Nicodemus' Deed (Shine, Part 4)

One bible verse which many people have heard, some the words of this verse and others just the reference, is John 3:16, but I don't know that such a lot of people know much about the words which are surrounding this verse.

These words fall amongst others which are in a response Jesus gives to Nicodemus. Have you heard of Nicodemus? He was a Pharisee back in the day, a high up religious top notch haughty positioned bloke. Anyway, none of the pharisee's liked Jesus because he was no one special like them but was teaching the people things which weren't written in the books they'd studied AND even worse, the people were actually listening to him when they should have been listening to them. Pharisees loved their position of power. Anyway, instead of just rivalling Jesus and trying to get him to trap himself Nicodemus actually admits that Jesus is a teacher from God! WOW! That is huge for a pharisee to even admit such a thing. And Nicodemus than continues to question Jesus about who He IS, like he wants to know, to understand. You see, Nicodemus was who the pharisees should have been, rather than who they had become.

And so these words come amidst this response from Jesus to Nicodemus*.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. - John 3:16-17

But it is the words which follow these which I would like to focus on today. Jesus continues...

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. - John 3:18-21

Who is the light? If you don't know the answer to this and you can't tell from this passage than you really should read some of my older blogs in this series but to give you the heads up for now, the light is Jesus!

And what is darkness? It is things of this world, or rather to put it simply for you, things of Satan, of The Devil. What are these things you might ask? Well, basically, anything which is not of God - that's a lot!

The passage which influenced me in naming this blog was from Matthew which also ties in quite well with this passage as it talks about light and works and I would really like to draw the same thing out of both passages.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5: 14-16

The thing is that people quite often mis-interpret these passages or miss the basics that they already know. Like we know that Jesus is the light. But these passages are often misinterpreted to say that our good works are the light to others. WRONG! And doing bad deeds does not mean that we are without light either. The light, Our light, is and always will be Jesus.

What these verses are saying is that by following Jesus, by truly following Him, He will shine His lights on your works that they may be seen if they are good or bad. If we are doing bad deeds we don't want them to be shone to be bad but would rather stay in the shadows, perhaps of denial. But if we know Jesus, He will actively begin to change us from the inside out and His light will shine through us showing our good deeds as a product of what He is doing in us that He may be glorified.

So, Let's let our light shine - whether it be that is show our good deeds or our bad deeds. Only once we let Him be our light, accept Him over the darkness can He really work us from the inside out, actively changing us to become more and more like Him. Praise be to God.

*These two verses may not be Jesus actual words but possibly John's kind of commentary throughout this gospel. Either way, this message as outlined here for you today, does not change.

Q: What do you think would have been a 'normal' pharisees response to hearing Jesus say those things?

Coming Up: Shine, Part 5

God Bless

A Holy Lasting Light (Shine, Part 3)

The next installment in our look through the Bible at light.

So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.

 .... And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him. (Exodus 34:28-30, 33-35)

Kind of scary thought really isn't it? Our God is so holy and so full of glory that simply by being in his physical presence leaves us shining - beaming light.

God is exactly what we need.

We don't want to believe it and we don't always know it - mainly because we don't know what we need - but an example is in the Old Testament where God went before the Israelites as a cloud in the day, and as fire at night so that they would have light. God appeared always with great light - fire and lightning on the mountain.

It is important to remember that God is light - and all of our light comes from Him. But is also important to know just why it is that He is light. He is light for there is no darkness in Him.

Take Courage and fear our God - not in a timid way because you're afraid - but in an overwhelmed way because you know who He is and what He's done.

I apologise if this is a bit topsy turvy - the logic flow isn't quite right - anyway, if you have any queries feel free to ask away!

Coming Up: Shine, Part 4

God Bless

True Light or Misleading? (Shine, Part 2)

What have we already learnt from the beginning of John 1? We know that Jesus is the Son of God, that He is the Word, that He is Life, that He is Light - and that He shines.

The passage in John continues from verse 6...

