 |
|
Hi !! Most of you don't know me. I came to GO Eureka around the mid 70's. I was at the Lighthouse Ranch for a VERY short time, then moved to one of the in-town houses to serve at Radiance. I was also at San Diego, CA and Manassas, VA. My background is quite different from most GO'ers. I never used drugs and was not part of the "hippie" or "Jesus People" culture. I was, instead, a successful Field Engineer with IBM. However, like ALL of you, God literally "drove me on" in search of "REAL LIFE' -- Himself. It was this "driving" that brought me to Eureka where, after numerous side roads, I am today.
My view on this issue is, I think, RATHER different from most. I know that back in the "good-old days", the cry was to be "used by God" or to be a "faithful servant" !! I believe that THIS view is as "religious" as the ones that many "Jesus People" sought to escape from !! I don't believe that God want to "USE US", like we were some kind of a tool, to be tossed aside when we are worn down or reach a certain age -- nor does He want merely "servants". I am increasingly finding that what God TRULY wants are vessels (US) that He can live in a symbiotic relationship with. God desires to live His life in conjunction with OUR life through us -- His Spirit willing through OUR spirit and will. It is NOT that WE decide what WE want or wish to do -- and then ask God to guide and help us !!
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." **** Galatians 2:20
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight (counts for anything) – the only thing that matters is faith working through love (is a new creation - creature) **** Galatians 5:6; 6:15 These verses reflect what MOST of us confess with our lips, but do we REALLY know what it means, believe it, and live it ?? If we do, there is NO question about us being "over the hill" or "past our days of usefulness" or "used up in God's service" !! He will continue to live and manifest HIS life through us (as long as WE continue to allow it), increasingly conforming us to the "image of Jesus Christ", until the end of our days in THIS body, and then in increasing measures of GLORY in our new bodies. THAT is why He created us !!!! When I was a young man (in my 30's and 40's), like so many, I was full of myself and thought that I knew ALL about God and Scripture. Since my 50's, I am coming to see that I REALLY, ACTUALLY know very little about God -- just a lot of doctrines, ideas, and words that I got from someone else. He has placed it upon my heart (as He did the Apostle Paul) that the ONLY thing of TRUE value that we can do in this life is to TRULY get to know Him and allow Him to live His life through us !! We then don't need to concern ourselves with, "What should I do to serve God". He will live His life in us as He requires to fulfill His purpose !!!! This DOES NOT have any "age cutoff" - it should continue until we die.
He has also been increasingly showing me that WE - the "church" - and especially myself, are STILL filled with and mired in "prejudices, religiosity, and stereotypes" !! Many of you already do not like what I post, and you will probably NOT like this and the next paragraph. I did and do admire, love and, respect Jim Durkin (Sr.). He was my mentor and was fundamental in establishing my "Christian Walk". However, what he had to say was not "The Last Word" from God, nor was it "The Exhaustive and Ultimate Truth". He taught in large part merely what HE himself had been taught, and we need to CONTINUE to grow BEYOND what he gave to us - precious and valuable as it was and still is. Funny (??) isn't it, how EVERY religious group from the Jews down to present day have thought that they ALONE had the "only Sacred and True Understanding and Word from God" ! Why are OTHER "religious idols and traditions" to be condemned, but the ones that we inherited from Jim and GO MUST have the "stamp of ULTIMATE Truth from God" upon them ?? I believe that Jim said MANY times while he was alive that if he should see GO turning into one more "religious sect (idol)" that he would rather dismantle it. Well - in MANY ways - that is EXACTLY what many from the "good-ole-days" have done !! Those who follow the "GO Friends, GO Gatherings, and Jesus Freaks" forums will have noted that of late I have posted MANY songs by a Norwegian singer name of "Sissel" as the framework for one of my, "Words for Today". Probably many are confused as to WHY ?? Some have no doubt said (at least in their hearts) that she is too admired, too beautiful, too cosmopolitan, too glamorous, too popular, too rich, too talented, too "worldly" to be a "TRUE" Christian !!
Heads up now !! Perhaps the previous statement ONLY applies to me, but THESE were MY concerns and thoughts when I first discovered Sissel on YouTube in 2021 !! I have even been told that, "I should be ashamed of my great admiration for this outstanding and highly talented woman" and that, "people are making fun of me on account of it". I guess that they are entitled to their view. I DO know that I have done many things of which to be ashamed during my lifetime -- but admiring this special gift of Beauty and Love from God to mankind is certainly NOT one of them !! Or - is it perhaps because many consider her to be "just a mere entertainer and a woman" and not a "great scholar, spiritual leader and teacher" ?? However, since I have discovered her and her music, God has revealed to me many important lessons about myself, and His heart and ways. The answer is simple, "Of ALL of the people that I have encountered (most Christians included), Sissel reflects more of the Acceptance, Beauty, Contentment, Generosity of Spirit, Joy, Love, and (true) Humility and Modesty of God resident in one person" !! I have read as many magazine and news articles as I could find about her (NOT very many available), watched over 500 of her videos and interviews on YouTube, and read thousands of the comments that people leave. Many leave comments like, "She is an Angel sent to us by God." I think what they are trying to say is that they TRULY see God's supernatural manifestation in her. They see something that they KNOW exceeds the ordinary, everyday earthly - a glimpse of God's GLORY shining through this "earthen vessel" !! Can people truly say this about you and I?? I KNOW that there are MANY times when they certainly can NOT say it about ME !! Bottom line is that, in MY eyes (and those of a VAST multitude who have seen her in person and through the media), she is one who reflects the "Glory of God" (such as He has given to her) in her ENTIRE life, in all areas and at all times. She reflects both an inner and outer beauty and radiance that are truly captivating. She is a VERY charismatic person. There is NO "religious air or aura" about her, she doesn't speak "biblese or christianese", and she probably has little or NO intrest in doctrine nor dogma. She may not know any of the "religious cliches", "religious doctrines", or "religious jargon". She probably doesn't sit around worrying herself about "serving God" or "being USED by Him". She just gets on with her and God together living HIS life. I DO know that she confesses in public that her entire life has been built upon her Faith in God (on the Rock), and that she knows her gifts and talents are a GREAT gift from God to be wisely used to serve Him. I believe that a song that she often sings reflect her views. The song is, "To God be the Glory" and some of the words are, "ALL that I have and ever hope to be, I owe it ALL to Thee" !! I don't know what her TRUE "spiritual condition" might be. She doesn't talk much about her private life in public. She was born, raised and still lives in Norway - which previously (up to 2017) was dominated by the state-mandated Lutheran Religion. I can only go by what my inner and outer senses of perception reveal to me. I DO know that God HAS strongly placed her on my heart to pray for. Read more about the VERY important issue of "Choices and Perspective" by clicking [ HERE ]. Click [ HERE ] to read an "Open Question for Sissel" regarding HER "Life Perspective". This Link will take you to a page where you can learn more about Sissel,
|
 |
Site Menu |
 |
 |