Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
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Before you read today, please know that my goal for Sundays is to go through the book of Luke and then follow up with a justice/mercy/love themed verse. This week’s verses may be difficult to read, especially for those who came from abusive church backgrounds. These verses may have been used against you, and for that, I am very sorry. I really think Jesus was teaching another way to think and deal with people, but he certainly would not have meant for them to be used in an abusive way.
If you find it difficult to read today’s section, please feel free to either skip past and listen to the songs, or to use the comment section to discuss how these affect you. Kathi
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Luke 6: 37-49
(Jesus speaking) “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and put them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Isaiah 30: 18
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
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Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?
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photo credit: Kathi – View of Steel Bridge from Cathedral Park, Portland, OR
Spiritual Sounding Board 
I see a big problem with this passage. Not what Jesus was saying, but how men interpret it. The blind cannot lead the blind. True, one needs to have sight to lead the blind but when the one who THINKS he has sight is blind there is no one to lead. Many a teacher in seminaries or the entire school are blind. They teach a false doctrine and many a student falls on their every word. They then go out and pastor a church and lead the sheep to slaughter.
Kathi, Per normal, thank you. You have yet shown another picture that I would like to be in the middle of. There is snow on the ground here and I’ve heard tell there is another big one on its way.
The scripture did not adversely affect me, but I am sure others will have a problem with them and I pray for their swift healing. As a child I remember these words being spoken in a loud, beating on the pulpit kind of way and it scared me back then. I am not afraid anymore. I have a voice and have found out how to use it. Email works too, when the preacher says something that I am not inclined to agree with he not only hears from me, but others as well. He says that being a pastor is having 300 bosses and they all say what they think. I don’t think that is such a bad thing.
I have learned so much from this blog. Have a beautiful Lord’s Day and JA I am praying for you. You have such a big plate that is over flowing. Know that you are appreciated in all that you do and my prayers are with you.
Brenda R. aka Skype Grandma My precious granddaughter, Maggie, was born this past week and I will have my first visit with her today on Skype. Mama went through 51 hours of labor to bring her into the world, but has the most beautiful smile on her face in the pictures that were emailed. Four generations of women are thankful this morning. May God lead her through this journey.
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Brenda – It’s hard to imagine that spring officially starts in another month here. So many of the spring bulbs are up and going – daffodils, narcissus and crocus. The tulips have popped up, but no flowers yet. The cherry blossoms are almost there and I saw a magnolia in bloom the other day. I hope this doesn’t mean we’re in for a long, hot summer with such an early spring.
As I was preparing today’s gathering I was telling my husband that I now read the Bible very differently. With all of the stories of how scripture has been twisted and used against people, I am more aware of how reading verses like today’s can sound. It is my hope that people here feel safe enough to read it, sit with it, and discuss it. And, if still makes people uncomfortable, that’s fine too. That’s why I put the extra information at the beginning.
Brenda, thank you for your continued input here. You are wonderful! And, welcome, little Maggie, to this world! I’m sure she will be well loved.
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In agreement with Brenda and Kathi … I’ve had the Scriptures thrown at me but knew in my heart that the Lord couldn’t possibly mean them to keep me under such bondage. As I continued to be obedient to the ‘c’hurch’s expectations, the Lord was preparing me to eventually meet with ministries who would untwist Scripture.
Kathi, Thank you for being so sensitive to others as to how God’s Word may affect them as they work through abuse. Such compassion has not been present for many of us. ((hugs))
Brenda – You are a very much cherished sister-in-Christ and I found myself praying more specifically for you this past week. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY on the arrival of your precious granddaughter, Maggie.
I REJOICE with you! ❤ 🙂
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“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
I can imagine the Lord asking so many this question in our time and place.
This passage picturing the wise man digging down to make a strong foundation vs the foolish building on the sand and coming to a swift end brought me to mind of Psalm 73. The Psalmist is broken-hearted and confused because he is trying so hard to live in a way that honors God yet he is “stricken all day long and chastened every morning.” At the same time, he sees the wicked prosper and become more arrogant. He was losing heart until he came into the sanctuary of God and then he perceived their end- how in spite of seeming to flourish and prosper, they are swept away in an instant. A “house built on the sand” may appear to be an impressive and important structure until the flood comes to reveal there is no foundation under it.
I hope we will all be encouraged to persevere, knowing that the way things appear in the here and now is not necessarily an accurate picture at all, and things can (and will) change swiftly when God’s time comes.
Thank you, Kathi. What a comforting, peaceful image of the water and sky.
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Congratulations, Brenda! God bless!
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Thank you to all. The Skype visit was amazing. Maggie is a beautiful, content little girl. Next one the agenda is an affordable flight to go and hold her. What a blessing she is and we are truly thankful and blessed.
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