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

I don't have a lot of time just now so I will try to make this brief. John number 2, not John who wrote the book, came to direct people to the true light, to the true messiah, the true Christ. We read that he was not the light, but we can also see here from the way that it was written that some people thought of him as the true light. As something other that what he was. With John however they were in for a surprise as he continued to point them away from himself.

They needed someone there to point them in the right direction, someone who was able to see what was true and what was not. There were many others who had come before and claimed to be the Christ, claimed to be something other than what they were. How were they to know one from the other, distinguish the true from the false?

The answer to this last question is found in the final sentence. The true light gives light to every man coming into the world. What did the others promise? How did they show themselves? But also, who bore witness to them? Here is a man who says no, do not follow me, follow Him, he is the true light, he is the only one who is able to give you light. And of course, we heard last time that the light of men is life.

So John, is standing out in the wilderness telling all those who come to him 'don't follow me, but follow Him if you want to have life, for He is the true light and the only one who can give you that light, give you true life.' Jesus also shows who he is throughout his life throught the different miracles he performs, things he does, and words he speaks. You can read more about them in John, or the other gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

Are you being true, or misleading others? We are called to be like Christ - here we hear that He was a true light to the world.

Coming Up: Shine, Part 3

God Bless

In the beginning... (Shine, Part 1)

I was thinking and praying about just where abouts I could start this series as there is so much in the bible on light and then I thought, where better to start than in the beginning?? - In more than one sense of the word.

In my first blog to this address (22nd June, 2010) I did what many people do and explain why they have decided to start up a blog. And with this also why they have named it as it is. The latter I explained only briefly but did not go into a lot. An excerpt from that blog 'Beginning'...

It comes from a passage in the Bible, something I have been challenged about recently and which I will probably elaborate on in a later post, but for now.. Matthew 5: 14-16

'You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.'

We are each but a single flame yet so much light can come from us. I guess my hope for this blog is that it can be a testimony to my light. Whether I talk of myself or other things happening, that God may be using me and shining through me so that my ray of light is one that stands out amongst others, one worth following.

Is it not a wonderful passage?!?

Now for looking more at just how that imagery of Light is used in the Bible that we might be able to understand it more... lets start in the beginning!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. -John 1:1-5

Now this passage may take a little bit to explain, just giving you a heads up. I mean at the surface some of what it is saying just doesn't make sense - let's take the first sentence, the Word was with God, and was God. Isn't it one or the other? And what is the Word - how can a word be those things? And in the last sentence - how can darkness comprehend anything? But once there is a light it is no longer dark - of what is this speaking? It's all a bit of a riddle really, isn't it?

Well, let's try to make a little sense of this passage then. It starts In the beginning... so let's go back and see what's in the beginning.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was wtihout form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face fo the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.   -Genesis 1:1-3

In other parts of the Bible, or through many different parts of the Bible we find that there is three in one with God. There is only one God but within Him there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Sound complicated? It is. And it's something which you can never convince someone of - it always takes a measure of faith. It sounds too unbelievable to be able to convince anyone of it. Here, in this very first passage of the Bible, we see that the three persons of God are here - when we read it with John 1. God the Father is there - God the Spirit is there - And God the Son is there as the Word.

If we can understand this, then suddenly the first three sentences of John make sense. Those statements are no longer contradictory but supportive of one another. The first thing which is created which gives life to the world is light. Light is the leader and divider which gives life. It is to this imagery that the rest is set also.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

We know now how this is speaking of Jesus, the Son of God, who was there from the beginning, even though he came here only just over 2000 years ago. Trippy, or what? We can see how this passage is linked with Genesis to help explain things but what is it really saying about Jesus? It is saying that He is life. He is our light. And we did not comprehend who He was (we are the darkness, or rather the world is the darkness). So if we want to get away from the darkness of the world, the death that it offers, the only way to find such light, and life, is in and through Jesus - for only He can shine bright enough to overcome.

Kind of random, kind of not - what is your favourite source of light in this world??

