monsignor

Not sure if this will amount to anything but staying open ...

Monsignor Dream 27 July 2012
Had a dream this morning in which a household had two demons in it

1. The first was within two young ladies who were lesbians
2. The other was in an older gentlemen dressed in robes his name was monsignor ... the rest of his name sounded European, Italian not sure.

In both cases, their tongues had turned to a black goopy substance.

The first time I tried to remove the demons, they simply returned. And so with seeking God they fled and the people collapsed.
...
When I awoke, I decided to research and discovered that a monsignor is what members of the catholic clergy are referred to when they hold certain ecclesiastical honorific titles.  As such monsignor is not itself an appointment.  The three awards or offices most often associated with the style "monsignor" are

1. Protonotary Apostolic
2. Honorary Prelate (Domestic Prelate)
3. Chaplain of His Holiness (Supernumerary Privy Chamberlain)

These awards are granted by the Pope, usually at the request of the local bishop.

Additional Notes:

Please be aware this dream comes in context of my seeking as to what God is doing in Canberra, as well as what is occurring in the church my family attends.  Furthermore, demon stuff has been continually spoken to me by people recently in these contexts.  Yet have had zero dreams ever like this.

Seeking God for wisdom

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where are we going?

When I read about and see God's heart, one thing I understand is that we are meant to be family. Yes, he presents himself and gives people the option of embracing or rejecting him. But he gives numerous opportunities to change our mind, our ways.  Why?  Remember the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32)? Lost yes, but never not his family.

Just as I cannot abandon my kids, how can I walk away from the people God embraces (though they reject him or don't even acknowledge him).

Does this mean I am personally responsible for them or their choices or actions?  No.
But to walk away because they behave in ways I disagree with is no better than the rejections they perform.  Likewise to walk away because they treat me poorly is again to reject them as they have rejected us.

How do I want to be treated?  How should God treat me?

And so I am left with two scenarios ... e.g. Give a few warnings and move on, leave people to their own devices, time is short, etc.  Jesus did this (read Matthew and Titus).  But on the other hand we could persevere with many chances, even to the point that all could be saved if only one could be found.  Even Jesus did this (read about Lot, Moses, Ezekiel, Amos).

Put bluntly.  Before I accepted Jesus as real, all there was was me.  But when I started to hear his voice and feel his heart, all I could see was others.  My dilemma is therefore why don't I hear specific day to day things to do?  And yet I look at God and at his Son and hope that my choices are filtered through the lens.

Maybe the issue is a default.  Maybe I am doing what today's religious leaders are.  Seeing them as the way to reach the people.  Mediators between people and God.  Believing a tactic to change the hearts and minds of church leaders will somehow change others will be successful.  Yet, this is a problem because it changes nothing.  If I believe people will only change if their leaders do, I simply am propagating the false dependency that already exists.

Please God, forgive me.  Help us be your family.  Show us how to move forward.

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segregation

Recently heard a senior elder of a local church tell members of that church, on behalf of the head pastor and other leadership the following:

"At no time shall a man and a woman be alone together under any circumstances, unless they are married."

Basically, unless there is a third person, men and women are not to interact.  Does this apply only among the people of this church?  Does it apply for when they are at home with their neighbours and friends?  What about at work?  Or maybe with family members too?

Not only does this sound impossible to enforce, but it brings a level of legalism into this church.  Please read the Bible.  If you find Jesus or his disciples giving this advice, please respond.

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confusion in the pews

God why are your people so confused? Why do we prefer to choose a life of niceties and self protection and justify it with the name of your son?  Why are we so ready to reject your reality?  Why do we call comfort and preference faith?

Why do we insist on giving all our time to people who are either like us, don't threaten us, or serve our self interests?  Please God bring our enemies, strangers, foreigners, the unlovable into our lives in such a way we cannot ignore them.  Open our eyes to what it means to reject you when we reject those you love.

Are you serious when you said you would vomit up the luke warm?  What about when you stated that anyone who does not love what you love hates you?  Is it true for you to not know us even as we go about your business?

Please God, don't leave us to our own self indulgences.  Please do something, anything to wake us up.  Please bring us to our senses.

God end our addiction to doing things our way.  Give us revelation to the dangers of pursuing sectarianism before it is too late.  Before the ground opens up beneath us, turn us around.  God teach us to see one another as family, to stop the finger pointing at our neighbours who we have labelled as heathens.  Indeed, please teach us to see one another.

Why do we justify our theological differences when you told us there is oneness in your body?  Why do we allow them to fester to the point of splits, starting something new, and mocking others?  God, what will it take for us to desire a path of healing from our family dysfunctions?

God, Please encourage us to stand by our brothers and sisters.  I am sorry that although my eyes were opened I stand back.  Should I limit my actions to prayer with the hope you will one day resolve our bickering and tribalism?  Or is there something you want me to do?  It breaks my heart to witness our situation.  Please open our eyes.  Please stoke or hearts.

"But don't we pray for other churches?  Don't our leaders gather?  Don't we celebrate at joint events or with visiting speakers?"

Why does it frustrate me to hear people claim that "All is well" or "the church has no real significant differences?"  How can this be true when there are dozens of denominations and hundreds of congregations who were formed on the basis of theological disagreement to the point where many won't even talk with one another.  How can this be a reflection of being one as you and your son are one?  Surely if there are no real differences it wouldn't matter where people go to gather and gain discipleship.  Isn't the same gospel being shared, the one Jesus, one Spirit, Father, etc?

Why have we convinced ourselves that the group we belong to is better than others?  Why have we convinced ourselves that our group has the real and exclusive truth?  Why do our elders compete for your flock, indeed compete for the right to rule your kingdom?  Should we remain silent or have we entered the guilt of enabling and cheering?  Are we to leave our family to their own devices?  How will you view us if we do?  Thank you for sending your son so we wouldn't perish.  Please God open our ears to the truth that comforts as opposed to simply seeking comfort.

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fasting

Have you heard of the 40 hour famine? Does your church encourage you to fast, for whatever reason?

These days, probably to include more people including young children, we are asked to go for a period of time without.  But what are we asked to abstain from?  Food, junk food, alcohol, TV, computer games, etc?  Are you given the freedom to choose what you give up or are the items specifically outlined for you?

Does it make a difference?  If it doesn't matter what we abstain from then the reason must be about the act itself.  However, if what we abstain from matters, then there mist be other associated reasons in addition to the act itself.

What kinds of fasting are mentioned in the Bible?

• Absolute Fast - You are not to consume any food or water over a certain number of days.  Nothing.  This is an extreme fast and should only be done for very short periods of time.
• Normal Fast -  No food of any kind is eaten for a certain number of days. Nothing.  You do drink water and plenty of it. 
• Partial Fast - You may give up particular foods and drinks for a time. (A commonly used example is Daniel 1:11-14, where Daniel and his friends ate only fruits and vegetables and drank only water for 10 days).

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