Message)
Does that describe your life right now, “joyful
anticipation”? Do you understand that even the other creatures in
this world, in fact the world itself, was affected by the Fall of Man? Adam’s
and Eve’s choice didn’t just affect them; it had a ripple effect
throughout all of creation. Nothing in this current world is what it was
created to be. As the Apostle Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 13:12, we see
things, this life, through a dim glass, a distorted reflection of what it
is really to be. The rest of God’s creation knows this and is waiting
in anticipation; longing for the day it can be released to be what it was
meant to be, to reflect the glory of God. Even with all the magnificence
of what we see now-- the mountains, oceans, rivers, lakes, sunsets, sunrises,
and wildlife-- they are but a reflection of what they truly are.
How about you? Do you live in joyful anticipation of what
is to come; anticipation of the day when we will be given our new glorified
bodies, the day when we will finally be and perfectly reflect and radiate
the person of God?
We too, if we are in tune with ourselves and in tune with God, if we are
not distracted or allow ourselves to be distracted, will also be anticipating
that day. Anticipating each day as it is brings us a little closer to God
and a little closer to that final day. That is the joy that marks the Christian
life. Not that we don’t have problems; but that we don’t let
them get to us because we know that this is not all there is, we know that
with each new day we are one step closer to becoming what we were meant
to be, both here and in eternity.
But we so easily become distracted, we like Peter, when walking
on the water, take our focus off of God, and we start to sink, sink into
the cares of this earthly life. We must ask for eyes to see and ears to
hear and strength to lift your eyes to God; to stay focused on Him, our
Master, our Friend, and our Lover!
Live it with Passion
Pete Reinbold
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
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PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer works. It really does.Submit your prayer
requests and we will pray for them.
Of course, we keep your information confidential.
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My thoughts are shared regularly on the pages of
our web site, especially on
the Journal pages.
We welcome and appreciate your feedback. If you would
like to submit an article please see our writer's
guidelines.
It is our hope that the content of Living The Solution will
stimulate you to deepen your faith. That is certainly a result for us in both
our writing and reading. If you would like to see articles on a particular topic
or you have comments please let us know.
Send an email
Quotable: Better Preaching
"You can preach a better sermon with your
life than with your lips."
— Oliver Goldsmith
Copyright 2004 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
P O Box 25584
Albuquerque, NM 87125-5584
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105 (US only) or 505-247-3232
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