Struggle … caterpillar … earth bound Darkness … cocoon … transformation New birth … butterfly … flight New life … colour … beauty … Sudden death - one life for another All too soon. Is there more? [Mark Conner - January 23rd, 2014. Written after … Continue reading The Cycle of Life
Slow
Driving Talking Eating Walking Thinking Listening Loving Go Slow [Written for fellow A.D.D., busy, task-addicted, adrenaline junkies like myself]
Silence and Solitude
Day started well ... a walk, silence, conversation, coffee. Serenity invaded by noise. Walking away now … … Slow down An invitation … to silence … Just to BE. Sit down … stay awhile No rush … no hurry Still Peace. Joy. Loved. Content. Enough. Look … listen … No agenda. Together, that's all. One. Timelessness … present … this … Continue reading Silence and Solitude
Prophets
Prophets are poetsWordsmiths and craftsmenMusicians who muse Prophets are seersArtists and artisans Visionaries who venture Ears always openListening to hearWaiting for words Attentive to sound Eyes always open Looking to seeWatching for picturesObservant to images Bushes still burn God waits to seeMost pass on byFew stop to look God's heart, God's mind Pathos and ethos then logos Words with power To change … Continue reading Prophets
A Very Different World
Cars replace donkeysThe pub over the synagogueImage over characterLooks trump who you areCrowded yet lonelyAdvanced yet stuntedWelcome to our world Yet people are still the sameHungry and thirstyFor meaning and friendshipGod is still the same tooSpeaking through burning bushesWhen people take time to look Busy, busy, always in a hurryFaster than ever before Distraction, obsession, boredom Attention … Continue reading A Very Different World
My Poetry
Rhythm more than rhymeFeelings over formWords over whatever No thunderNo lightningJust a whisper Listen then writeRead then listenInspired circle Express the heartTease the mindStir the spirit Articulate lifeWords have powerShape your world Never the sameSee the changeTransformation [Mark Conner - January 23rd, 2014] Next Poem - A Very Different World
Remember Being Loved
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips (Psalm 63:3-5). After reading … Continue reading Remember Being Loved
Inner Peace from God’s Love
[I] created you ... [I] formed you ... Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be … Continue reading Inner Peace from God’s Love
The Ultimate Goal of Preaching (by Rick Warren)
If God’s objective for every believer is to transform us into total Christlikeness, then the objective of preaching is to motivate people to develop Christlike convictions (to think like Jesus), Christlike character (to feel like Jesus), and Christlike conduct (to act like Jesus). Every other objective of preaching is secondary. At the end of the sermon, if people … Continue reading The Ultimate Goal of Preaching (by Rick Warren)
The 18th Camel
A little wisdom goes a long way. When you give you will always get it back. A father left 17 camels as an asset for his three sons. When the father passed away, his sons opened up the will. The Will of the father stated that the eldest son should get half of 17 camels … Continue reading The 18th Camel
The Power of 1% (by James Clear)
This Coach Improved Every Tiny Thing by 1 Percent and Here's What Happened In 2010, Dave Brailsford faced a tough job. No British cyclist had ever won the Tour de France, but as the new General Manager and Performance Director for Team Sky (Great Britain's professional cycling team), that's what Brailsford was asked to do. His approach was simple. Brailsford … Continue reading The Power of 1% (by James Clear)
5 Reasons to Commit Your Goals in Writing (by Michael Hyatt)
A great recent post from Michael Hyatt, worth repeating ... As 2013 has rolled over to 2014, there has been the usual emphasis on New Year’s resolutions. Network television, radio shows, podcasts, and blogs have all had features on the topic. But the truth is, New Year’s resolutions don’t work. Get this: 25 percent of … Continue reading 5 Reasons to Commit Your Goals in Writing (by Michael Hyatt)
Sabbath – time to STOP
A few thoughts on Sabbath by Wayne Muller ... "Sabbath is not dependent upon our readiness to stop. We do not stop when we are finished. We do not stop when we complete our phone calls, finish our project, get through this stack of messages, or get out this report. We stop because it is … Continue reading Sabbath – time to STOP
Planning for the New Year (Conclusion)
We've just spent the last series of BLOG posts doing some Planning for the New Year exercises. Over this time we have looked at six steps for leading your own life. Each of these six simple steps can also be applied to your church, your ministry, your organisation or business, your family, as well as … Continue reading Planning for the New Year (Conclusion)
Planning for the New Year (Pt.13)
Our final step in Planning for thre New Year is ... STEP 6 - Evaluate. Effective life leadership requires that we take time to evaluate our lives and our progress. Every Christian needs to periodically take a spiritual “stocktake”. We need to bring ourselves to account, to see how we are really doing. It is … Continue reading Planning for the New Year (Pt.13)