Roots and Shoots 2

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, `The old is better.'" [Luke 5:37-39]

JESUS Respect difference Free to fail No easy answers A journey not a destination Want to - not ought Inclusiveness a priority No gurus

Is it based on Jesus and my faith? Do we as a church encourage it? Is it consistent with my life?

JESUS Respect difference Free to fail No easy answers A journey not a destination Want to - not ought Inclusiveness a priority No gurus

1.A Hindu or Sikh religious teacher or leader, giving personal spiritual guidance to his disciples 2. Often derogatory. A leader or chief theoretician of a movement, especially a spiritual or religious cult

[Mat 20:25-27] Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--

[ Luke 18:10-14] "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: `God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers- -or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

[Heb 8:10-11] This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

[1 Cor 1:26-31] Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

[Mat 11:25-27] At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

The personality cult Archetypes and the co-dependency The King with no clothes on But…………………..

Flawed people can do and say amazing things Samson?

Review of a book on Metropolitan Anthony “For despite her affection for Metropolitan Anthony, she brings out the abrasive, even destructive, side of his personality: his struggle with his demons, especially depression, which could lead to unpredictable and even selfish behaviour. As the book proceeds this tone of exasperation becomes more assertive, and Metropolitan Anthony’s own impressions, earlier recorded without comment, are called into question by the author’s retrospective ones. But this honesty only enhances the value of her account of a great, though flawed human being, through whom God worked so powerfully. Is this not what it means to be a saint?” The Way, July 2006

[Gal 1:6-8] I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

The place of personality in the church Encouragement Articulation Vision Jesus is our Guru and our plumb line Discernment and confidence – Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (Matt 10:16)