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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Motto for the Christian Life
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Anglican_Brat
Shipmate
# 12349
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Posted
"Pray as if it all depends on God. Work as if it all depends on you."
Good motto or bad motto?
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It's Reformation Day! Do your part to promote Christian unity and brotherly love and hug a schismatic.
Posts: 4332 | From: Vancouver | Registered: Feb 2007
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marsupial.
Shipmate
# 12458
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Posted
Realistically, no. The beginning of wisdom in work life is knowing the difference between what depends on you and what you have no control over whatsoever.
Posts: 653 | From: Canada | Registered: Mar 2007
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no prophet's flag is set so...
Proceed to see sea
# 15560
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Posted
I'm thinking the motto might be more reasonably "Can I help?", with the following up and helping being important thereafter.
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Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.
\_(ツ)_/
Posts: 11498 | From: Treaty 6 territory in the nonexistant Province of Buffalo, Canada ↄ⃝' | Registered: Mar 2010
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Uncle Pete
Loyaute me lie
# 10422
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Posted
Motto : Credo.
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Even more so than I was before
Posts: 20466 | From: No longer where I was | Registered: Sep 2005
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
I like the (Muslim?) Middle-Eastern version:
"Praise God, but tie your camel to a post."
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
Does that mean the same as Oliver Cromwell's (alleged) statement: "Trust in God, and keep your powder dry"?
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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Albertus
Shipmate
# 13356
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Posted
I think my motto is the old Beckett line:
quote:
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
but with 'with God's help' thrown in a couple of times.
[ 05. April 2013, 12:44: Message edited by: Albertus ]
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My beard is a testament to my masculinity and virility, and demonstrates that I am a real man. Trouble is, bits of quiche sometimes get caught in it.
Posts: 6498 | From: Y Sowth | Registered: Jan 2008
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Mere Nick
Shipmate
# 11827
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Posted
Sha la la la la la live for today.
Matthew 6:34
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"Well that's it, boys. I've been redeemed. The preacher's done warshed away all my sins and transgressions. It's the straight and narrow from here on out, and heaven everlasting's my reward."
Delmar O'Donnell
Posts: 2797 | From: West Carolina | Registered: Sep 2006
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Evensong
Shipmate
# 14696
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Anglican_Brat:
"Pray as if it all depends on God. Work as if it all depends on you."
Good motto or bad motto?
How odd.
I first came across this phrase last week by a visiting London preacher.
It's been in my head ever since.
Must be in the ether
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a theological scrapbook
Posts: 9481 | From: Australia | Registered: Apr 2009
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
In Triangle last night I broke us up in to groups to pray for each other. Three older Christians: an Evo, another even more fascist (whom I love easy, an ex Hell's Angel enforcer) and me, a former fascist with 50+ years of fascist conditioning and reflexes and a young guy, unemployed, facing eviction, a criminal court case, totally alienated from his family and with a testimony of not a hair on his head being touched in a US prison full of murderous gangs where he walked and talked with God all day every day.
He was the living epitome of that motto.
I prayed, badly as ever, for us, his brothers, to be God's ears, mouths, arms and ... implicitly bank for him until all the miracles he needs happen. The Evo guy prayed very well in the Evo way for all the miracles and affirming God's unconditional love for the guy.
The fascist biker prayed best of ALL for reconciliation for the young guy and his family. I suspect that his family are even worse fascists. Anglo-Americans living in Florida. Florida says it all.
But that seemed to be the ONLY direction with any freedom.
Along with the fact that the guy now has three older brothers who MUST hear him and MUST respond, which was a strong part of my uncomfortable prayer. Until all the miracles happen and we aren't needed ...
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Mere Nick
Shipmate
# 11827
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Martin PC not & Ship's Anglo-Americans living in Florida. Florida says it all.
Wow.
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"Well that's it, boys. I've been redeemed. The preacher's done warshed away all my sins and transgressions. It's the straight and narrow from here on out, and heaven everlasting's my reward."
Delmar O'Donnell
Posts: 2797 | From: West Carolina | Registered: Sep 2006
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
They can't help it.
