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KNOW THE WORD

What is the kingdom of God like? To what can we compare?

Why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

What are you discussing as you walk along?…..What things?

Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

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Queries What is our honest experience of Jesus Christ?
What are the stories that found and shape our lives, our locality, our culture?
How will we discern the Living Word who speaks to us through the biblical story, prayer and the people and situations around us?
How do the questions from the gospel stories shape our understanding?
 What are the connections between the story of the Bible, our world and ourselves?

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GROW HOME

Do you also want to leave? Did I not choose you twelve?

Have you anything here to eat?

If there were not (many homes in my Father’s house), would I have told you that I am going to prepare a house for you?

What were you arguing about as we travelled on the road?

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Queries Who are our kin/mob/family? (Mark 3) 
In what ways will we or will we not ‘be there for each other’ as ‘family’?
How do our families of origin and previous experiences of community affect us now?
How can we practice the disciplines of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in this locality?
What are our economic necessities? (home, household, village…etc.)
What does it mean for us to be the body of Christ? Where am I putting my own body?

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GO ENGAGE

When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?

How many loaves do you have?

Which one was neighbour to the robber’s victim?

Do you want to be well?

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Queries 
How does Jesus’ life, incarnation, death & resurrection shape our practice of mission?
Who is at our table? Whom are we offering hospitality?
 Are we dependent on those we serve? Are we experiencing hospitality from those we serve?
 What is my vocation/calling? What voices are shaping our choices?
 What is ‘good work’? 
In what ways can we put those considered least at the top of our priorities?
 How are we deepening our understanding and practice of Teaching, Healing and Exorcism in light of the Word?

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Rest here awhile

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you, dear child

you exert so much energy

trying to be something other than

how you were made.

Rest. Rest in Me and know

that you are loved, you are

a delight to me and I am

proud of you – just as you are.

Come to me those who are weary

and heavy laden and I will give

you a real rest.

Rest. Rest in Me and know

that you are loved, there is no

one else you need to prove yourself

to or meet the expectations of,

there is no ‘right’ way or ‘normal’.

Each person must walk their own path

and I made each of you unique

– though your path may travel along

aside another’s, it may not, or may

not always and it is not given to

you to know the Way… I know

the Way. I AM the Way, and I am

with you always.

Rest. Rest here awhile with Me.

We can go on when you are ready.

Talitha Fraser

Sweet Darkness

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

— David Whyte
from The House of Belonging
©1996 Many Rivers Press

obama in Foots 05.01.15

Butterfly in the garden…

04.01.15

Terns by Mary Oliver

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Terns

Don’t think just now of the trudging forward of thought,

But of the wing-drive of unquestioning affirmation.

It’s summer, you never saw such a blue sky,

And here they are, those white birds with quick wings,

Sweeping over the waves, chattering and plunging,

Their thin beaks snapping, their hard eyes

Happy as little nails

The years to come-this is a promise-

Will grant you ample time

To try the difficult steps in the empire of thought

Where you seek for the shining proofs you think you must have.

But nothing you ever understand will be sweeter, or more binding,

Than this deepest affinity between your eyes and the world.

The flock thickens

Over the rolling, salt brightness. Listen,

Maybe such devotion, in which one holds the world

In the clasp of attention, isn’t the perfect prayer,

But it must be close, for the sorrow, whose name is doubt,

Is thus subdued, and not through the weaponry of reason,

But of pure submission. Tell me, what else

Could beauty be for? And now the tide

Is at its very crown,

The white birds =sprinkle down,

Gathering up the loose silver rising

As if weightless. It isn’t instruction, or parable.

It isn’t for any vanity or ambition

Except for the one allowed, to stay alive.

It’s only a nimble frolic

Over the waves. And you find, for hours,

You cannot even remember the questions

That weigh so in your mind.

F*** off

17.12.14b

17.12.14

Compline @ The Cave

Lord let us accept, you are leading us into places unknown –

places in ourselves, and in our lives with the other.

Lord you remind us… “Be not afraid”

And so we ask for Your help dear God.

Help us to let go…

Of our defences that protect us, yet isolate us

Help us to let go…

Of our past failures, of shame & guilt

Help us to let go…

Of our resentments and compulsions that we feed

Help us to let go…

Of our romantic notions that lead to false expectations of others, of our world, of You.

Help us to let go…

Of the burden of others’ expectations when our resources run dry

Lord let us accept, you are leading us into places unknown –

places in ourselves, and in our lives with the other.

Lord you remind us… “Be not afraid”

And so we ask for Your help dear God.

Help us to embrace…

The courage we need to grow close to one another

Help us to embrace…

A spirit of forgiveness and hope

Help us to embrace…

The liberation of our salvation

Help us to embrace…

The time we need for renewal and transformation

Help us to embrace…

The One who knows us and loves us without end.

#freepostcards

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