"disciples" Tagged Touchpoints

"disciples" Tagged Touchpoints

Touchpoint: My kingdom is not of this world. Picture of a long, cloud-lined road leading to an open door with a light shining through, representing Heaven.

Beyond Belief

“No wonder Jesus asked Pilate why he called him King of the Jews! Who have you been listening to, Pilate? What kingdom do you belong to? On whose behalf do you condemn? Would we kill Jesus if we thought he was a threat to our kingdoms? The Spirit is our witness. It offers itself to us in every breath. The kingdom Jesus speaks of cannot be killed.”
Touchpoint: The Destruction of the Temple is Foretold; image is "Portrait of Dr. Gatchet" by Vincent Van Gogh

Moody Blues

“Forgive me but I’m just not in the mood! I’m not in the mood to talk about the theological significance the buildings held or why Jesus sat at the Mount of Olives or the disciple’s gazing at the majesty of the building or the actual size of stones and how difficult it must have been to carry one.”
Touchpoint: I Am the Bread of Life; watercolor image of a loaf of bread on a breadboard

Bread to Die For

“Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” He said, “Moses and I are not the Father. Only God the father gives bread from heaven. We are the gift given to you for life and true liberation.” Using Father as the term for the source of all things is bad science now that we know a mother isn’t just an incubator and man the origin of both egg and sperm. Father represented the source of all things. No wonder Jesus referred to all his friends as his mothers and brothers. When we are together inclusively, we honor the Christ in all people. It is ours to remove the obstacles for people to crawl to spiritual freedom in a world that creates obstacle courses.”
Touchpoint: Jesus Walks on Water; watercolor painting by Jay Bryant Ward of Jesus walking on turbulent water

You cruise, You Lose

“Maybe the sardines and bread were a way for Jesus to teach the disciples about love through service; teaching hospitality to the goal oriented. While others traveled to the Passover place, Jesus welcomed the holiness of the journey. Perhaps the fish and bread was communion with strangers. I’m not sure, I just know olives would have been a bit more kind. But there I go again wanting to get to the other side of discomfort.”
Touchpoint: The Lord Is My Shepherd; image is bright chalk drawing by Sieger Kader of Christ the Good Shepherd

Rest for the Inner Orphan

“Have you ever had a boss encourage you to take time off saying, “I’ll do your work for you”? When was the last time you had a boss “see” you and recognize you were burning out, then encourage you to rest before going back to work? You might think, ‘Others have more difficult, more demanding jobs than I; I don’t deserve to rest.’ Maybe you wonder, ‘Is there no one who will see the burden I carry?’ Perhaps you’ve thought, ‘I love my job, my work as a parent or as a student, but I’m overwhelmed.’ Maybe we need to channel our inner Jesus and Michael McCabe. Maybe we need to listen for the Shepherd’s call to a deserted place.”
Touchpoint: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve. Image is watercolor painting by Wayne Pascall of Jesus and his disciples,

Shape of My Heart

“We have been told, or we may think, that we need to be fit. Boy scouts need to be prepared, yes! But why do we need to be prepared to love… to engage strangers and deliver life-giving seeds of new beginnings or watering the seeds already scattered? Jesus said, “You don’t need any other equipment; you are the equipment!” In talking to Samuel he said, ‘They don’t need a king to tell them what to do, they have me!'”
Touchpoint: Jesus Calms the Storm; image of Rembrandt's painting of “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee”

Boat Rides and Roller Coasters

“Jesus didn’t say, “Let’s get in a boat, get halfway, hit the worst storm ever, and feel like you’re going to die. Any takers?” Who is going to say, “Count me in!”? When I am facing dark moments, this tells me I must rely on the light that has been previously revealed. It’s best not to attempt to create my own light. Rather, depend on the light that has been previously revealed.”
Touchpoint: Fishers of Men; watercolor of disciples with nets in the water beside a boat

Catch and Release

“Satan is called the Prince of the Air. Of the air! What a joke! Evil and all its negativity does not have power except that which is given. It demands a response and receptivity to give it breath. Until then, it is just air. Spirit is breath. The breath we breathe. Evil has lost an eternal battle and simply annoys us in its desperate, vulnerable state.”
Give Without Payment Touchpoint; image of mudslide over a highway

Shifting Ground

“Grace is funny. It is dangerous and subversive. But it is also peace-giving and freeing. Freed from having to justify ourselves, our existence, our stands… we are freed to live and serve the world. We don’t have a free will. We have a freed – F R E E D – will. And we are freed to take a walk, a hike, onto and into new ground.”
God with Us Touchpoint - oil painting of the Transfiguration of Jesus

The Highs and Lows

“I once had a professor who said, “Most people would rather be right than alive.” And what he meant by that, is most people live for the sake of trying to justify themselves and their actions and beliefs, rather than simply being involved in the stuff of life. With all of its highs and lows, joys and sorrows.”
Lord increase our faith Touchpoint

Tiny Faith

“If grace is at the foundation of life – of existence – then why are we striving? If Jesus is the Savior of the world, then quit trying to save yourself or climb some spiritual ladder.”
Tell people what God has done for you Touchpoint

Go Home!!

“So what do we do with a Jesus who doesn’t convert or condemn, but simply heals and sets free? What do we do with a Jesus who doesn’t seek a follower but a thankful heart? What do we do with a Jesus who isn’t interested in how big his church is… errr, I mean… his parade of followers is?”
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