Who do you say.....

As I write I am preparing to go to Kippen Kirk Session and while considering the Bible Study Slot my mind turns to Matthew 16:13 when, at Caesaria Philippi, Jesus asks "Who do they say that I am?" the disiples make several suggestions. Then Jesus says "and you Who do you say that I am?"
Ialways find that so challenging.
Who do I say Jesus is?
Do I speak of Him at all?
When I do what do I say?

Elaine and I have 'met a friend' on the 'net called Tom Schumann; he calls himself a poet/priest he writes this: -

Q & A (matthew 16:13-20)

when it shows upon the test
('who do you say I am?')
i quickly flip open the book
and copy out the answers . . .f
or'Son of the living God'
has become a research paper
(hopefully expanding into
a dissertation)
with experts, writing
in several languages,
quoted to support my view,
but a real Person:
calling me to follow;
willing to open my shut mind;
hoping to send me out
to confront the powers
in my corner of the world?and
i have said'Lord'so many times
that i have lost count,but the instances
i have (actually,willingly, eagerly)
given you control of my life?
even if i include thethumb on my counting hand,
i still have several fingers
left over . . .so maybe i need
to close the book,
and open my self
to you.

(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman

Sacred Space

The more time passes the more I believe that the Kirk has to re-discover prayer. I may be wrong (forgive me if you are a faithful pray-er already- well done good and faithful servant!) but I believe that we, Presbyterians, are not so good at personal devotion. So here is another suggestion to help you Internet surfing Christians.
I often use the site called Sacred Space it offers prayers in a week long cycle.

http://www.sacredspace.ie/

why not try it out it will make you feel better and it will certainly make the world that little bit better too. love G

Virtual Labyrinth

Do you like me have difficulty concentrating and focusing in your private devotions? Why not try a virtual Labyrinth. Maybe you have heard of 'outside ' actual labyrinths people have found them to be a great way to allow the participant to go on a mini journey into one's spiritual life. now you can do it from the keyboard of your PC
Labyrinth is an interactive site for spiritual journeys. It's for anyone who wants a break from surfing the surface of life to contemplate the deeper things of life.Labyrinth reshapes a 12th century ritual for the 21st century. Its maze-like path takes you on a symbolic journey, creates space to unwind and think - in particular about our relationships with ourselves, one another, our planet and God. Designed for young and old alike, it provides a mixture of rituals and visuals, of contemplative words and contemporary ambient music, of symbols and media to help guide the spiritual traveller
Go there and try it out let us know how you get on.

http://www.labyrinth.org.uk/onlinelabyrinthpage1.html

Gordon

Was Paul at the Isthmian games? he seems to have been a sports fan from the number of references. I found this story
During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City a few thousand spectators remained in the Olympic Stadium waiting for the last of the men to finish the 28
mile marathon run. An hour earlier Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia had crossed the finish line looking as fresh as when he started out. Since then the runners had come in, each looking worse than the previous one, to be carted off to the first aid station. As the fans were get ready to leave they heard from the marathon gates the sound of sirens and police whistles. A
lone runner, John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania was the last man to finish the race. His leg bloodied and bandaged he winced visibly at every step as he hobbled the 400 meter circuit around the track. The spectators rose and applauded him as if he were the winner. Crossing the finish line he walked slowly off the field without even acknowledging the cheering crowd.

In view of his injury and having no chance to win a medal someone asked him why he bothered to finish the race. Why didn't he just quit? He replied: "My country did not send me 7,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it." Akhwari knew for whom he was running.
do we?