Imitation of Christ - Part IV

On following Christ our model

"No follower of Mine will ever walk in darkness." (John 8:12)

These words of our Lord counsel all to walk in His footsteps. Make it your aim to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.

Christ´s teching surpasses that of all the Saints. But to find this spiritual nourishment you must seek to have the Spirit of Christ.

Be determined to detach your heart from the love of visible things, allowing it to center on those unseen.

Imitation of Christ - Part III

Our final home

Christ

My child, let not the labors which you have undertaken for My sake crush you, nor cause you to lose heart.

Whatever happens, have confidence that My promise will be your strength and consolation. I will reward you beyond all limits and measure.

Labor perseveringly in My vineyard, and I Myself will be your reward. Eternal life is worth all these combats and more. Peace shall come at a time known only to the Lord. It will not last a day or a night as we calculate time; there will be light everlasting, infinite glory, unbroken peace and undisturbed rest.

If we could only see the saints in heaven and in what great glory they now rejoice, how we would humble ourselves to the dust.

If you are really eager to get to heaven , you will relish with joy the struggles and conflicts of this world. Where I am with all My Saints, here in the kingdom of My Father, is where you will remain safe and at rest after your tribulations in this world are at an end.

Disciple

O blessed mansion of the heavenly city ! How bright is the day of eternity ! There no darkness ever obscures, for God, the high Truth , illumines and makes all clear.

I think of heavenly things. Blessed are those who abandon all created things for love of You, O Lord. Then with a serene conscience they may offer pure prayer to You.

The gift of life as an instrument for service

Imagine for a moment that, through a strange twist of fate, you wake up one morning and find yourself imprisoned in a nameless country and for political reasons scheduled for execution at midnight. You gaze out through prison bars and see the first rays of your last sunrise

You feel greedy for every sight, every sound, taste and aroma. You eat your last meal as the shadows grow long outside. And as the sun sets, you say your final farewell to the light of day, for you will never again see the sunrise. Each passing minute draws you closer to your final good-bye, your last prayer, and, finally, your last breath.

A final day awaits us all.

We may know in advance when our end is near, through declining health, a terminal illness, old age. Or we may have only a few seconds´ notice, or none at all.

When the executioner raises his scythe, how many of us may want to say, "Wait ! Just another moment, please ! Let me take one more sweet breath ! Give me one more sight, sound, touch of my beloved ! Just one more moment !"

Now is the time to see, to listen, to touch - bring our best to life while we have the life for it. How much we have, no one can say. Life itself is a near-death experience.

Consider how we appear from nowhere, as microscopic specks on a minuscule, blue-green moving dot through the infinity of space and time. Our lives are ephemeral and brief, and yet we strive to love, to serve, to find meaning and fulfillment while we live. Life itself is a hero´s journey.

But counting our blessings leads to a desire to give something back. Thus begins the path of service.

- Dan Millman

Imitation of Christ - Part II

Dialogue on suffering

Christ

Stop complaining and consider My Passion and the sufferings of My Saints. You ought to remind yourself to the intense sufferings that others endured for Me, that you may bear your own little miseries more easily.

The better disposed you are to suffer, the more wisely you will act and the more merit you will have, because you have prepared yourself for it and are well disposed to accept it.

Persons who are really patient do not mind who causes their suffering. They accept all gratefully as from the hand of God and consider it a great benefit.

Without a conflict you can not obtain the crown of patience. There is no rest without labor, or victory without battle.

Disciple

O Lord Jesus, make possible to me by grace what is impossible by nature. I beseech You, that any trouble or adversity may be loved by me for Your Name, for it is very profitable to my soul to suffer and be afflicted for You.

Imitation of Christ - Part I

This will be a series that contains excerpts from the book "Imitation of Christ" by Thomas A Kempis.

Dialogue on the topic of prayer

Christ

My Child, in every circumstance this is how you should pray:

"Lord, if it be Your will, so let it be, and if it be to Your honor, let it be fulfilled in Your Name. Lord, if this be for my good, give me the grace to use it for Your honor; but if you know that it will be harmful to me and not profitable to my soul, then take away from me such a desire."

It is with fear of God and a humble heart that you should desire and ask for whatever comes to your mind as desirable. With entire abandonment of yourself to God, commit all things to Me,saying:
"Do with me what You know to be best, as pleases You best and as will best promote Your glory."

Disciple

O most merciful Jesus, grant me always to will and desire what is most pleasing and acceptable to You.

Grant, above all things to be desired, that in Your heart alone may be my peace.

Apart from you, all is difficult and never still. In that peace, in You who are the one, I will sleep and take my rest. Amen.

Die Kunst des Scheiterns

Freitagabend, 24. August 2007 in der NDR-Talkshow: Das ist mutig, wenn einer nicht hinterm Berg hält mit seiner Abhängigkeit von Kokain und Crack, seinem finanziellen Zusammenbruch und seiner Verzweiflung am Leben. Liedermacher Konstantin Wecker erzählt von seinem Scheitern, von der Zeit, als vom einstigen Glamour nichts mehr übrig war - und er macht Mut, zu sich selbst zu stehen, auch zu dem, was daneben gegangen ist.

