{{2009_06_10_t1.jpg}} {{2009_06_10_t2.jpg}} {{2009_06_10_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2009_06_10|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_i|| Topics Collection i ]] ======News ...====== Wednesday, June 10, 2009. Recently I read some words on a T-shirt, something like: "By reading this you have given me temporary control over your mind". I laughed. But somehow I had to think more about this little joke. What is the truth behind it? Yes, when I read something, I focus my attention to do so. And it has influence on me - my decisions and actions are influenced by what I have heard either long ago or just recently. It is not "control", since I can critically review what someone is telling me. But still, it has influence on me. I can only think about things I know, I can only recall images I have seen. {{2009_06_10.jpg }} The question of what I read or see has at least to main directions. What is it that I read or view? People tend to read a particular newspaper or channel on TV. They tend to visit particular internet pages. These pages influence our thinking, either politically or personally. My preferences will be influenced by the information provided on a daily basis. But they are also a matter of interpretation. The same facts may be interpreted differently. What I read is usually an interpretation and influences my own interpretation. How much control do I give the news about my mind. Do I read conflicting opinions - just to be able to find a balanced view myself? The other direction is the question whether I search for particular input to develop my mind and my decisions. Jesus strongly suggests to read the bible on a regular basis. Going to God, being in his presence and listening to him is a crucial part of our daily activity. It is important to feed and calibrate our mind and soul. It is as with the news we read daily. They influence our thinking - not necessarily as a kind of control, but what we hear will be the basis of what we think. The bible is not a new book. It is a book with stories about Jesus and with many further parts about the people of faith through the times. Going back to this source of faith is an important step. We might want to add further steps: talking to other people and listening to their interpretations of the bible. Interpreting the bible in the framework of our modern world. This second point is our task in the Jesus Network. We do not want to be completely dragged into "short term news" which reflect events of the day, but go several steps deeper and interpret todays events in the light of the bible and take Jesus' words into todays events. Living with Jesus today is one of the great adventures of mankind - in the middle of modern news! [R.W.E.P., jesusnetwork.eu] {{ 2009_06_10_2.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_i|... more texts]]