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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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September 28, 2005 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
How hard it can be to live the Gospel! As soon as we
think we’ve got it down we find we still stumble.
The trap many of us fall into is that once we embark on
the path of faith and start living differently we can easily
become blinded by spiritual pride. Jesus’ harshest
criticism was for those who became self-righteous, particularly
the “religious”.
So often religion becomes a means of control. Doing the
right things (all the rules and commandments) might make
you look good on the outside, but God is concerned with
our hearts. That’s where the real transformation
takes place.
Peace and joy,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature Article: Rules of the Road
In The Spotlight: Riches in Heaven, but What about
Retirement?
Daily Thoughts: What Others Think of You
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: Have a Little Relaxation |
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Rules
of the Road
An article by Tom
Gilbert — September, 2005
How can it be that a religion
that professes a God of unconditional love, forgiveness,
and mercy can get so bogged down in rules, restrictions,
and judgments?
This is the dilemma facing today’s
Christianity. Despite the Gospels’ harsh criticism
of the overbearing legalism of the Pharisees and religious
leaders of the day our modern day practice of religion
often falls into the same trap. This is done even with
the best of intentions. Denominations that put God, Jesus
Christ and the Holy Spirit at the center of their doctrine
and creed can still be full of hierarchy, bureaucracy
and countless rules.
Aside from specific Christian denominations and their various ways of conducting
things we have the same kind of problem deep within each individual. There is
always the battle between selfish living and surrender to God’s will. Be
honest. This is within you, me and everyone. The saints we’ve admired through
the ages were the first to admit it. That wasn’t false modesty. It was
rigorous honesty. Paul put it best in his amazing letter to the Romans. The constant
struggle inside each of us doesn’t just go away when we decide to follow
God and do what is right. In Chapter 7 it is clear that Paul is agonizing over
his desire to do the right thing and his inability to do it on his own power.
The conclusion he came to is that on his own he is powerless, but with God all
things are possible.
Read more here.
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Riches in Heaven, but What about
Retirement?
Are you prepared for retirement?
According to those who conduct research, most
of us are not. It’s become increasingly
difficult to save money. Most of us are just
trying to make ends meet.
We can make plans, but we can’t live in
the expectation that these plans will all work
out. Still, it is prudent to consider how you
want to live when you retire, how much money
you will need to meet your living expenses and
what you will do when you stop punching the time
clock.
Even more important is the need to consider just
what your life is all about and what you might do with your time if and
when you retire.
Visit these links and read the articles. It might help you in your planning,
but remember that what you do each day – in the present – is
what really counts.
Hope for the Retiree
Social Security - A Covenant for the Common Good
Visit our Spotlight Specials page for more on specials
causes
Our Living the Solution online store
has resources to help you grow spiritually. It’s
secure, extensive with many great gift ideas!
Visit our
online store
There is 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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What
Others Think of You
My dear friends, don't let public opinion
influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. (James
2:1 — The Message)
There are two items here today. First,
James refers to our life as believers and followers of Christ
as glorious. We were created by glory for glory and to be
glorious. We lost all of that in the disobedience of Adam
and Eve and it was all restored to us by Jesus' death, resurrection,
and ascension. We are glorious and our lives in Christ are
glorious. This is a fact! We just need to believe it and
live it.
Second, James makes a point about how we are to live this glorious life. A way
to rephrase what James is saying could be, don't let public opinion influence
how you live out your glorious, Christ-originated faith, in public. That's the
key. And I don't mean the public show of false piety or "look at me, am
I not a 'good' Christian?" I mean truly living the life, as Jesus lived
His life, before the world.
We all have beliefs, but are we willing to lovingly and with compassion stand
up for them when we are not with our church friends? How many of us hold back
our thoughts because of what we think the world might think? Are we too concerned
that our opinion will be thought of as "politically incorrect"? The
truth is we all let the influence of our culture influence how we live out our
faith and we shouldn't.
So how do we get out from underneath this cultural influence? By spending time
with God. Get to know His heart and His strength. Spend time learning about Jesus
and how He lived His life. Spend time reading the Bible. Connect your heart with
God's. Be more concerned with what God thinks about how you are living your life,
rather than what our culture thinks.
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: Have a Little Relaxation
"Every now and then, go away,
have a little relaxation, for when you come back to
your work your judgment will be surer."
—
Leonardo da Vinci
Copyright 2005 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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