144_Grace

“They think of morality, not grace. ‘Church!’ said the prostitute. ‘Why should I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They’d just make me feel worse.”[i]

“Many years ago, I was driven to the conclusion that the two major causes of most emotional problems among evangelical Christians are these: the failure to understand, receive, and live out God’s unconditional grace and forgiveness; and the failure to give out that unconditional love, forgiveness and grace to other people . . . . We read, we hear, we believe a good theology of grace. But that is not the way we live. The good news of the Gospel of grace has not penetrated the level of our emotions . . . . 

The Italian novelist Ignazio Silone wrote about a revolutionary hunted by the police. In order to hide him, his comrades dressed him in the garb of a priest and sent him to a remote village in the foothills of the Alps. Word got out, and soon a long line of peasants appeared at his door, full of stories of their sins and broken lives. The ‘priest’ protested and tried to turn them away, to no avail. He had no recourse but to sit and listen to the stories of people starving for grace.

I sense, in fact, that is why any person goes to church: out of hunger for grace.”[ii]

Did the rebel convert to Christianity, did he understand better the Hegel master/slave theory? Did love, make him listen, or did he develop grace to become the priest he was becoming.

Anxiety is the purity of a lack of grace, when vices are not real, yet ease a stressful, headful, mindful, so come off easy.

Anxiety is the space between now and the future. We see ourselves as something else other than who we are, or are we? We are in fact that person we thought we would always be. But our self-doubt and lack of self-confidence makes us less worthy of whom we thought, we had not become.

Christianity allows us to give the Father all of our inner doubt, turmoil and pain to live at ease, so let it rise out of the body. The Lord was a perfect healer and all we need to do is give our pain of forgiveness back to him and he will thank us for doing well, a lot better than before, and for seeing real change in ourselves.

Take a few lessons or a song and live by the hope of it without judgment, inner-judgment or retribution that nothing works. Hold onto the prayer of that one bit of hope and go and live – picking flowers, a pot of coffee, chocolate and nuts, wrapped up outside, a concept of Conversation, the radio – all the real good things for us.

There may be doubt about being good enough, everyone is good enough; just to live is enough with some kindness and an authenticity on something we know a lot about. Rushing thoughts can kill us either because we are fighting, and we need pushing or, we are good enough already.

“Drip, grind or roasted, buttered or toasted.”[iii] Are we graceful enough from that song?

Our beliefs are: that which make our perceptions, we perceive the ugliness of the World around us. What the World needs is a master designer. There is far too much belief in competition and criticism, when it is required to improve the general scene of an international zeitgeist.

The Symbology of British rhythm over American discipline (of and with rhythm), takes nothing from either – why the “Transatlantic Sessions”[iv] are so good. Everything connects and that is true happiness, seemingly random, yet proof all things culminate in the master designer.

There must have been some form of Creation for us all to be here. Whether prototype, amoeba or sapiens? It is not just to conceive and breach, but a form of unitedness about us: as humanity was meant to be. But without sobre thought, in a loving mood and an innate excitedness, we too easily reach for vices and there is nothing real about that.

If you are accused, do not take it, the constant comment can be frustrating. Accusation is born in a fear on your behalf and done, by a fear, on your behalf. I teach the cross and the naughty to inherently care. And the cross of Christ the most perfect human being who sacrificed himself to forgive us, for whom we all really have faith in, but some do not know how to access him: “by prayer, and Maverick City Music”[v] (This is special!).

We like to look after our own little party but it is better to share. It’s OK to have a little something that’s naughty but nice, that is the ‘Good Life’, but vices hold us in suspended, tired, unconsciousness – dopey eyed. Every day in moderation.

To teach someone else to confirm what we know and have learnt about ourselves is faith in Jesus. Excitedness about sharing the party and teaching at the same time is valid. I have won, I take all the glory. In God’s worship. Real, good variety is the key to life. Understanding your reality and being able to predict your future.

Sometimes we do not need to slow down at night ready for the next day. And sometimes we do not take our own advice, so, pass the chaos to the music.

Anxiety in Greek means to squeeze, but we all know criticism is an attack, so I feel for you. And do not know! May we rise together happier, wiser and wealthier! Love you, Andrew x. (N.B.: ‘01_Mr’: truth?)

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A Prayer:

Please have mercy on me Father,

And forgive my sins.

For my recent self-loathing,

And loathing of others,

I understand I have blasphemed,

And with that comes stigma.

Let my heart reach out,

To fair Cathedral City,

And let me be judged,

For whom I am,

And who I have become.

In Mercy Lord,

I ask for utter forgiveness.

And love.

Let it be & let everyone shine on.

In this Love,

A-men

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Love is a cross adorned on the temples of a mind that wants to grow!

Amen

[i] Yancey, Philip D., ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace?’, Zondervan, USA, 1997, p.14.

[ii] Yancey, Philip D., ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace?’, Zondervan, USA, 1997, p.15.

[iii] Vega, Louis, Remix, Thievery Corporation, ‘The Heart is a Lonely Hunter’, AOL Music DJ Sessions: Mixed by Thievery Corporation, ESL Music, Inc., USA, 2006. (Available on iTunes).

[iv] Transatlantic Sessions, Whirlie Records, Scotland, UK, 2013-2021, (Various Albums – Available on iTunes).

[v] Maverick City Music, YouTube, (Many – Also Available on iTunes).