{"id":730,"date":"2019-08-31T20:47:43","date_gmt":"2019-08-31T20:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/?p=730"},"modified":"2020-02-20T21:08:34","modified_gmt":"2020-02-20T21:08:34","slug":"what-comes-before-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2019\/08\/31\/what-comes-before-life\/","title":{"rendered":"What comes before life?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"730\" class=\"elementor elementor-730\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0832074 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0832074\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c86f76c\" data-id=\"c86f76c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93b470a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93b470a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><img data-attachment-id=\"731\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2019\/08\/31\/what-comes-before-life\/attachment\/190831\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?fit=734%2C715&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"734,715\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"190831\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?fit=300%2C292&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?fit=734%2C715&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-731 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?resize=300%2C292&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"292\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?w=734&amp;ssl=1 734w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?resize=300%2C292&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?resize=430%2C419&amp;ssl=1 430w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?resize=624%2C608&amp;ssl=1 624w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190831.jpg?resize=405%2C395&amp;ssl=1 405w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>I am back with my weekly reflections and the last greeting was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/jostein56.blogspot.com\/2019\/06\/what-is-salvation-army-about.html\">\u201cLive the mission\u201d<\/a>. Our mission is to bring the life of Christ to people \u2013 linked to my focus for the year.<br \/><br \/>Many books have been written about the theme: \u2018putting first things first\u2019. Whether the context is leadership, time-management, values or any other subject, the bottom-line always seems to be the same: How can I get the most out of life?<br \/><br \/>Perhaps this is very close to our mission as well. I think it is possible to get the most out of life, by letting life get the most out of me \u2013 however with some modifications. It is easy to think that life is synonymous with everything around us wanting our attention. If I fall into the trap of trying to respond to all expectations and matters wanting my attention, I end up being lived by others, instead of living my own life. This is not what I mean by letting life get the most out of me.<br \/><br \/>I think that it would be possible to get scientific support for stating that without life there is nothing. But doesn\u2019t that make the question\u00a0<i>\u201cWhat comes before life?\u201d<\/i>\u00a0invalid?<br \/><br \/>Not at all. There is something greater than life. Jesus stated:<\/p><blockquote class=\"tr_bq\"><i>\u201cI am the way, the truth and the life\u201d<\/i>John 14:6<\/blockquote><p>Here are three things mentioned before life.<br \/><br \/><\/p><ol><li>I am = God\u2019s name \u2013 the one who creates and gives life\u00a0(1)<\/li><li>The way = the direction back to this life in its original state\u00a0(2)<\/li><li>The truth = the core of this life and how it should be lived.\u00a0(3)<\/li><\/ol><p><br \/>If we are going to live the mission, these three things need to be in place before life starts. Only then I will get the most out of life, and the life will get the most out of me. That is an intriguing thought.<br \/><br \/>\u2018Manna\u2019 for today:<\/p><blockquote class=\"tr_bq\"><b>For life\u2019s sake: First things first!<\/b><\/blockquote><p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<br \/>(1)\u00a0God said to Moses,\u00a0<i>\u201cI am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: \u2018I am has sent me to you.\u2019\u201d<\/i>\u00a0Exodus 3:14<br \/>(2)\u00a0The first Christians were named\u00a0<i>\u2018Followers of the Way\u2019\u00a0<\/i>e.g. Acts 22:4<br \/>(3)\u00a0<i>\u201cIf you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.\u201d\u00a0<\/i>John 8:31-32.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-329fccf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"329fccf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-81c8871\" data-id=\"81c8871\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bc7599 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7bc7599\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><em>Words by Colonel Jostein Nielsen.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am back with my weekly reflections and the last greeting was\u00a0\u201cLive the mission\u201d. Our mission is to bring the life of Christ to people \u2013 linked to my focus for the year. Many books have been written about the theme: \u2018putting first things first\u2019. Whether the context is leadership, time-management, values or any other&#8230;<a class=\"excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2019\/08\/31\/what-comes-before-life\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">What comes before life?<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.0.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What comes before life? - The Salvation Army Georgia<\/title>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2019\/08\/31\/what-comes-before-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What comes before life? - The Salvation Army Georgia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I am back with my weekly reflections and the last greeting was\u00a0\u201cLive the mission\u201d. Our mission is to bring the life of Christ to people \u2013 linked to my focus for the year. Many books have been written about the theme: \u2018putting first things first\u2019. 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One would say:\u00a0\u201cIt is my favourite store!\u201d\u00a0\u2013 with reference to our thrift stores. Another would say\u00a0\u201cThey help the poor!\u201d. A third may say\u00a0\u201cThey have good brass-bands!\u201d\u00a0whilst a fourth states\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s my church!\u201d.\u00a0Nothing of this is wrong, however\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/190601-1.jpg?fit=400%2C266&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":532,"url":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2019\/05\/25\/the-greatest-challenge-of-our-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":730,"position":1},"title":"The greatest challenge of our time?","date":"May 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Salvation Army\u2019s international mission statement declares that our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and\u2018to meet human needs in his name without discrimination\u2019\u00a0(1). In the general's\u00a0\u2018Call to Inclusion\u2019, we are again reminded of this important part of our mission statement\u00a0(2). Inclusion was definitely central to Jesus'\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/60771387_1351382345029602_6209323495017414656_n.jpg?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2821,"url":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2022\/10\/07\/youth-meeting-with-the-general\/","url_meta":{"origin":730,"position":2},"title":"Youth Meeting with the General","date":"October 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"More than 200 young Salvationists attended Territorial Meeting with the General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle. Youth is the future and the present of The Salvation Army. They must grow steadily, relying on the experience of the older generation, and must advance the ministry and mission in the modern,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/photo_2022-10-07_20-52-45-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C857&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":544,"url":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2019\/05\/18\/is-the-name-of-jesus-a-kind-of-mantra\/","url_meta":{"origin":730,"position":3},"title":"Is \u2018the name of Jesus\u2019 a kind of mantra?","date":"May 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Mantra\"\u00a0is a sound associated with Hinduism and Buddhism. The sound is used to realize a thought or purpose.\u00a0The word has several meanings, like e.g. a prayer, hymn or spell. It is the repetition of the sound or word that is supposed to trigger the effect.\u00a0Interestingly, Jesus repeatedly spoke about prayer\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/60363396_1345436272290876_2741086297681559552_n.jpg?fit=903%2C627&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":210,"url":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2019\/02\/23\/did-some-greeks-influence-gods-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":730,"position":4},"title":"Did some Greeks influence God\u2019s \u2018NOW\u2019?","date":"February 23, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"If you have read my\u00a0blogs over the past weeks, you know that I believe the answer is \u2018YES\u2019. Before I explain why, I believe that everything John chose to include in his gospel, is there for a purpose:\u00a0Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52941739_1279870828847421_6477558393224560640_n.jpg?fit=432%2C328&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":746,"url":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/2019\/09\/20\/the-attributes-of-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":730,"position":5},"title":"The attributes of life","date":"September 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"If my mission is to bring Christ\u2019s life to people, it is important that I know the attributes of his life. If I know what these are, this should also be the attributes of my life. Because, as he is, we are in this world\u00a0(1).Last week I focused on some\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvationarmy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/190907.jpg?fit=800%2C596&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=730"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":744,"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730\/revisions\/744"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}