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Opening Hearts to The author and his message
The Bible has fallen on hard times.
This may be difficult to imagine because there are Bibles of every color, design, purpose and target group. There are even more translations—and even still more commentaries on the text of the Bible. Obviously owning a Bible is not our problem. The problem is we don’t know how to read it anymore. Or, maybe better said, we don’t trust our readings of it anymore. Or, we trust “our” reading but not “theirs”. For some, suspicion and cynicism of the Bible even runs deeper: “How can anyone believe in a God who does or doesn’t do so and so…like in the Bible”.
Recently a friend and I read and discussed chapter seven of Dallas Willard’s Hearing God. I quote a few thoughts from Dallas below as a way to help guests on an Alpha course come to grips with the Bible.
We will be spiritually safe in our use of the Bible if we follow a simple rule: Read it with a submissive attitude.
Read with a readiness to surrender all you are—all your plans, opinions, possessions, positions.
Study as intelligently as possible, with all available means, but never study merely to find the truth and especially not just to prove something wrong. Subordinate your desire to find the truth to you desire to do it, to act it out!
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One of the things I admire most about Nicky Gumbel—and the Alpha course—is Nicky’s ability to refer to the Bible in non-threatening, peace-filled ways. Those of us who are long-term Christians may forget what a strange book the Bible can seem to outsiders. Today, people even wonder if it is dangerous.
But the combination of Dallas’ wise counsel and Nicky’s gracious manner can open a powerful door of faith through the Bible. If in our small groups on Alpha we can model to others Dallas’s “submission to the text” and “doing” rather than “arguing to win”, we will show The Way to others without a lot of loud arguing. I’m betting that this peace-filled emphasis on the way of being articulated by Dallas and embodied by Nicky will re-position the Bible in a seeker’s mind enough that the Bible can speak to them with clarity—thus opening their hearts to The Author and his Message.
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Todd Hunter, 11/6/2008 |
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| Building Healthy Marriages | | Anyone who has been married any length of time can attest to the fact that being able to deal with conflict and handle heavier issues as a couple is a challenge.
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| Part Four: The Tactics or Battle Plan | |
So far we have looked at the infrastructure or ‘Body’ for our 2008 Strategic Plan. Knowing from scripture that God expects us to be as efficient and effective as possible with the resources he has supplied.
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| Part One: Accelerated Momentum in 2008 | | These are words that our 1,000 or so Ugandan prayer partners sensed God gave them for Alpha USA in 2008. This is very exciting, especially because we are already starting to see God open a number of doors. In fact, at times it seems hard to keep up with
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| More Than A Program | | It is encouraging to hear about the progress of courses that are running as a result of the Invitation, especially when it is from pastors who stepped out in faith to run their first Alpha Course this Fall. Pastor Wayne Okomato is running Alpha for the fi
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| Fresh Fruit! | | As we approach the mid-point of the Fall Alpha courses, I wanted to write and convey something of the fruit seen during the pilot Alpha Invitation in Lake County. It is truly wonderful to reflect on some of the tangible signs that demonstrate the work th
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| Thank You God! | | I was recently writing an update briefing for the people who have actively been involved in the Lake County Invitation (the new name for the Initiative) and in doing so had a moment to stop and consider what God has achieved here. We are thankful to God f
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| Sir Elton John: I Would Ban Religion Completely | | Last week I introduced you to the idea of “The New Atheism.” Here is a further example of the growing distrust of all religion. According to a recent story by Associated Press posted on The Drudge Report: Sir Elton John wants religion banned completely be
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| What Do You Do When... | | What do you do when 92 percent of Americans say they believe in God, 85 percent in heaven and 82 percent in miracles, according to a 2004 FOX News poll. Yet, a survey conducted by Harris Poll found that 42 percent of US adults are not "absolutely certain"
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