Coming up: Shine, Part 2

God Bless

Unpacking Personal Symbolism

As promised in last weeks blog, this week I am unpacking what the symbolism behind my tattoo is. There is a bit too it, so don't think that it will just be a short one to read.

The idea behind it is that it acts as a prompt for a synopsis of the Bible from beginning to end.

STAR

The first thing the star reminds us of is creation. In the beginning God created everything! He even made the stars. This phrase is kind of thrown in there as a side not within the creation story as in ancient times the stars were seen as some kind of God, people would look to the stars for answers which we still see today with daily horoscopes. God is greater even than them; He created them! 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters... Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. - Genesis 1:1-2, 16

Moving along in the creation story we remember that God also created man in his image and gave us the mandate to fill the earth, and subdue it.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." - Genesis 1:27-28

God is a loving God who wants us to have choices and options. He does not want to limit us by giving us orders on what we can and cannot do but to live as He created us to live, in His image, in relationship with Him. In order to do this there was one thing which we were not to do, and even this we could not obey and so man was put out of the garden to keep him from accessing the tree of life (as if he did we would be bound to living eternally separated from God). 

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden... Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" - therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. - Genesis 3:8, 22-23

So now sin has entered the world. We are no longer dwelling with God, but God does not just disappear, he still continues to associate with us. It is only because He loves us that He allowed for us to be put out and made subject to our sin.

CROSS

The cross is a reminder that God keeps his promises. And so the first step of this is that it reminds us of what Gods promises to us are.

One of these is that after the flood God makes a covenant with Noah, his sons, their descendants, and every living creature, (so, all of us) that the earth will never again be flooded completely to destroy everything, and as a reminder He gave us the rainbow. The mandate given to Adam and Eve is also re-iterated. [Genesis 9:1]

"It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." - Genesis 9:14-16

Number 4

As a quick side note as am trying to do this in some kind of chronological order there are a few things within the Bible which lasted for a numerical value of 40 which we are reminded of by the 4 here. The first time we encounter this value is at the flood as it continued to flood for 40 days before it stopped. It then took a lot longer for the waters to go down. [Genesis 7:17f.]

CROSS

Back to the promises. Abram, who became Abraham, was a descendant of Noah and it was promised to him, a God fearing man, that through him a great nation will be born and everyone would be blessed. Part of this promise we are also reminded of by the STAR.

Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." ... Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. - Genesis 12:1-3, 15:5-6

It is from these promises that the rest continue to flow. That it would be through their descendants that all would be made right once more, that blessings would outflow. Jacob whom is a descendant of Abraham is the one who becomes Israel.

[Isaac, Jacob's father, speaking to Jacob, his son] "May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham." - Genesis 28:3-4 

Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram,  and blessed him. And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land." Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. - Genesis 35:9-13

It is these promises, and many more that follow which build upon these first ones, that we see fulfilled in Jesus. The cross is a symbol of Jesus and so this is why it reminds us of these first promises.

STAR and CROSS

Continuing along with the story we are now reminded that there are 12 tribes of Israel (6 points on the star by the 2 beams of the cross - which where everything points towards) These 12 tribes of Israel come from the 12 sons of Israel, whom was Jacob.

This in turn reminds us of the story of Joseph and how his brothers sold him into slavery, and he then in turn ended up working for the Pharaoh in Egypt due to his gift in interpreting dreams as God revealed their interpretation to him. As was pleasing to Pharaoh and Joseph during the time of the seven bad years that all of Joseph's family came to move to Egypt and occupy much land.

M41

One of the things which this reminds us of is Moses who led Israel out of captivity from Egypt where they then spent 40 years journeying in the desert. During this time, God provided them with all that they needed until they were able to enter the promised land. In the first year of that journeying is when they received the law and built the tabernacle, tent, lamp stands, clothing, and everything else as directed to them by God. The law as it was given was to highlight sin. That they may know what is not in accordance with God's will that they might know what is required of them if they are to live a holy life. The passover is remembered each year (that is, the final plague which was sent upon Egypt where the angel of death passed over the Israelites.)

