The Restory Retreat Centre

  Control   The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music In our attempts to control everything, including God, and place it in predictable boxes and compartments, we lose far more than we gain. Our lives do not become as safe as we had hoped. It becomes sterile. A blessing originally written by Ruth Fox for students receiving degrees at Dickinson State University in America.  May God bless you with Discontent with easy answers, half-truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live from deep within your heart. May God bless you with Anger at injustice, oppression, abuse, and exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, equality, and peace. May God bless you with Tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and to change their pain to joy. May God bless you with the Foolishness to think you can make a difference in this world, so that you will do the things wh...

Kontrole   Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek In ons pogings om alles, ook God, te beheer en in voorspelbare boksies en vakkies te plaas, verloor ons baie meer as wat ons wen. Ons lewens word nie veilig soos ons gehoop het nie. Dit raak steriel. ‘n Seën oorspronklik geskryf  deur Ruth Fox vir studente wat graad ontvang by Dickinson State University in Amerika.   Mag God jou seën met ‘n ontevredenheid met maklike antwoorde, halwe waarhede, en oppervlakkige verhoudings, sodat jy vanuit die diepte van jou hart sal leef; Mag God jou seën met ‘n onteltenis oor onreg, onderdrukking, mishandeling en die uitbuiting van mense, sodat jy sal werk vir regverdigheid, gelykheid en vrede; Mag God jou seën met trane wat gestort word vir hulle wat ly onder pyn, verwerping, hongersnood en oorlog, sodat jy jou hand sal uitsteek om hulle te bemoedig en om hulle pyn in vreugde te verander. Mag God jou seën met ‘n dwaasheid wat jou laat dink dat jy ‘n verskil in hierdie wêreld kan maa...

What The Mystics Know 5) Heaven on earth For in him we live and move and have our being... ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭28‬ ‭NRSV‬‬                               Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said,  “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it! ..... and this is the gate of heaven.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NRSV‬‬                    “.....because the Kingdom of God is within you.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭21‬ ‭GNT‬‬                                The Conversation Elements From The Conversation "....die ganse dag is ene God." (....the whole day is all God) Jan Swanepoel                                               "...hy weet nie van afsondering nie sit nie skilderagtig geraa...

  Wat Die Mistici Weet 5) Hemel op aarde “Want deur Hom leef ons, beweeg ons en bestaan ons.....” ‭‭Handelinge‬ ‭17‬:‭28‬ ‭AFR20‬‬                          Jakob het wakker geskrik en gesê:  “Die Here is op hierdie plek, en ek het dit nie besef nie.  ......dit is die poort van die hemel.” ‭‭Gen 28:16-17‬ ‭AFR83‬‬                                  “.....want kyk, die koninkryk van God is binne-in julle.” ‭‭Lukas‬ ‭17‬:‭21‬ ‭AFR20‬‬                                   Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek "....die ganse dag is ene God." Jan Swanepoel "...hy weet nie van afsondering nie sit nie skilderagtig geraam in die hemel nie hy is oral..."                              ...

  What The Mystics Know 4) The Mystical Journey Is A Journey Of Paradoxes “Those who find their life will lose it,  and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” ‭‭Matteus‬ ‭10‬:‭39‬ ‭NRSV       ‬‬ “All who exalt themselves will be humbled,  and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” ‭‭Matthew23‬:‭12‬ ‭NRSV     ‬‬ “Therefore I am content  with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities  for the sake of Christ;  for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NRSV               ‬‬ The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music "Bittersweet music is the sound of the soul stretching toward the light, even in the darkest moments." Susan Cain                                "Bittersweet" is in itself a paradox. As always, with our love. George & Matilda

  Wat Die Mistici Weet 4) Die Mistieke Pad Is 'n Pad van Paradokse “Wie sy lewe behou, sal dit verloor, en wie sy lewe ter wille van My verloor, sal dit behou.” ‭‭Matteus‬ ‭10‬:‭39‬ ‭AFR20‬‬ “Wie homself verhef, sal verneder word, en wie homself verneder, sal verhef word.” ‭‭Matteus‬ ‭23‬:‭12‬ ‭AFR20‬‬ “Ter wille van Christus verheug ek my in swakhede, beledigings, ontberings, vervolgings en benoudhede; want wanneer ek swak is, juis dan is ek sterk.” ‭‭2 Korinthiërs‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭AFR20‬‬ Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek "Bittersweet music is the sound of the soul stretching toward the light, even in the darkest moments." Susan Cain                                "Bittersoet" is op sigself 'n paradoks. Soos altyd, met ons liefde. George & Matilda

What The Mystics Know 2.1) Not perfect = Totally lawless? “So what do we do?  Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving?  I should hope not!" ‭‭Romans ‭6‬:‭1‬-2 MSG                   ‬‬ "There is no room in love for fear.  Well-formed love banishes fear.  Since fear is crippling, a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment - is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love - love and be loved.  First we were loved, now we love.  He loved us first.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭MSG                ‬‬ The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music In the song  The House Of The Rising Sun someone tells of his not-so-perfect life. Many of the traditional "sins" are there: a brothel, gambling, drinking, run-ins with the law. The basic message or theme revolves around regret, ruin and the consequences of a life gone astray. Where someone has actu...

  Wat Die Mistici Weet 2.1) Nie perfek = Totaal wetteloos? “Wat sal ons dan sê?  Sal ons in die sonde bly voortleef,  sodat die genade kan toeneem?  Hoegenaamd nie!” ‭‭Romeine‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-2 AFR20            ‬‬ “In die liefde is daar geen vrees nie.  Inteendeel, volmaakte liefde dryf die vrees na buite;  want vrees het te doen met straf, en wie vrees,  het nie volmaak geword in die liefde nie.  Ons het lief, omdat Hy ons eerste liefgehad het.” ‭‭1 Johannes‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭AFR20         ‬‬ Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek In The House Of The Rising Sun  vertel iemand van sy nie-perfekte lewe. Baie van die tradisionele "sondes" is daar: 'n bordeel, dobbel, drank, botsings met die gereg. Die basiese boodskap of tema wentel om spyt, ondergang en die gevolge van 'n lewe wat van koers geraak het. Waar iemand homself eintlik versaak het en die gevolge van sy dade uiteindelik sy "straf" is...

What The Mystics Know   2) We Don't Have To Be Perfect “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me  and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭MSG                                The Conversation Elements From The Conversation ~ ❖ ~ Question of the Day: How does one incorporate imperfection? In a Navajo rug there is always one clear imperfection woven into the pattern. And interestingly enough, this is precisely where the Spirit moves in and out of the rug! The Semitic mind, the Eastern mind (which, by the way, Jesus would have been much closer to) understands perfection i...