Spirit & Life

ENJOY reading the texts, that travel across many generations – the metaphor, Jesus’ passionate teaching and the epistle are worth contemplating as a whole. Together, they are provocative, enlightening and humbling.

Being ready for a holiday takes a lot of planning, thinking, and booking of places to stay, let alone packing. We had even prepared an itinerary of precise locations to stay at, on particular days, checking when specific activities and points of interest were open.

The Book of Hosea shows the length that he was willing to go to demonstrate His Love even when they would turn from Him and run as far away as they could.

Life is full of journeys. There are journeys we make for business, others for duty, some for love, and others for adventure. Sometimes the way is easy and filled with companionship; at others, it is difficult and lonely.

By the time Luke’s gospel was written (after A.D. 60), the church had entered a new generation of believers. They had limited memories of its start and development.

Living with the yoke of Christ and being guided by the Spirit offers a fresh perspective on life. The Great Commandments clearly identify the focus of faithful living.

With so many competing messages, rules, expectations, and demands, it is often hard to hear God’s voice clearly. It is also hard to find inner peace. At our most vulnerable times, the world’s competing expectations and rules can overwhelm us.

Advocate, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Wisdom, Spirit of God, Holy Spirit, wind, breath, fire – across our Bible and within our Christian traditions, we experience many aspects of the Spirit. From before the earth, as we know it, was formed and during the genesis, God’s Spirit is present.

Have you ever had an experience so incredible that when you tried to explain it to someone else, words didn’t really suffice?
More than a ‘you had to be there’ joke, more than a ‘you’ll understand one day’ moment… something so utterly indescribable that you cannot even begin to find the words to communicate its beauty and significance.

Peter’s explanation of inclusion and acceptance reflects a journey of growing love for others. Jesus’ New Commandment is to “Love others as I have loved you”. Peter’s vision reminded him to ‘not to make a distinction between people who turned to God.