Prayer
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Is “Accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour” the First Step in Our Journey to God?
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” Mark 1:14-15 My evangelical training taught me the gospel basically consists in believing that Jesus’ death and resurrection saves us. However, the… Continue reading
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What Do You Think, are Angels Present in Church?
In a perplexing passage, Paul says that in worship services a woman “ought to have a symbol of authority over her head, because of the angels.” He is speaking about head coverings concerning which various interpretations have been given–a shawl, a veil, long hair or long hair not let down. Apparently he’s referencing some first… Continue reading
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What Wild Animals Come Rushing at You?
The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it . . . the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in… Continue reading
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Primal Desire or Emotional Deadness?
In a recent post we noted that throughout history almost all human beings have conceived of a mysterious, awe-inspiring Presence pervading our world–almost all, not everyone. The dominant worldview of Western countries is a notable exception. Scientism teaches us nothing exists beyond what the five senses can reach. Life just happened by chance. There is… Continue reading
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A Little Lower than God! Part 6: Cooperating with the Spirit
(Previous) The most exciting part of the Gospel is often understated, that is, that the cross and its accompanying forgiveness were a means to an end and not the end itself. The purpose for which Jesus died was that God’s Spirit could fully inhabit human beings once again. This is the great truth of Pentecost.… Continue reading
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A Little Lower than God! Part 5: Open the Door, then Close It!
(Previous) In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol we’re introduced to Ebenezer Scrooge, a man “secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.” Individuality becomes pathological when taken to extreme. We’re made for love and love requires a community where we find others to love. Nevertheless, the spiritual life begins alone and requires a regular return… Continue reading
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“A Little Lower than God” Part 2: The Crossroads, a Divine Place!
(Previous) In the previous post, I spoke of the Bible’s audacious claim that human beings are created in the image of God. Whatever progress I make in understanding that statement comes to a screeching halt the moment I take a good look at myself. When I consider God’s others-centered love, the contrast with my deep-rooted… Continue reading
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Responding to the Spirit (excerpt from “Whispers that Delight”)
The Spirit of Our Actions is What Counts When we speak of responding to God in prayer, therefore, we do not mean an intellectual exercise of trying to discern our marching orders for the day (though he could direct us to specific actions, as we shall see). Our Father’s first order of business is not… Continue reading
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Desire and the Spirit-Led Life (Excerpt from WHISPERS THAT DELIGHT)
Excerpt from WHISPERS THAT DELIGHT–Copyright © 2008 Andrew T. Hawkins Passion must at times animate our prayer and if we do not get our hearts’ longings into our prayer closet, our devotional life is finished. Fenelon claims that to pray is to desire. Without it, he says, we do not really pray, but merely go… Continue reading
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Primal Yearning and Prayer (Excerpt from WHISPERS THAT DELIGHT)
Excerpt from WHISPERS THAT DELIGHT–Copyright © 2008 Andrew T. Hawkins Sometimes we think we must obliterate all other desires and somehow progress to a state of wanting nothing but God. However, things do not normally work that way. We cannot just cut the principle of desire out of our lives nor instantly do away with… Continue reading