Both Sides Now

Both Sides Now Not So Famous Last Words Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. I Cor.9:24 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil.3:10-14 What is the prize? Jesus is the prize The Triune God is the prize How do we run so as to win the prize? We do grow and increase though all life IF we’re willing to see the way down is the way up The upward call entails a downward fall and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. Rom.8:17-19 Peter, when you were young….Peter, when you are old Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” Jn.21:18-19 We must learn to “let go” as God facilitates those opportunities Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Heb.2:14-15 Why are we afraid of death? Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. Jn.12:20-26a …life is characterized much more by exception and disorder than by total or perfect order. Life, as the biblical tradition makes clear, is both loss and renewal, death and resurrection, chaos and healing at the same time; life seems to be a collision of opposites. Unamuno (Spanish philosopher) equates the notion of faith with trust in an underlying life force so strong that it even includes death.” Richard Rohr All growth requires change God knows that and accommodates our understanding. We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are. The Talmud What is a normal goal to a young person becomes a neurotic hindrance in old age. —CARL JUNG No wise person ever wanted to be younger. —NATIVE AMERICAN APHORISM Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange And they shake their heads, they say I've changed Well something's lost, but something's gained In living every day I've looked at life from both sides now From win and lose and still somehow It's life's illusions I recall I really don't know life at all Both Sides Now Joni Mitchell The tomb is also a womb Faith is NOT a fortress. It is a road that we walk “I myself am the road,” replied Jesus, “and the truth and the life. No one approaches the Father except through me. Jn.14:6 (J B Phillips) We’ve turned milestones (beliefs) into roadblocks Faith is less doctrine (certainty) and more trust (uncertainty) Surrounded then as we are by these serried ranks of witnesses, let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet, and let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus the source and the goal of our faith. Heb.12:1-2 ( J B Phillips) In Jesus Christ there is no validity in either circumcision or uncircumcision; it is a matter of faith, faith which expresses itself in love. Gal.5:6 (J B Phillips) The mark of maturity When I was a little child I talked and felt and thought like a little child. Now that I am a man my childish speech and feeling and thought have no further significance for me. At present we are men looking at puzzling reflections in a mirror. The time will come when we shall see reality whole and face to face! At present all I know is a little fraction of the truth, but the time will come when I shall know it as fully as God now knows me! In this life we have three great lasting qualities—faith, hope and love. But the greatest of them is love. I Cor.13:11-13 (J B Phillips) Doubt is the doorway to growth “So I tell people, “If you’re going to be a doubter, you need to believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts as well as to doubt your beliefs and believe your doubts.” This is how knowledge grows. We keep this process going in conversations with others, listening to good speakers, inquiry of various kinds, and reading books on issues of concern. This can be time consuming, so we do these things in fellowship and share what we are learning. That’s why it is so important that our fellowship be open and that people, especially young people, feel encouraged to admit and talk about their doubts; they are a good thing to talk about.” Dallas Willard