Comments for Upptacka Network

Comment on The Gradient of Enlightnement by Chris Lorensson

Chris Lorensson — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:02:24 +0000

Our culture has twisted so many things – but I just choose to ignore things which should be ignored.

The word ‘enlightenment’ for me, simply means ‘The Renewed Mind’ mentioned in The Bible – but that is a study in itself, and goes deeper than I care to talk about in a blog comment

Comment on Why I don’t go to church much: Part 2 by Chris Lorensson

Chris Lorensson — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:57:26 +0000

Word Geoff.

Lately I’ve been thinking how weird it is when ‘change’ happens naturally – I’ve had several random conversations with Christians here in Bristol over the last few weeks, and the amount of times I’ve heard of new, small, communal things starting up is crazy! I love it when people ACT – there was a need, it was filled, and that reminds me of someone I know whose name starts with a ‘JE’ and ends with an ‘SUS’.

Comment on Why I don’t go to church much: Part 2 by Geoff Hall

Geoff Hall — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:09:56 +0000

“do you ever get the feeling you’re going to church for some reason other than because you want to?”
All the time actually, but then people throw the old Hebrews 10v25 at ya, and the guilt just piles on! Well, that of course is based on the assumption and a rather grand one at that, which infers that the only ‘meetings’ can be at Church, large ‘C’, institution.

Meeting Places are many and varied: you and I have ‘fellowship’ at the Watershed or Arnolfini, I meet with a bunch of artists for a drink and a chat about what is happening in contemporary culture, or the spiritual narrative in the latest Lars von Trier film! Our faith has been institutionalised and dehumanised. We need to resist this grand theft fide with all our might!

Comment on Why I don’t go to church much: Part 1 by Geoff Hall

Geoff Hall — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:02:18 +0000

Hi Dude,

Thanks for sharing this. I’m one at odds with the church institution, never quite accepted because I have the wrong kinds of gifts; earthly, sensual and devilish are the arts you know. Whereas if I was an engineer, nurse or teacher then God could use me for His mission to the nations!
What I have done and am doing, is learning to discern the difference between the church and the Church, the community and the Institution. Most services are for institutions, a liturgy stripped bare of the original context and nothng to do with life in the big wide world, where God is MUCH busier!! Collecting money for institution was never the real reason for giving to God!

Comment on The Gradient of Enlightnement by Geoff Hall

Geoff Hall — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:37:17 +0000

Hi Dude,
For me it’s not about enlightenment, but revelation, whether in book form or flesh and blood epiphanies!

Enlightenment is such a tainted word, full of the grand delusion of Modernity’s bastard child, rationalism! If it can’t be rationalised, it just can’t be ‘real’, right? Or by an Eastern Tradition of ‘enlightenment’ which generally speaking is about losing yourself in the vastness of nihilism and depersonalised spirituality. Atomisation set over against personal spirituality located in the Cosmos of Wonder and Love (not shock and awe!) and lived and breathed in a community of like-hearted beings!

Comment on Why I don’t go to church much: Part 1 by Chris Lorensson

Chris Lorensson — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:58:02 +0000

Looking forward to cracking this one… it’s a toughie!

Comment on they’re called ‘night-terrors’ by Chris Lorensson

Chris Lorensson — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:56:24 +0000

@Daphne

Yes – this is a heavily misunderstood topic. Again – a case where it helps to know The Creator in order to know the scientific and spiritual truth about a matter. I don’t claim to have it all figured out, but because I know Him, I have figured out a few things that even Freud couldn’t have imagined.

The trick, as always, is Jesus.

Comment on Why I don’t go to church much: Part 3 by Chris Lorensson

Chris Lorensson — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:53:30 +0000

@Daphne

Thanks for your comments Daphne.

I think that the human idea of the church ‘running smoothly’ is incorrect. As with so many things, we’ve misunderstood what God meant and instead replaced it with our own wisdom.

I actually do believe that it is Godly for a church body to ‘run smoothly’ – but under His definition of ‘smoothly’ rathe than the human definition.

Amen – we are saved by grace.

I’m 100% devoted to Jesus (during the 1% of the time when I’m not focused on myself). So I’m not a great role model in many cases. But the way I see it is that I only have to answer to God – not anyone else. That’s why I write these things. In fact, that’s exactly why this site was created – to present a platform for ideas exactly like this one.

One trick I’ve been learning lately is to seek His timing, and be on-track with His plan – as opposed to my own. This keeps my from stupid decisions, and ultimately leads me exactly where I ought to be – in His footsteps.

Disregard the terrible cliche.

Comment on Why I don’t go to church much: Part 3 by daphne

daphne — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:48:14 +0000

hello
another response.
heres some ideas;
don’t put anything up there on the (inner spiritual) platform except Jesus (especailly not ‘the church’ or ‘being a Christian’).
control = repression of the individual: In churches, seeds of control are sown by the anti-Christ. All influence should be from the Holy Spirit.
A spirit or desire to control something or anything – like a church – is, according to Derek Prince who provides scriptural evidence, always rooted in witchcraft and from this come manipulative tactics. Thsi is what we’re dealing with in our society today, especaially in adverts – emotional blackmail etc.
There is no condemnation in Christ. We are saved by grace, not works.
I have been acused of being ‘too spiritual’ about everyday things but this is my defence;
we live in a humanistic very unspiritual age (think of the medieval times!) and there is a balance to re-dress. Also;
‘My heart departed from the Lord and I trusted in the arm of flesh, and dwelt in a salt land ‘ for many years. Now my heart is with the Lord, and I have a presonal balance to re-dress and maintian.’The arm of the Lord is not too short to save’. We do not need to trust in our own strength and schemes but fall at his feet and love Him. (Mary and Martha). then as ‘God makes things grow’ we will be shown the miracle that will happen – the seed that becomes an oak tree (in peoples hearts, then over flowing into the community).
I have used the word ‘clone’ in the past. I am trying not to become a ‘Christian clone’ of everyone else and many church leaders find this irritating and difficult – but the Lord is the head of the church – the leaders are just ‘head sheep’ not the Shepherd himself. I have a personal balance to re-dress – that is my responsibility and more important to me than their church functioning smoothly. Jesus was/is the sacrifice, not me.
hope this is interesting for you
Daphne
PS Great web site – have really enjoyed reading your thoughts on all this – thank you for posting them.

Comment on they’re called ‘night-terrors’ by daphne

daphne — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:20:54 +0000

hello
I am a Christian and work as fine artist so I am interested in your thoughts.
i had night terrors too (from age 10 – 13 yrs). In my case it was a real thing – I won’t go into it – but since I became a Christian in 1986, i have known that it was just a demon or evil spirit . So nothing to worry about cos Jesus defeated them all on the cross. Deliverance is a beautiful and holy thing (and nothing to do with horror films!). Freedom and explosions of life are within you always.
love Daphne