blue gem

Its great to hear from everyone and to see how people have journeyed with God. Its interesting to hear people talk about light, pastures, footsteps etc and I imagine many can identity with all of this. I forgot about this as it was a long time ago, but it is about a journey, so I thought I would post it. I use to go to a different church for some time but lots of problems arose, (I wont go into them besides its all in the past now). So for a 2-3 years I stopped going to church, although i never stopped believing in God. Then I found another church and have been going ever since, but shortly after starting at the new church, I had the following dream:- I was somewhere completely dark, the only light was a road which seemed to shine out with a brilliant brightness against the darkness. I was stood on this road and it stretched way out into the distance both in front of me in the direction I was heading and also behind me where I had come from. Then suddenly the scene changed and I was stood in the darkness and I felt really scared, but I could see the road just ahead of me and I knew that all I had to do was get back on that road. Then I found myself back on the road again and I just knew that I was safe while ever I stayed on this road, it didn't matter about the darkness surrounding it. At the time I believe I was being shown how dark the darkness is, but also how fantastically bright is the journey we take with God in comparison and that he truly is the light. God bless and thanks for sharing

All good stuff folks - I suppose each answer depends on where each person is at in their relationship with God and their experiences. I don't know how old everyone is, but it would be interesting to hear also from people who have been on the journey a long time and are getting on a bit…maybe to explain what they thought when younger and how they view things now…..

Hi, I was wondering what image comes to mind when you think about your walk with God. For a long time I use to think God was somewhere high above me in the clouds smiling down when I did something right, but then he was also waiting to zap me when I did something wrong. Now though the image I get is me and Jesus walking side by side. Sometimes I am running ahead a little, sometimes lagging behind and at other times walking with him hand in hand. It took me ages to realise that I am a friend of God - thinking of where Jesus said to his disciples they were no longer servants but friends Jn 15 v 15. It is interesting to do a word search and see how many times Jesus used the word friend when speaking to people (he used it a lot). So how about you?

It is often the case that only a small number of people get involved and do the work. Although I have to say that this is not the case in my current church. We run training to serve courses and the congregation is actively encouraged to get involved. Some people are able to get involved in the bigger more time consuming work, while others are able to do the smaller tasks and there's nothing wrong with that. I think the problem is that people often don't know what they are capable of or what their gifts are. People don't always value the smaller tasks, but everything is of value and contributes towards the body of Christ. If people feel valued and of use, they will often want to get involved, no matter how big or small the task. The other side of this is sometimes it is possible to get so caught up with "church work" that God gets pushed out! Being busy in church does not automatically mean a person has a strong relationship with God. God would rather you have a relationship with him than with 4 walls and a ceiling. There are also seasons in a persons life, times when you are capable of doing lots of things at one go, and other times when it is right to stand back a bit for various reasons.

Ode to a pretty spider Spider, spider burning bright

Pet him! Oh no no, that's just...no...did I say no!

AAAAGH.... get that spider out of this thread. YUK anyone got a rolled up newspaper or kindle, or failing that size 10 boots!!!

Hi it's true that Jesus is the door, which is why I became interested in the subject. You would be surprised how many doors in the bible point to Jesus it's a fascinating subject. I remember a saying that: The new is in the old concealed and the old is in the new revealed (talking of the old and New Testament). HGMG I think it's true what you say about the cherubim, I always thought as well of the temple being a replica of heaven on earth as much as it was possible to replicate, which included the heavenly being angels etc. But then the curtain was torn in two which completely opened up a free invitation to all who would come and accept the free gift of life through Jesus. The temple doors and the symbolism still intrigue me though as I wonder if they were a pre cursor all along to the grace which was to be offered to mankind. But of course I might be completely wrong!

I hate spiders, especially the large ones. Here in the UK they seem to be getting bigger, Huge things with long yucky legs stalk around houses at this time of the year, they are as large as the palm of your hand. Currently my vac contains at least 5 which I have sucked up in the last few weeks. I was once bitten by a house spider! People say it's not possible as their jaws are too small, but believe me the big ones can bite! I was getting ready one morning and was putting on my jeans, as I did I felt something prick me so I reached inside and felt something like crinkly stiff cellophane so grabbed whatever it was and pulled it out. There in my hand was a massive, huge, MASSIVE REALLY MONSTROUS SPIDER. AAAAAHHHHHHH. I dropped it and immediately jumped on the bed. YUK, AAAAAHHHHH, EEEEKKKKK. I stared at this red dot on my leg where it had bit me and wondered if my leg might drop off or something (are house spiders poisonous?) Then I realised I had no idea where the spider had gone so I peered over the edge of the bed not daring to get down and spent ages looking around my bedroom. I never did find that spider and thankfully my leg didn't drop off!!!

Really great article! thank you. I have also had the privilege of speaking to several asian people and one thing which sticks is my mind, is the concept that if they follow "the rules" they will be good enough. The question I have sometimes put to people where appropriate is "how good do you think you have to be, to be "good enough" "how can you be completely certain you have done enough". This of course is impossible to answer, most replies are vague with people responding that they hope they have done enough and they think they keep the laws. It can be a great opportunity to explain the christian "sure and certain hope".

Hi, i would really appreciate comments on this, maybe there is someone out there with historical knowledge who can shed some light on this. I have been doing a bit of a bible study on doors mentioned in the bible (both physical and symbolic) and one which really interests me is the doors of the temple. I use to think the descriptions of the tent of meeting and the temples were a bit of a dry subject, but now I have come to view them in a different way. 1 Kings 6 v 31 For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors of olivewood; the lintel and the doorposts were five- sided. He covered the two doors of olivewood with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He overlaid them with gold and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees. So also he made for the entrance to the nave doorposts of olivewood, in the form of a square, and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. On them he carved cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and he overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the carved work. I have been wondering what the significance was to the decorations on the doors, maybe this is way off but so far I have found the following possible links. (i don't mind if you tell me I have got this completely wrong). Isaiah 35 v 1 mentions about how the wilderness will rejoice and blossom, like the crocus it will burst into bloom, it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. i Kings 7 v 19,22,26 refers to lilles in the temple furnishings. Song of Songs 2 v 11 refers to for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land I was wondering if the symbolism on the doors referred to peace, the spiritual winter being over in the sense that God dwelt with his people with the temple being symbolic of this. This later being fulfilled in Jesus in the NT who was the ultimate door. Any thoughts from anyone?