HEAD(hed), (n.) 1. the top part of the human body or the front part of an animal where the eyes, nose, east and mouth are. "Your brain is in your head." DIBS(dibz), (n.) 2. a thick, sweet syrup made in countries of the East, especially the Middle East, from grape juice or dates. [Arabic "debs"]--World Book Dictionary, 1976.
There was a king in Thule, True even to the grave; To whom his dying mistress A golden beaker gave. At every feast he drained it, Naught was to him so dear, And often as he drained it, Gush’d from his eyes the tear. When death came, unrepining His cities o’er he told; All to his heir resigning, Except his cup of gold. With many a knightly vassal At a royal feast sat he, In yon proud hall ancestral, In his castle o’er the sea. Up stood the jovial monarch, And quaff’d his last life’s glow, Then hurled the hallow’d goblet Into the flood below. He saw it splashing, drinking, And plunging in the sea; His eyes meanwhile were sinking, And never again drank he. “Margaret’s Song” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) in “Faust. Part I.”
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The Freedom of True Spirituality (part 3)
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What does true spirituality look like when the Holy Spirit has His way? True spirituality looks like freedom! “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Rev. Eric Foley, CEO of Seoul USA, asked members of the North Korean underground church how Americans could pray for them. They answered, “You pray for us? We pray for you!” When I asked why, they responded, “Because Western Christians often put so much faith in their prosperity and political freedoms that they don't know what it's like to have to depend completely on God. And because of that, they often do not get to know Him in all the ways He invites us to.'"
One North Korean prisoner described the pitiful conditions he experienced, but being a Christian in prison is the only place to enjoy freedom in Christ: "It's like seminary," he said. "I prayed for others daily. My faith grew by leaps and bounds even as my body decayed."
True Spirituality looks like Jesus.
There is a difference between an impressionist and an impersonator. An impressionist communicates an interpretation.
An impersonator takes on the persona (voice, gestures, etc): i.e. imitators
A truly spiritual person will look like Jesus, “transformed into the same image.” Not merely copying or interpreting, but a metamorphosis if you will. Many look to Jesus as a role model, so they study, practice, impersonate, but never become. Becoming like Jesus culminates in a glory that never fades.
Think on these:
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:18)
Being created in His image, we are halfway there. Just let Him author your spirituality and receive His Holy Spirit for the touchdown.
“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.3.6 b –8
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel...