Im Juni ist er 60 geworden. 60 Jahre - und ein bisschen weise. In seinem Buch Die Kunst des Scheiterns - Tausend unmögliche Wege das Glück zu finden spielt die Lebensweisheit eine große Rolle. Wecker, der sich selbst einen typischen Herdplattenanfasser nennt (alles selbst ausprobieren muss), sagt: Das, was man in dieser Gesellschaft als Erfolglosigkeit versteht, muss nicht wirklich eine Erfolgslosigkeit sein für die innere Entwicklung.

Scheitern gehört zum Menschsein dazu. Scheitern im Kreis der Weight Watchers. Scheitern in Beziehungen, an Idealen. Es einfach nicht schaffen, was wir so gut vorhaben. Die Prüfung nicht bestehen. Mit der Firma in roten Zahlen landen.

Willkommen im Club. Wie viele Flugversuche sind gescheitert, bevor es dann endlich geklappt hat mit dem großen Traum vom Fliegen.

Wenn wir in die Bibel schauen: Lauter Biographien, wo das Scheitern eine große Rolle spielt:
Der Apostel Paulus hat sehr darunter gelitten - und welche Antwort hat er bekommen? Lass dir an meiner Gnade genügen, denn meine Kraft ist in den Schwachen mächtig!

Wenn Gott mit Menschen etwas vorhat, dann sucht er nicht die makellosen Siegertypen aus, sondern die, die was vom Scheitern verstehn.

C.G. Jung hat mal gesagt: Ein kräftiges Leid erspart oft 10 Jahre Meditation.

Es fällt mir nicht leicht, mit dem Scheitern umzugehen, wie Rita Süssmuth zu sagen: Hinfallen ist nicht schlimm. Wichtig ist, dass wir immer einmal mehr aufstehen als hinfallen.

Es fällt mir nicht leicht, wie Alexis Sorbas nach dem Zusammensturz einer Brücke zu lachen und zu sagen: Hast du jemals etwas so schön zusammenkrachen gesehen? - und danach Sirtaki zu tanzen.

Aber das, was der Konstantin Wecker erzählt hat, das hat mir Mut gemacht, mich mit dem Scheitern zu versöhnen. Das ist menschlich.

Lach mal drüber. Nimms nicht so tragisch. Nimm dich selbst nicht so ernst. Nobody is perfect. Versuch doch auch mal, Sirtaki zu tanzen! - Und schau, es hat dich verändert, es hat dich weiter gebracht!

(Quelle: Heidrun Kuhlmann = www.seelenfutter.de)

A Sermon in action

Example No.1:

One afternoon years ago, reporters and officials gathered at a Chicago train station, awaiting the arrival of a Nobel Prize winner. He stepped off the train - a giant of man, with bushy hair and a large mustache. As the cameras flashed, the officials extended their hands and began telling him how honored they were to meet him. The doctor thanked them and then, looking over their heads, asked if he might be excused for a moment.

Walking through the crowd with quick steps, he soon reached the side of an elderly woman who was having trouble trying to carry two large suitcases. He picked up the bags in his large hands and, with a kind of smile, escorted the woman to a bus. As the doctor helped her aboard, he wished her a safe journey. Then, since the crowd had tagged along behind him, he turned and apologized to them for keeping them waiting.

The man was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary-physician who had spent his life helping the poorest of the poor in Africa. Said a member of the reception committee to one of the reporters:

"That´s the first time I ever saw a sermon walking."

- Sandra from New York

Example No.2:

I met a man at a wedding party one day. He was in a wheelchair and cornered me for the better part of an hour. He was badly deformed and had been that way from birth. We had a very pleasant conversation and when I learned he had a job I asked what kind of work he did. He told me he was an engineer and worked for the state. I was impressed. I guess he could see that I was impressed and went on to say,

"I suppose some people would think that I should have been aborted, but I have had a terrific life, and I really love my work."

This man´s life is a living sermon. He doesn´t have to say a word.

- J. Girzone

Basketball: More than just a game !

"Basketball teaches:

- It teaches us that even when there is no chance to win, there is still an opportunity to be a hero.

- It takes effort. You have to practice. Practice real hard.

- You have to practice Dedication, Teamwork, Sportsmanship, Patience, Unity and Love.

And if we can practice all those things to make our game better, can´t we practice those things to make "OUR World" better !?"

Magnificent approach to a game that sometimes is more than just a game.

Barack Obama´s way to Christ !

"In the day-to-day work of the men and women I met in church each day, in their ability to "make a way out of no way" and maintain hope and dignity in the direst of circumstances, I could see the word manifest.

And perhaps it was out of this intimate knowledge of hardship, the grounding faith in struggle, that the historically black church offered me a second insight: that faith doesn´t mean that you don´t have doubts, or that you relinquish your hold on this world.

