denisvernon24

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. (Part 5)

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. Part 5: It’s what we choose to do with our experiences of God that counts I think most people have some incidents in their lives that religious people classify as a religious experience. However, for many people these events are very rare, and soContinue reading ““Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. (Part 5)”

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. (Part 4)

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. Part 4: Our framework of understanding is important, but it’ the vibrant, dynamic encounter with God that counts We have considered the framework of understanding in which the statement, “Lord, you are Lord, and I want to live with you” might be held, soContinue reading ““Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. (Part 4)”

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. (Part 3)

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. Part 3: Our personal value judgements cut through the restraints of uncertainty to restore our freedom and our ability to act I find this to be a very liberating judgement. I am free from all arguments about facts, about proof, about certainty, and aboutContinue reading ““Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. (Part 3)”

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. (Part 2)

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. Part 2: Our value judgement expresses the truth, not just about God, but also about ourselves, as we use our freedom to declare where we stand However, the statement of faith, “Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you” is aContinue reading ““Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. (Part 2)”

“Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. Part 1

(A theological reflection in 8 parts) “Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. Part 1: The foundation of faith is a recognition of worth and a personal commitment This is the foundation of faith. I am tempted to say that the foundation is simply, “You are Lord”, but I think aContinue reading ““Lord, you are Lord and I want to live with you”. Part 1”

The foundations of faith (14)

We need to address 2 obstacles. Part 3: What do I expect God to do for me in the material world? I do pray to God to keep my family safe; that Putin’s regime might come crumbling down; that humanity will find the unity, wisdom and strength to overcome climate change; that my ill relativeContinue reading “The foundations of faith (14)”

The foundations of faith (13)

We need to address 2 obstacles. Part 2: What can I expect God to do for me? I think it’s helpful to remember there are not “special” religious emotions: “religious love”, “religious joy”; there are “ordinary” emotions – love, joy, peace etc that are prompted by God’s presence rather than the secular world. So, don’tContinue reading “The foundations of faith (13)”

The foundations of faith (12)

We need to address 2 obstacles. Part 1: What if I just don’t feel God? 2. What do we expect God to do for us in the material world? How might we begin to respond? To the person who just doesn’t feel God’s presence, I don’t really know what to say! Wait – but thatContinue reading “The foundations of faith (12)”

The foundations of faith (11)

Love is personal. Part 2: Love is received from God and passed on; it is not generated by me When we encounter God, it is not enough to say we encounter the value or principle of love. What we encounter is a person who is loving us. This is totally different to simply believing inContinue reading “The foundations of faith (11)”

The foundations of faith (10)

Love is personal. Part 1: Love is more than a value; it’s a personal relationship One objection an atheist might make to me is: “We can see that your faith in God gives you wonderful values. Because you believe in God, you believe in the supreme importance of love, compassion, forgiveness, gentleness, peace etc. WhyContinue reading “The foundations of faith (10)”