The other thing which this stands for is Malachi 4:1-3. We will look at this passage in a little bit but for now will just focus on the Malachi part of it. Malachi was a prophet whom God spoke to his people through. There were many other prophets whom God spoke to his people through, some of which we are able to read about in the  Old Testament (Isaiah is a well known prophet from the Old Testament). To tell them when they were turning from Him, to direct their paths because He cared for the, to tell them what He was going to do so that they would have warning and know why different things were happening when they did. God is a loving God who cares a lot for us but He is also a jealous and holy God.

CROSS and STAR

Jesus. The fulfillment of promises made in the Old Testament and the only way we are saved. The Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. We are reminded of his miraculous birth, the journey for the census by Mary and Joseph, his birth in a stable, and the jealous king. The star reminds of his birth as we hear from the three magi of this king.

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship him." - Matthew 2:2

Number 4

There are 4 main key aspects to Jesus Ministry. These are his life, death, resurrection, and reign. We can read of Jesus Ministry while he was on earth in the 4 gospels found at the beginning of the New Testament. The relationship he had with his Father in Heaven. His baptism, and then 40 days in the desert being tempted by the devil. The many miracles performed, demons driven out, claims made, teachings given. The things that made Jesus stand out from others claiming similar things is that everything he said and claimed, happened. He suffered and so can understand what we are going through, he is not unsympathetic. He died to take the punishment for our sin, and then rose again which means that death does not have to be the end. It has been conquered. And now rules alongside his Father (and through Christ, we too can share in His glory) - and one day, he will return.

Much of the explanations behind just how Jesus fulfills the promises and prophecies given in the Old Testament is given to us in letters written by the apostles to the early church, as found in the New Testament. None of these are contradictory but support one another even when written by different authors. These letters talk of how we are to live out our faith also - what that will look like, and what we will look like to others who do not understand.

STAR

In some translations one such letter tells us to shine like stars. As Christians we are held to a higher calling and conduct which we know we can never meet but by grace we are made acceptable through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our attitude should than be one of thankfulness and grace and mercy towards others. As such we will stand out amongst our peers by our behaviour.

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. - Philippians 2:14-16

M41

The passage from Malachi is another promise given, which points towards the last day - a promise which we are still waiting to be fulfilled. It is in this which we find our hope.

"For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts. - Malachi 4:1-3

We hear more about the last day and just what it means, just what is promised, just what our hope is in, from John in Revelation. That all that which is marred by sin will be gone and there will be instead a new heaven and a new earth where we will once again be dwelling with our Father, as he created us to be in the beginning. We will be the bride of Christ, saved and healed by the Sun of Righteousness, able to abide with our Father, worshipping him, eternally. 

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:1-4 

And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. - Revelation 22:12-17

 LAYOUT

There is one more aspect of my tattoo which I have not yet spoken on and explained, and that is the layout.

There is 3 images in this 1 tattoo. This is a reminder of the trinity. Three persons, one God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is in this way that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. It is also why Jesus was able to pray to His Father in heaven. And it is also how he is able to be with us now while reigning with his Father in heaven. This is a very important point.

Even though the cross is technically not the centre of the image, it is the cross which was centred on my wrist, and it is around the cross that the other images find their place and position. In the same way we learn that Jesus is the rock and anchor point to which we must set ourselves. Everything else in our lives should fit around this. If it doesn't fit somehow, than it does not belong.

And finally, most people who have tattoos in places like this have them so that they are facing themselves, so that they are able to clearly see it for themselves. Mine is facing away from me which is a reminder that it is to be shared with others. When I reach out, I am constantly reminded to reach out with the gospel.

WHY

Hopefully, understanding the symbolism behind my tattoo you might start to understand why I chose to follow this path and get it. It is also a personal statement that this is what is important to me, and for me it is a visible representation of a lifelong commitment which I have made.

