Free to See Reality

Every day people are seeing things that are not there. They are presented with a vision of things as they are which leads them to behave in line with what they see. History is littered, however, with how people following these presentations only for wider forces to show that this was a false reality. It is not just those taken with a religious fanaticism or rabid obsession that are similarly blinded – anyone whose vision does not allow them to see love and pursue peace needs to be free to see reality.

He answered, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." (John 9:25)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Freedom From Fear Fortress

It happened before – it might happen before it really hurt and that does not want to be experienced again. What if the response is negative? They don’t like it. They are not for it. What if an embarrassment is made? What happens if the finished article isn’t good enough? Constantly second-guessing, never quite certain of the now, the paralysis is set because of gear. Male or female there is something about negative forecasts that can dissuade from a position. The foundations of fortress fear crumble at the sound of love that sets people free to live above their fears.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Freedom From The Prison of the Past

Wracked with guilt for what was done, continually haunted by what was never done, experiences of yesterday hold today captive. As the memories thicken and the hurt intensifies, so the suffocating choke of yesteryear prevents any ability to breathe the fresh air of the present. The keys to the jail are found in discovering that though nothing can change what has happened, it does not have to cripple today. The hope is for the power of that release to be the present of the present for those still behind the bars of the prison of the past.

My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. (Philippians 4:13)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Freedom When The Wise One Comes Along

Sometimes the odds may seem overwhelming and considering defeating something that has dominated for so long might seem hard to almost impossible. It is the wise one, however, who can see all there is about something so imposing and still detect the weak points. It is the wise one who exercises faith, hope and love to believe that no matter how great the odds, freedom can still be achieved. The wise one does not put trust in self to overcome, but believes one far greater than the stronghold to secure freedom.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)

Safe Journey

Shalom

No More Strongholds

Some things become so deep rooted in us that when they are removed the foundation of our life seems to go. It is as though such was its hold on us such a strong hold that we were indistinguishable from it. Such was its stronghold that the values of life revolved around it life itself was determined by the fortunes of that which held us. Such was the temporary nature and lacking quality of that thing that life was never fulfilling, but such was the strong hold that no freedom seemed in sight. However a wise man came along …

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Break Free … from Without: External Expectations

Peer pressure has a lot to answer for. As relational beings prone to enjoy the company of others and looking to maintain the status quo in certain characters can easily get sucked up in portraying someone that fits in. The pressure to live up to people’s expectations can be oppressive and leave people cold inside without ever understanding where they can truly be themselves. The cry to break free enables people not to please people but find that place of fully realising who they are called to please.

God was pleased to trust us with his message. We didn't speak to please people, but to please God who knows our motives. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Break Free … From Without: Materialism

The cycle is as tragic as it is inevitable. They say it’s the thing to be wearing, the game to be playing, the phone to be using, the car to be driving, the food to be eating, etc. The pressure is on to buy it, watch it, wear it, eat it and no sooner have we bought it then it’s time to buy something else as trends change, because we’re living in a material world. Freedom from materialism lets us see the truth that life is less about what we own, and more about who we are within.

Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot. (Luke 12:15)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Dawning Realisation: What's Going On?

If you’ve been doing something the same way for a number of days, weeks, months and years it can become an engrained part of life. Some of these grains inhibit growth and freedom and are so deep that it takes something shocking, something that rocks the foundations of the grain for us to have a realisation that something is wrong. The reason why in some cases the pattern of pressure and slavery continues is because some of us need that dawning realisation that brings up that age old question ‘What’s Going On?’

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Break Free Together

When there are complaints on things like not having the latest brand named goods or not having access to the best things in life it seems to miss the whole point of community. When someone is complaining about the name of the shoes, where their sister in another country has no shoes, something’s wrong. When someone expects all their rights to be met, where the rights of others are neglected something’s wrong. Something within the human condition cries out for us all to break free together.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Break Free … From Without: Injustice

There are still vile human rights abuses taking place around our world. There are still traumatic offences committed in this country. There are still horrendous crimes carried out in our cities. There are still miscarriages of justice occurring in our towns. There are still tragic wrongs done in our homes. There are still sins committed in our own lives. Injustice is still somewhere, so the fight for justice – the fight to break free must carry on everywhere.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Break Free … From Without: Discrimination

It’s almost as if someone else’s insecurities can put a barrier on someone else’s freedom. Negative discrimination is the thinking that describes that state of mind where our own inability and insecurity to celebrate our own identity is then forced outwards to others. We pick on any difference not as something to build on and explore but to crush others. Some people, communities and cultures still suffer greatly from accepted norms of negative discrimination and so desperately need to be set free.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Under Pressure

Slavery maybe something of an abstract concept to those in the western world privileged to be told that they live in a free society. However when the challenges of daily living are considered – bills to pay, onerous responsibilities to meet, friends to retain, personal image to sustain, rat-race to maintain – then it’s no wonder even those in the ‘free society’ appear just as enslaved as those from previous eras or other countries. Everyone is under pressure to some extent and that pressure can cripple, depress and rob the joy to be discovered when we break free.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Break Free: An Introduction

From the chick breaking through the egg shell to the moth emerging from the chrysalis there are experiences of the desire to break free. Even the wonder of seeing the birth of a newborn baby highlights the wonder of someone entombed for so long finally breaking free. This desire is not reserved to birth as the histories of peoples and individuals are full of struggle, triumph and tragedy to get and enjoy some physical, emotional, financial or spiritual freedom. This month is dedicated to exploring and reflecting on this crucial theme. What does it mean to you?

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Safe Journey

Shalom