Renew The Mind; Transform Your Life

In this diversion from the normal content on this channel, I wanted to share a moment of insight into possible pathways to prosperity - Politically, Economically, and Socially - for the United Kingdom.

This is based on mapping key principles from Ecology onto our current needs as a Nation.

If you are wondering about the voice - yesterday, for the first time, I saw the option to "Open Immersive Reader" - and I think (with a little editing from me) LinkedIn's AI Voiceover Artist has done a stunning job.  If you use the Immersive Reader, you can change the speed too.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/towards-national-ecology-neil-mckee-qqjhe

The Revd Canon Richard Bartlett is Vicar of the West Purbeck Benefice, and Rural Dean of Purbeck.  (That doesn't mean he drives a custom-Landrover with wide wheels, nor that he endorses Barbour wellies.)

Key Quotes:
John V Taylor
"The chief actor in the historic mission of the Christian church is the Holy Spirit. This fact, so patent to Christians in the first century, is largely forgotten in our own. So we have lost our nerve and our sense of direction and have turned the divine initiative into a human enterprise.

(John V Taylor, The Go-Between God p3) "

And
Jurgen Moltman
“It is not the church that has a mission of salvation to fulfil in the world; it is the mission of the Son and the Spirit through the Father that includes the church, creating a church as it goes on its way.”

Video Links:

With Bishop Anne - Five Marks of Mission - Teach
https://youtu.be/RjxPNirBAR4?si=-bE--VGFYC04cmk0

With Bishop Anne - Five Marks of Mission - Tell
https://youtu.be/aADVG3CZvZI?si=QoRXDVb7tyckKO82

With Bishop Anne - Five Marks of Mission - Tend
https://youtu.be/x29YXQm43Js?si=ou2N0kE_P_vk5__I

With Bishop Anne - Five Marks of Mission - Transform
https://youtu.be/UcFnPhmOg50?si=kAJ1VX_ATIRjdb1y

With Bishop Anne - Five Marks of Mission - Treasure
https://youtu.be/bjBA8jKX6a0?si=_jpbAt2eob4KzF8I

24th January Living Words

Worship: Psalm 27

Old Testament: Joshua 21

Gospel: Mark 11

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 8

Wisdom: Proverbs 24

Arnold Schwarzenegger utters the famous phrase, "Come with me, if you want to live..."  I sincerely believe God's Living Words are Words of Life with the potential in the Holy Spirit to minister LIFE to your mortal body.  Why would so many people wilfully starve themselves of life-sustaining medication?  Get on board with our 5-a-Day programme for Life-enhancing Biblical Health.

23rd January Living Words

Worship: Psalm 26

Old Testament: Joshua 20

Gospel: Mark 10

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 7

Wisdom: Proverbs 23

I believe you need 5 portions of Scripture a Day to stay Biblically Healthy.
After all, Jesus said that man and woman shall not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Psalm 24 for Worship

OT - Joshua 18 - Go on up and possess the Land God has promised to you
NT Gospel - Mark 8
NT Epistle - I Corinthians 5

Proverbs 21 for Wisdom

We begin with Worship:

Psalm 23

Authorized (King James) Version

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Joshua 17

More on the need to possess the territory that God has given us.  Consider this violent capture of the Land of Promise with the enigmatic Matthew 11:12

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Do we need to struggle to enter into God’s promise?

Mark 7 – words in Red

‘This people honours me with their lips,

    but their heart is far from me.

But they worship me in vain,

    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ See Isaiah 29:13

“Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

…making void the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down.

“That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

1 Corinthians 4

Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News. I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.  What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

We conclude with Wisdom:

Proverbs 20

The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,

    searching all his innermost parts.

Hence the central importance of a daily ‘Quiet Time’ to give the spirit space to carry out the work of sanctification.

Wounding blows cleanse away evil,

    and beatings purge the innermost parts.

Now, there’s a thought…

19th January Living Words

5-a-Day

Reading Programme

Joshua 16

Notice how the descendants of Joseph’s sons get a portion each – the generosity of God to Joseph.

Mark 6

He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands?  Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon?  Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So, they were offended at him.

Psalm 22 and John 19:30 which says, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, “It is finished.” Then He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.”

This is important because Psalm 22 is clearly referenced in John 19:24
And the other Gospels have Jesus quoting Psalm 22 from the Cross:

About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [Matthew 27:46]

For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

    Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer;

    in the night season, and am not silent.

But you are holy,

    you who inhabit the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in you.

    They trusted, and you delivered them.

They cried to you, and were delivered.

    They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm, and no man;

    a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

All those who see me mock me.

    They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,

    “He trusts in Yahweh.

    Let him deliver him.

    Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”

But you brought me out of the womb.

    You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts.

I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb.

    You are my God since my mother bore me.

Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near.

    For there is no one to help.

Many bulls have surrounded me.

    Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

They open their mouths wide against me,

    lions tearing prey and roaring.

I am poured out like water.

    All my bones are out of joint.My heart is like wax.

    It is melted within me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd.

    My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You have brought me into the dust of death.

For dogs have surrounded me.

    A company of evildoers have enclosed me.

    They have pierced my hands and feet.

I can count all of my bones.

They look and stare at me.

They divide my garments among them.

    They cast lots for my clothing.

But don’t be far off, Yahweh.

    You are my help. Hurry to help me!

Deliver my soul from the sword,

    my precious life from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion’s mouth!

    Yes, you have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen.

I will declare your name to my brothers.

    Among the assembly, I will praise you.

You who fear Yahweh, praise him!

    All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him!

    Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel!

For he has not despised nor abhorred the affl