The TRINITY is a person (3-in-1; omnipotent – omniscient)

I RELATE BETTER TO ‘JESUS’ than to the ‘HOLY SPIRIT’ or ‘FATHER GOD’

JESUS EXISTED & STILL EXISTS -- he knew me before I even was

The HOLY SPIRIT indwells usJESUS LOVES ME, irrespective of how

‘sinful’ I behaveHE OFTEN USES PAIN / SUFFERING to

get my attention

I’M NOT SO SURE GOD IS INTERESTED IN MY DAILY LIFE HE REALLY DOESN’T CARE ABOUT MY HAPPINESS… PER

SE HE CARES MORE ABOUT MY SANCTIFICATION – LEADING

TO A NET INCREASE IN THE SHALOM (PEACE, JOY, FORGIVENESS) IN THIS WORLD

I’M NOT SURE IF THERE’S A ‘HEAVEN’ AS I’VE HEARD IT EXPLAINED BY MOST

FOR ME, JESUS ‘COMMUNICATES’ BEST THROUGH CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER -- CP is a progressive movement toward greater interpersonal involvement with God in Jesus.

“I once prayed for God to bless my life in all that I am doing, now I pray ‘Lord put me in the places that you are blessing, this is the sacred place in which I will experience and know Gods shalom and love and my souls place of real and sustainable nourishment’.” (P Young, The Shack)

• THE ENTIRE WORLD SEEMS TO BE GOING TO ‘HELL IN A HAND BASKET’ -- just as the Book of Revelations says it will

• THE WORLD IS A CRUEL, FEARFUL PLACE, mostly…

• LIFE ISN’T FAIR (i.e. LIFE IS HARD)• HUMANITY LIVES A ‘STORIED’ LIFE• PEOPLE’S STORIES INTRIGUE ME

• I’M NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT (I’m just 1 in 6.5B souls on this planet)

• LIFE ISN’T ABOUT ME, IT’S ABOUT CHRIST’S WORK IN/THROUGH ME

• WE ALL DIE – BUT LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH• THE WORLD CAN BE A MYSTERIOUS PLACE• IN THE END, IT'S NOT GOING TO MATTER HOW MANY

BREATHS I TOOK, BUT HOW MANY MOMENTS THAT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY

• THIS WORLD WILL END (SOMEDAY) AND THEN WILL BE RENEWED (i.e. THE NEW JERUSALEM)

• IT’S NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO US THAT MATTERS MOST -- IT’S WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS TO US, THAT MATTERS MOST

• NO ONE IN MY CLOSE FAMILY KNOWS THE ‘REAL ME’

• JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE FAMILY, DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN ALWAYS BE TRUSTED

• WE OFTEN HURT THE ONES WE LOVE THE MOST, i.e. FAMILY/FRIENDS

• I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MY WIFE’S CORE BELIEFS & VALUES ARE…

• I NEVER LEARNT HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS, SO I ‘SECONDED’ THEM…

• EVERYTIME I’VE TRIED TO LOVE OTHERS IN MY FAMILY, I’VE ALWAYS FAILED AT MY ATTEMPTS…

• I WISH I UNDERSTOOD HOW TO LOVE MORE AND WHAT TRUE FRIENDSHIP REALLY LOOKS LIKE

• LOVING BEGINS WITH A SMILE, GROWS WITH A KISS, ENDS WITH A TEAR. WHEN I WAS BORN, I WAS CRYING AND EVERYONE AROUND ME WAS SMILING. I WISH I COULD LIVE MY LIFE SO THAT WHEN I FINALLY DIE, I’M THE ONE SMILING AND EVERYONE ELSE AROUND ME IS CRYING.

• I believe PAUL ‘s words in 1COR13 Verses 1-3:1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not LOVE, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not LOVE, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not LOVE, it profit me nothing.

I'VE LEARNED THAT I DON’T REALLY KNOW WHO I AM ANYMORE (MAYBE I NEVER DID)

I’VE LEARNED THAT SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT DO IN AN INSTANT, CAN GIVE ME HEARTACHE FOR LIFE.

I'VE LEARNED THAT IT TAKES YEARS TO BUILD UP TRUST, AND JUST SECONDS TO DESTROY IT.

SOMEHOW I’VE COME TO BELIEVE LOVE IS A CHOICE

TRUST IS GIVEN AWAY; NOT EARNEDFEAR IS OFTEN MY DRIVER

I'VE LEARNED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I’M ANGRY I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ANGRY, BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE ME THE RIGHT TO BE ABUSIVE.

I'VE LEARNED THAT JUST BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE ARGUE, DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T LOVE EACH OTHER.

I'VE LEARNED THAT I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I DO, NO MATTER HOW I FELT WHEN I DID IT.

I'VE LEARNED THAT SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE I EXPECT TO KICK ME WHEN I’M DOWN, WILL BE THE ONES WHO HELP ME UP INSTEAD.

I'VE LEARNED THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE DOESN'T LOVE ME THE WAY I WANT THEM TOO, DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T LOVE ME WITH ALL THEY HAVE.

I'VE LEARNED THAT IT ISN'T ALWAYS ENOUGH TO BE FORGIVEN BY OTHERS, BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO LEARN TO FORGIVE MYSELF FIRST.

I'VE LEARNED THAT I CAN'T MAKE SOMEONE LOVE ME. ALL I CAN DO IS BE SOMEONE WHO CAN BE LOVED, AND THE REST IS UP TO THEM.