Have we lost our sense of Confidence, Conversation and Connection

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Have we lost our sense of
Confidence, Conversation and Connection
Part One July 5th 2009
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1. A loss of confidence in any overarching
story that claims to give significance or meaning
(the meta-narrative)
2. Losing a sense identity rooted with in
tradition
We are going to have Brooklyn baptised, we just
havnt decided what religion. David Beckham
4. Loss of absolute certainty - objectivity (It
depends)
3. A loss of trust in the notion of authority and
institution
5. Individualism, Materialism and Consumerism
James Hanvey On the Way to Life
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Have you caught yourself getting grumpy these
days?
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It is not just your arteries that harden
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O that today you would listen to his voice!
Harden not your hearts as at Meribah Psalm 94
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The two great stumbling stones
The Greek stumbling stone that I must
understand before I act
The Jewish stumbling stone that I must be
worthy before I act
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Recognise your failure!
Then Peter remembered what he had said. And
Peter walked out of the court yard crying
bitterly. Luke 2261-62 He came to his senses
Luke 1517
It is easy to forgive others their mistakes it
takes more grit and gumption to forgive them for
witnessing your own. Jessamyn West
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Acts 17 16-34
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God does not call the qualified, but qualifies
the called.Daniel L Loughman
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I never realised how well I was, until I gave up
thinking how ill I was.
St Teresa of Avila
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Jesus does not call nameless people in a
faceless crowd.
Jesus calls us individually, every man woman and
child by name, to make a specific, particular and
unique contribution.
Stewardship A Disciples Response
US Catholic Bishops
Conference 1997
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You did not choose me but I chose you. And I
appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that
will last, so that the Father will give you what
ever you ask him in my name.Jn 1516-17
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Oh God, help me to believe the truth about
myself, no matter how beautiful it may be.
Jean Vanier
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Gratitude A smoke signal of hope
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Always be thankful. Let the Word of Christ, in
all its richness, find a home with you. Teach
each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom.
With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and
hymns and inspired songs to God and whatever you
say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord
Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through
him. Colossians 3 14-17
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When supper was ended he took the cup, again he
gave you thanks
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It is impossible to be grateful and unhappy at
the same time
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Gratitude is about seeing Gods hand in things
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Return to the essentials!
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Exactly when you are confronted this is the
time to return to the essentials. John Shea
Know your foundations
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Go back to how you got yourself into this in the
first place
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In summary
1 Accept failure as learning 2 Develop a
disposition of Gratitude 3 Return to the
essentials