Aside from these on a practical approach, it is a conversation setter - making it easy to change any conversation around to the gospel, and matters of faith. And also when I got it I was able to take my brother along with me and was encouraged to see that he was much more keen to get any future tattoos of his own done professionally instead of in his lounge room by a friend.

So... a fairly long one this week it would seem.

Coming up.. I think I shall take a look at Jude (we will see how many blogs it takes)

My question for you this week is more of a reflection point. Do you think there is any key points which I have missed (remember, it is just a little image) and do you think there is anything else that you could get out of it?

God Bless

Tidying Up

Do you know that point you get to sometimes when you look at something and all you can see is the mess. You just have to tidy up. Or those 'moods' when you just feel like cleaning. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the cleanest person in the world but even amongst all my mess I would like to be able to be one of those people who can just keep things tidy.

It is not just about stuff though. If that were the only thing that could get messy I think everyone should stop whatever they're doing right now just to celebrate for a moment. I mean, if everything else is so tidy and right that all we have to worry about is stuff the world would be a completely different place. Those other things which get messy though are often the messiest, messier than anything we can see.

 

What I am talking about is life, and relationships, and whatever else you might choose to add to this list. Life is messy. Relationships are messy (and they are part of life, a BIG part!). So my room is messy, so is my life. But within that mess there is an order and a way forward and for me, it is the same with my life. Sure, it is messy, but I still know what I am doing and where I am going (to some degree).

Life is not meant to be tidy and orderly. It is messy! But with the Lord by our sides it does not matter how messy it gets, it can be so messy that it's over your heads and spilling onto the streets, there is always a way forward, a way out. Recently I've noticed a correlation between what my room looks like, the progress being made, and the state of my life. The more I turn to God, and rest in his strength, and follow where He guides, the more there seems a way forwards. The mess doesn't just go away but rather you can now see through it to what it's meant to look like. And the more I turn to God and life and sort out those things, the more and more tidy my room gets. Amazing hey!

So, I'm not saying turn more to God and miraculously you will find yourself tidying up more, because that's not how it works. What I am saying is get your priorities right. My first priority is to God, and trying to live my life for him. The way others see God is quite often through me, and other Christians. So I don't want them to see the wrong image. I want them to see God shining through the mess, and the best way for that to happen is by letting his light shine and doing what you can to clear the way so the light can go further than just a little dingy corner.

If all of that is too confusing to get your head around, just ask me and I'll try my best to re-word it. Anyway, that's all for today. Oh, yes, my weekly question for thought. What do others see as your top priority? (and do you think that it is a good thing?)

God Bless

Beginning

It seems to me that many people begin blogs by saying why they are writing them or what they are going to write about so I figure I may as well do the same.

I have had blogs before which have lasted a little while until I have eventually deleted them. Past blogs have been titled sanguine serendipity, surrealist's paradise, and odyssey obsession - that I can think of. It has always been about word play and then the content has been

• 
  
  a) so abstract that you will either know exactly what I am thinking or have absolutely no idea what I am talking about,
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  b) so trippy to look at that you space out before you even get a chance to read anything
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  c) so dream like and obsessive that you start to live in some sort of alternate reality.

As you can imagine I deliberated for quite a bit before deciding to start up a new one, and then for even longer about the title. I kind of wanted to keep away from the word play but I just cannot help myself. I was going to call it Ray of Light but it seems that the space is already taken.. so Single Flame it is! It comes from a passage in the Bible, something I have been challenged about recently and which I will probably elaborate on in a later post, but for now.. Matthew 5: 14-16

'You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.'

We are each but a single flame yet so much light can come from us. I guess my hope for this blog is that it can be a testimony to my light. Whether I talk of myself or other things happening, that God may be using me and shining through me so that my ray of light is one that stands out amongst others, one worth following to it's true source.

So, there is no real clear content or outline for what will be in this blog over time, but I hope if anyone ever ends up reading it that you find it as enjoyable to read as it is to write. Oh yes, and if there is anything which you would like me to talk about, just comment on a post and I shall make every effort to respond to your request!

*grin*