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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scuffleball
Shipmate
# 16480
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Anglican_Brat:
" Work as if it all depends on you."
Except it doesn't; one needs safeguards against arrogance and burnout.
As for mottoes, these words are a welcome challenge to live by;
quote:
Que dans ta journée, labeur et repos soient vivifiés par la Parole de Dieu; maintiens en tout le silence intérieur, pour demeurer en Christ; pénètre toi de l'esprit des béatitudes: joie, simplicité, miséricorde
(Roughly; In your day may work and rest be brought alive by God's word; keep inner silence in all things so as to reside in Christ; fill yourself witb the spirit of the Beatitudes - joy, simplicity, mercy)
Frère Roger included these in the Règle de Taizé but I suspect they are older as other organizations use them too, and I'd be intrigued to know if any shipmates know their origin.
Also worth looking at is the Lee Abbey rule of life, especially the bit about " being open to be known for who we are, accepting one another in love and saying nothing of others that could not be said to them personally if love and wisdom required it"
Posts: 272 | Registered: Jun 2011
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Erroneous Monk
Shipmate
# 10858
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Posted
It doesn't all depend on me. If it did, then all would be fucked, because I am completely broken and need mending every day.
I can't actually achieve anything by myself. But that's OK, because God wants me to know that I am as dependent on him as a little child on a parent.
I think I'll go with "To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often".
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And I shot a man in Tesco, just to watch him die.
Posts: 2950 | From: I cannot tell you, for you are not a friar | Registered: Jan 2006
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Truman White
Shipmate
# 17290
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Posted
Sound like a good motto to start with. What makes me think twice is that all the initiative is with me - I pray, I do. You can pray like it all depends on God and act like God's not involved.
But hey, am I picking fleas? Didn't Paul both say he worked harder than any of the other apostles and also encourage his churches to pray without letting up?
I like Anselm's:
"O Lord our God,
grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart;
that so desiring, we may seek and find you;
and so finding, may love you;
and so loving, may hate those sins from which you have delivered us'
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And all God's people said......
Posts: 476 | Registered: Aug 2012
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Anselmina
Ship's barmaid
# 3032
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Posted
There are lots of great Christian mottoes. But I always think of Jesus' motto as 'love one another as I have loved you'.
Posts: 10002 | From: Scotland the Brave | Registered: Jul 2002
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Emily Windsor-Cragg
Shipmate
# 17687
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Anglican_Brat:
"Pray as if it all depends on God. Work as if it all depends on you."
Good motto or bad motto?
That works for me and, "Let your yes mean Yes, and your no, No."
Keeps life simple. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posts: 326 | From: California | Registered: May 2013
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Grits
Compassionate fundamentalist
# 4169
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Posted
I like what Jesus taught in Luke 18 -- always pray and don't give up. Pretty similar to the OP.
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Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff, and shut it when I've said enough. Amen.
Posts: 8419 | From: Nashville, TN | Registered: Feb 2003
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Lyda*Rose
Ship's broken porthole
# 4544
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Posted
Martn PC not: quote:
I suspect that his family are even worse fascists. Anglo-Americans living in Florida. Florida says it all.
Jedijudy? Erin? That's a broad brush you wield, Martin. ![[Disappointed]](graemlins/disappointed.gif)
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"Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life." ~from Joe Vs the Volcano
Posts: 21377 | From: CA | Registered: May 2003
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jedijudy
Organist of the Jedi Temple
# 333
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Posted
Good Heavens! There must be a hidden part of Florida that I've never noticed. Shipmates are scattered across the state, as Lyda*Rose indicated! Siegfried, Gramatica, St. Sebastian, Chastmastr, MaryFL...I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.
I tell you what, Martin PC not, I'll put out the word, and one of us will let you know the headcount of fascists we find. Or suspect.
quote:
Originally posted by Martin PC not & Ship's Biohazard:
They can't help it.
Really? Does this helplessness stop at the borders and coastlines?
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Jasmine, little cat with a big heart.