In the black community the lines between sinner and saved were more fluid; the sins of those who came to church were not so different from the sins of those who didn´t, and so were as likely to be talked about with humor as with condemnation.

You needed to come to church precisely because you were of this world, not apart from it; rich,poor,sinner,saved, you needed to embrace Christ precisely because you had sins to wash away - because you were human and needed an ally in your difficult journey to make the peaks and valleys smooth and render all those crooket places straight.

It was because of this newfound understandings - that religious commitment did not require me to suspend critical thinking, disengage from the battle for economic and social justice, or otherwise retreat from the world that I knew and loved - that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized.

It came about as a choice not an epiphany; the questions I had did not magically disappear. But kneeling beneath that cross on South Side of Chicago, I felt God´s spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth."

- From the book "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama

The Touch of the Master´s Hand

`Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste mudh time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who´ll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar," then, "Two! Only two ?
Two dollars and who´ll make it three ?
Three dollars once, three dollars, twice;
Going for three - " But no,
From the room far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quite and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin ?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who will make it two ?
Two thousand ! And who`ll make it three ?
Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,
And going and gone,"said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried.
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth." Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master´s hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage", a glass of wine.
A game - and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice.
He´s "going" and almost "gone".
But the master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and a change that´s wrought
By the touch of the Master´s hand.

12 reasons why following Christ is the coolest thing !

Here are a dozen reasons why I think it´s the coolest thing to be a follower of Jesus Christ:

1. You are in touch with the "Most High".

2. You are never alone. In Jesus you have a best friend. A friend that wants to know you, who always understands and never criticizes or accuses you. He promised it: "I´ll never leave you alone."

3. God has a perfect plan for your life. With Him on your side you never have to worry about your future. If you trust in Him, everything that happens serves for your highest good.

4. You are given the book of books - the Bible. God talks so wonderfully through this book. A guideline for your life and God´s love letter.

5. In following Christ you join into one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide world. We are family !

6. Your view on things and people change. Jesus shows you that true wealth is coming from within and that love is the way !

7. You can be yourself, without the fear of getting rejected. As a child of God you are meant to be free and destined to develop your unique personality.

8. Living with God doesn´t mean that everything will be going fine in your life. But He has the power to give you the inner peace that is needed to withstand the struggles of life. And the rest that God gives, passes all understanding.

9. His grace enriches your life. God always forgives. Like the paraple of the prodigal son: He will never turn away from you and He will always welcome you with open arms, no matter what happened ! Like a loving father.

10. God in your life means that the door of eternity opens !

11. There are so many great role models and saints who showed that Jesus is real. In finding such a role model you can add another good guideline to your life.

12. Go out and be confident:

- I am a child of God and perfectly free.
- My best friend is Jesus Christ who always understands and who will never leave me alone.
- His Spirit lives in me.

And please don´t you ever be ashamed of that connection.Instead, go out into the world, live and proclaim:

"It is the coolest thing to follow Jesus Christ. Period !"

Be blessed !
Yours,
Martin

The Cross, the Diamond and the Joy that is found in Jesus !

The integral part of our spirituality is carrying the cross with Christ. The Cross or sacrifice will always be part of our life with Jesus.

Most pain, is not caused by our relationship with God. Frequently, our troubles are of our own making, or are just part of ordinary living: The pain of loss, the pain of illness, the pain of depression, the emotional pain that comes from so many unfullfilled needs. These kinds of pains are not due to commitment to God, but are just part of life.

The comforting phenomenon, however, is the fact that they can all be incorporated into our life with God and can facilitate an even greater intimacy with Jesus, because it allows us to share with Him all these hurts and anxieties, and find in His friendship the comfort and guidance we need.

Nothing that happens in our lives is wasted energy. God in some way will find a way to put things to good use sometime, somewhere.

When you read the lives of the saints, there is hardly one who did not suffer intensely in his or her life.

I like to think of a piece of coal and a diamond in this regard. Both are made of carbon. One is worthless, the other is priceless, even though they are both made of the same material. The difference is that a diamond is a piece of coal that has been subjected to the intense heat and pressures of the earth until all the impurities have been driven out of it. It then becomes a diamond, and priceless. You might say that a diamond is a piece of coal that has suffered.

Even though the cross is essential to the development of true spirituality, it does not hang over the life of Jesus and should never cast a pall over the life of His followers. Joy will always be the predominant spirit of Jesus´approach to our life with God. Jesus was above all else a happy person, and a person remarkably free, free from the grip of material things, free from unhealthy attachments to people, free from obsessive hang-ups and neurotic needs.

It is a pleasure to watch Jesus move so easily through life, even with His knowing the troubles were always impending. He never allowed Himself to be obsessed with worry or with a sense of doom. Problems He handed over to His Father, as if that was His business. He just did what He knew He had to do each day. In living this way He was able to manifest a remarkable detachment and continually radiate a spirit of joy.

- Joseph Girzone, "Never alone - A personal way to God"