Some of you may already know that Linda, Cooper, Vivian and I have moved back to south west Florida. For those who did not know now you do. Our home in the the mountains of the Cummberland Plateau is under contract and we are hoping the new owners will be in by the end of Jan.09.
I have never really come to any depth of understanding about why we would retire there to a place that has been a place of renewal and refreshing for us and then find ourselves in a situation to return to Florida but that is how it has worked out.
We were there from Jan. 24,07 through Nov. 8, 2-08. It was a wonderful experience and not one I will soon forget. We have been hiking and camping in that area for over 30 years.
My brother and I as well as our children and grand children are still planning on meeting at Natural Bridge State Resort Park at least twice a year which has become a family tradition. One we have observed for over thirty some odd years. We shall see what the future brings and if I am still able to make these trips.
But now to the real reason I am making this entry on my Blog.
I am just finishing up Kevins book :This Book will change your world, how all things became new." I plan to read it a second time and then get a discussion going amongst some old friends here in SW FLorida.
My favorite chapters are the last two ... What About ...? and So What. I would encourage those who read it to read it from front to back, cover to cover.
I applied the information in the book to my recent move back to Florida and it seems to make more sense to me now.
As stressful and exhausting as moving can be it is sometimes necessary to just man up and get it done. Many friends and neighbors have asked me what brought me back south, what was it like where you were, are you going back and are you going to miss it, these are just a few of the questions I have been asked.
As I read Kevins book I realized that even though "all things are new" many folks don't want to move away from where they are comfortable and familiar. That is especially true of Folks in Ky. There are many jokes about them going home on the weekends. They would rather stay where things are familiar. Some refer to this as the principle of familiarity. Whatever you call it it is still a refusal to move away frm traditional religious belief systems, family traditions, and the fear that an outsider might bring some unrest to what they think they already know. That they might be thinking they are already walking in the sum total of all truth.
There are many examples in scripture where the called out ones refused to move forward and in some cases they just wanted to go back where life was at least comfortable and familiar.
Moving into the place where "all things have become new" is not so easy for most people. I believe that is why I spent nearly two years in rural Ky. It was there and during that time spent somewhat isolated that I came to understand in a greater measure "comprehensive grace" or in other words "the doctrine of inclusion". Add to that the understanding of Matthew 24 Fulfilled, The Parousia by James Russell, Tim Kings "A House that Stands" and "Furious Pursuit" and I am now walking in an understading/experience of the presence of God each and every moment. I now walk in a new heaven and a new earth, all things have indeed indeed become new!
Fulfilled prophecy, fulfilled escatology, comprehensive grace, they have all led me into a more fulfilled life. In addition, Kevin spoke to something I already knew in heart and that is what he calls, Agapetheism. Life can be lived more simply if we would embrace that fact that we were all created in love, to love, and accept one another. Love changes everything. Now that is change we can believe in. Love is the alchemy of God.
I highly recommend Kevins book as well as Max and Tim Kings books.
Visit the Presence Library for Max, Kevins, Doug, and Tims materials and books.
www.Presence.tv
Enjoy God in each and every moment and celebrate a life that can lived to the fullest.