Posts: 18017 | From: 'Twixt the 'Glades and the Gulf | Registered: Aug 2001
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bib
Shipmate
# 13074
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Posted
My great grandfather used to say "keep smiling and shining" which always resonates with me.
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"My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring"
Posts: 1307 | From: Australia | Registered: Oct 2007
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Doublethink.
Ship's Foolwise Unperson
# 1984
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Posted
This seems a most heavenly intellectual salon ...
Doublethink
Purgatory Host
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All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
Posts: 19219 | From: Erehwon | Registered: Aug 2005
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Welease Woderwick
Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424
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Posted
George Fox's little bit about seeking "that of God" in everyone we meet helps me a lot - and some people are REALLY good at hiding it!
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I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details
What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?
Posts: 48139 | From: 1st on the right, straight on 'til morning | Registered: Sep 2005
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
I like that WW because it challenges me in a practical way, especially with those "who are good at hiding it"
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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Schroedinger's cat
Ship's cool cat
# 64
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Posted
My motto is "There but for the grace of God go I"
Either that or "Don't be an arsehole".
I think if many more Christians were to follow these, we would be in a far better place.
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Blog
Music for your enjoyment
Lord may all my hard times be healing times
take out this broken heart and renew my mind.
Posts: 18859 | From: At the bottom of a deep dark well. | Registered: May 2001
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Drifting Star
Drifting against the wind
# 12799
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Posted
"Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God."
together with
"Love one another."
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The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Heraclitus
Posts: 3126 | From: A thin place. | Registered: Jul 2007
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St. Gwladys
Shipmate
# 14504
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Posted
The mottos of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, taken by every St. John Ambulance cadet, are "Pro Fide" - for the faith, and "Pro Utilitate Hominum" - for the service of all mankind. Not bad mottos to try and live by.
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"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)
Posts: 3333 | From: Rhymney Valley, South Wales | Registered: Jan 2009
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The Rogue
Shipmate
# 2275
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Posted
With God there is no box to think outside of.
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If everyone starts thinking outside the box does outside the box come back inside?
Posts: 2507 | From: Toton | Registered: Feb 2002
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Taliesin
Shipmate
# 14017
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Posted
Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest.
Posts: 2138 | From: South, UK | Registered: Aug 2008
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vw man
Shipmate
# 13951
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Posted
at diffrent times of life and what ever proublems we are going through.The level of faith we have,or if God annswers are prayers,are motos will no doubt change,and the out look we have on them wil also change'
when I had deppersion I used to think of a song and change the words to
"even the good times where bad"
Posts: 115 | From: Derbyshire | Registered: Jul 2008
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churchgeek
Have candles, will pray
# 5557
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by vw man:
at diffrent times of life and what ever proublems we are going through.The level of faith we have,or if God annswers are prayers,are motos will no doubt change,and the out look we have on them wil also change'
Yep. And I would change the word "motto" perhaps, though I'm not sure to what. It's more of a useful meditation tool or guiding principle for the place you're in at the moment.
"Pray as though it all depends on God; work as though it all depends on you" sounds like a decent thing to meditate for someone who wants God to fix everything but never puts forth an effort. The second half of the phrase would be a corrective, then.
Some of us might not have mottoes, but rather a concept or an image to meditate on. What if a "motto" for the Christian life were an icon of the hospitality of Abraham and Sarah? (A wide variety of which can be seen in this Google Image search.)
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I reserve the right to change my mind.
My article on the Virgin of Vladimir
Posts: 7773 | From: Detroit | Registered: Feb 2004
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John T
Apprentice
# 17166
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Posted
Spoke to a retired Anglican Vicar at Church yesterday. He'd been sadly widowed earlier this year and is finding it difficult. He's adopted Winston Churchill's K.B.O. - Keep Buggering On.
Posts: 6 | From: Rochdale Greater Manchester | Registered: Jun 2012
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Sir Kevin
Ship's Gaffer
# 3492
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Posted
Welcome to the Ship, John. You may wish to introduce yourself in All Saints: there's a thread for that.
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If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Writing is currently my hobby, not yet my profession.
Posts: 30517 | From: White Hart Lane | Registered: Oct 2002
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