Hi there!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />
I was given for my birthday a pack of Bible study DVDs by NOOMA Group, featuring Rob Bell. He covers some interesting topics. The one I watched today was called "Trees", about needing a God and a faith that's about NOW, and relevant to our lives NOW.
I think I had a big realisation with this one, but I wanted a second opinion because I can never tell if I'm just making stuff up in my head and just TELLING myself it means something.
The last thing he says in the whole video is about what it means to be a Christian long story short, I think that’s what he was saying. Basically that there's more to it than waiting for something to happen later (Jesus’ return). It’s about being a partner of God's in "redeeming and restoring this fallen, broken and hurting world. That you can literally be a partner with God in making this (Earth) the kind of place that God originally intended it to be. May you be the kind of person who, when you live this way, the very trees of paradise are being planted."
I read all that and I circled the quote in my little book that comes with the DVD. I wrote next to it "I want to do this! I really do... "
And then I looked up at my whiteboard in my room which currently has a list of all sorts of charities and organisations and causes that inspire me to make a difference in the world. Things that I want to get involved with. And I kind of joined some dots…
I feel like I finally had a "I think I know what I'm supposed to do," moment. Like maybe this is going to be my way of finding God.
I ran this by my un-official sister-in-law, and the question she asked me was “what would you say having ‘found God’ means to you? What would it look like in your life, or in someone else’s life, if you/they had found God?”
I responded with “I suppose to know God; to understand more about God; to really know what it is to be a Christian and to know whether or not that is me. Although I suppose if you’d found God you would definitely be a Christian, wouldn’t you. To be sure of your love for God and His love for you.”
I thought that if I immerse myself in trying to make the world a better place, or try and make a significant difference in someone's life, then maybe I'm on the right track to seeing what God wants me to do. Either that or maybe that IS what God wants me to do.
Long story short, we agreed that I recognise that He is real, and is working in my life, and now I think I've realised perhaps what it is to "follow" Him.
So I guess I'm asking what do you think about that? Is that what I've 'realised'? Or is it something unrelated?
Thanks so much for your time and your thoughts. It’s much appreciated.
I was given for my birthday a pack of Bible study DVDs by NOOMA Group, featuring Rob Bell. He covers some interesting topics. The one I watched today was called "Trees", about needing a God and a faith that's about NOW, and relevant to our lives NOW.
I think I had a big realisation with this one, but I wanted a second opinion because I can never tell if I'm just making stuff up in my head and just TELLING myself it means something.
The last thing he says in the whole video is about what it means to be a Christian long story short, I think that’s what he was saying. Basically that there's more to it than waiting for something to happen later (Jesus’ return). It’s about being a partner of God's in "redeeming and restoring this fallen, broken and hurting world. That you can literally be a partner with God in making this (Earth) the kind of place that God originally intended it to be. May you be the kind of person who, when you live this way, the very trees of paradise are being planted."
I read all that and I circled the quote in my little book that comes with the DVD. I wrote next to it "I want to do this! I really do... "
And then I looked up at my whiteboard in my room which currently has a list of all sorts of charities and organisations and causes that inspire me to make a difference in the world. Things that I want to get involved with. And I kind of joined some dots…
I feel like I finally had a "I think I know what I'm supposed to do," moment. Like maybe this is going to be my way of finding God.
I ran this by my un-official sister-in-law, and the question she asked me was “what would you say having ‘found God’ means to you? What would it look like in your life, or in someone else’s life, if you/they had found God?”
I responded with “I suppose to know God; to understand more about God; to really know what it is to be a Christian and to know whether or not that is me. Although I suppose if you’d found God you would definitely be a Christian, wouldn’t you. To be sure of your love for God and His love for you.”
I thought that if I immerse myself in trying to make the world a better place, or try and make a significant difference in someone's life, then maybe I'm on the right track to seeing what God wants me to do. Either that or maybe that IS what God wants me to do.
Long story short, we agreed that I recognise that He is real, and is working in my life, and now I think I've realised perhaps what it is to "follow" Him.
So I guess I'm asking what do you think about that? Is that what I've 'realised'? Or is it something unrelated?
Thanks so much for your time and your thoughts. It’s much appreciated.