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daily word - burden?

Dale Cresap's picture

How much progress have you made in growth in the practice of your faith? Do you see spiritual progress more in terms of things you acquire or things you release? Both are valid aspects of spiritual growth but only one is usually emphasized. How do you view the things you have acquired? Do they facilitate your onward journey or impede it? The heavier the burden you carry, the slower you walk. Do you see your spiritual life as a journey? Do you see the parallel with carrying burdens? When you travel do you normally only take those things necessary for the journey?

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daily word - on duty

Dale Cresap's picture

When my disciples wanted me to take a more aggressive public stance I told them that my time had not yet come, but that their time was always ready. Do you see this as a universal principle for my followers, including you, that you are always on duty? Have your most effective opportunities to serve me been those that you have staged and arranged, or have they happened in a moment when you least expected them? And so you are charged to be instant in season and out of season. You don’t know when you will cross paths with someone who is receptive to your message of life.

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daily word - truth

Dale Cresap's picture

Do you require proof for everything? This is a modern concept also described by those who adhere to it as being evidence based. This seems like a reasonable requirement, but is it? Is there anything you accept as true without proof? And this raises the further question, proof to whose satisfaction and what is admissible evidence, for these vary from one person to another. If truth is a larger concept than provability, then what criteria do you use to establish truth? Have you ever had something resonate with you and considered it to be true on that basis? Truth can be self-validating.

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daily word - essence of faith

Dale Cresap's picture

What does the Christian faith consist of? Do you see it as the affirmation of a list of essential doctrines, and diligence in preserving and conforming to the structures of your faith tradition? Don’t you describe your faith as a relationship with me? Does the above description sound relational? Have you noticed that the less that believers have a direct encounter with me the more they are committed to doctrine and structure and hierarchy and authority and titles and offices? Which do you think is of greater value?

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daily word - camouflage

Dale Cresap's picture

Have you ever seen anything that is disguised or camouflaged? The purpose of these practices, whether for animals or people, is to make them difficult to identify, so doing so requires careful observation and discernment. Can this concept be applied more broadly? You know that fear and hatred are bad. No one will admit to practicing them. Does that make them go away or just become invisible? Have you ever seen hatred and fear masquerade as religion and morality? Even Satan is able to present himself as an angel of light. Is it possible to deceive the elect?

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daily word - justice

Dale Cresap's picture

Do you believe that I am a God of justice? Do you see my justice as being active or passive? Active justice would involve a system for apprehending perpetrators and a means for imposing penalties on them. You are familiar with this from your own civil justice system. A passive system would involve providing you with some guidelines to inform you of the most beneficial way for you to conduct yourself, lest you should go down a self-destructive path unawares. What is your perception of reality on this issue? I have given you a moral code to follow. Do you see me enforcing my own rules?

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daily word - touch

Dale Cresap's picture

Do you believe in the laying on of hands? This is a Christian doctrine practiced both for conferring authority and for healing. Are there any other applications? Have you ever had anyone confide in you an experience of trauma and felt an instinctual urge to put your hand on their shoulder, or take their hand? Have you ever felt the longing for contact for yourself in a similar situation? The need for touch is deeply embedded. Your culture has rules you must follow about propriety and consent.

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daily word - critical?

Dale Cresap's picture

Do you know any critical people? There are real problems in the world and to ignore them is to leave them unaddressed. But some people can only see the problem and what is wrong, and this is not useful either. Criticism comes in more than one version.  It can be problem oriented or resolution oriented. A good guideline is to look for redemptive purpose. Isn’t that what I do all the time? If you look forward to a brighter future you will find it, and you won’t be stuck in the current darkness.

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daily word - building

Dale Cresap's picture

What are you building? Are you familiar with the scripture passage that refers to me as the chief cornerstone? This implies that I am the foundation of the building, and I establish the location and serve as a reference point for all the building that is to follow. Even with these conditions given to you this passage is an invitation to build, and an open door for a wide variety of creativity. Do you have a plan and all the building materials you need? Have you applied for a building permit? You will find that I’m generous in reviewing and approving your application.

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daily word - peacemaker

Dale Cresap's picture

Do you see the world in absolutes? This is also known as black and white. Do you know that the peacemakers are blessed and they are my children? A quality that is required to be a peacemaker is the ability to see both sides of a conflict, to be able to relate to both parties involved. Will either side see you as a credible mediator if you have no sympathy for their position? So to be a peacemaker you need to hold both sides of the dispute within yourself. Can you hold this tension so that conflict may be resolved between others? Can you see how much this is needed today?

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