Reflections
Faith & The Flow
warning: this page has explicit Christian material!
For the Christian, God [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] is the flow. His personal invitation to be a part of the flow is mind-blowing. It is both simple and profound.
I am a Christian, but absolutely not in any sense of moral superiority. Like many I am deeply aware of my own flaws.
Compared to modern culture, God’s world is one of reversals: the first will be last; self denial can lead to self-fulfilment; weakness can be strength; letting go can lead to possessing more fully .... and all sorts of similar mysterious realities.
Living the flow can be an up-side down and inside-out process. On the one side it frequently involves vulnerability, risk-taking and surrender of control. On the other it can mean a heady mix of adventure, blessing and difficulty: yet all within a peace that transcends events.
In many ways it all boils down to how much we really want to Livetheflow: how much we seek to relate to the Creator of the flow. Often we lose out by clinging to our personal comfort zones and familiar places. Sometimes we embrace the false security of dead backwaters rather than move on to new things.
Rapids on the Wye at Penddol
Rocks north of Builth Wells.
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In contrast, two views of the river in calm idyllic mode near
Hole in the Wall north of Ross on Wye
The Wye just below source, Plynlimon
All too often faith gets lost in 'religion'.
I share with most an innate tendency to take life and put it in my own comfortable boxes. ‘My Church’ then becomes my club that suits my culture and my style and gives me space to express myself... basically a consumer product. I then lose the plot and screw up.
Jesus himself had major problems with the ‘religious’ people of his day. They were the ones who could not take his attractive radicalism. It exposed their hypocrisy and their precious preoccupations with rules, status and doctrinal positions rather than the processes of living out and expressing their faith. "Religion"can drain the flow.
"Whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from within them." [Jesus]
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This additional box is only intended for those who have worked through the issues above and want more information.
"More" is about a personal journey
Please look somewhere else for a plateful of easy 'answers'
God claims to be the "Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end". If you engage in a personal and genuine journey of discovery sooner or later you will encounter him ... occasionally this can be a very specific and memorable but often it is a gradual thing.
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You need to read for yourself
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The Bible is a relatively complex set of books. The starting place to read will be one of the gospels: one of the accounts of Jesus’ life. The easiest access to these that I know is through 'Uncover', a site generated by the people who bring the large student conferences to The Quinta.
The site not only contains the full text of three of the gospels: Mark, Luke and John, but it has of all kinds of other relevant resources including articles especially geared to students. There are many resources linked to this site.
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I was encouraged to read the whole bible in a year. This was not my scene! However it set me on a method I have used much of my life: reading the whole bible through, not chronologically but using a plan with a balanced diet. It takes me five or so years. Just as when I walk, I don't like yomping and covering great distances: I like to go slow and take in the scenery. It is the same with reading the bible.
I have nearly finished The Message Devotional Bible. This is not a word for word translation. You need to refer back to standard texts. Despite this I would highly recommend it. The Devotional Edition been a wonderful experience. As it says on the box: "It takes you on a journey" a journey where you can learn in deeply to Livetheflow!
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You need to think for yourself
Another site run by the same people is ‘Bethinking’ Here you can
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Engage with the important questions of life
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Explore what Christians believe and why
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Compare Christianity to different religions and beliefs
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Relate the Christian faith to all of life
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Real faith is anything but a delusional and irrational option. The real problems of everyday life must be addressed. That process is a long journey, sometimes tough.
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Put it in the spirit of this site, you need to Livetheflow
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If you want to read any other parts of the Bible then its all on the net in a bewildering variety of versions. at 'Biblegateway'.
​​​​"Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree.
This quotation is taken from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah 29:13
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well."
This quotation is taken from the New Testament book: the Gospel of John 14:16