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This is the last word I write to you,
of a friend of a friend & a "trend" built for two.
We've charmed off the socks of the rats & priest' men
til even the priestess admits she's in sin
so she's burning the blinds for the daylight & warmth,
cause she's tired of the night & all the blackness inside..
so she wants to be real & illuminated finely with
ten thousand angels all singing her rhymes
“and the joy will undo all the crimes
and the love will reverse these dead & dark times
and the magic's not magic, it's the miracle's eyes
when we're praying to see the first time...
God is..."
This is the last word I write down to you,
A three worded testament cause one wouldn't do.
Like Jesus & prophets & many before you..
Refrain will keep singing “God loves you!”
So he's burning inside with the light for new daylight
cause he's tired or he wants to be from listening to all the prayers
of many that would call him to help or just to meet them
& believe & to hope & to love for the first time
then the joy will undo all the crimes
then the love will reverse these dead & dark times
then the magic's not magic, it's the miracle's eyes
when we pray & we see for the first time
“God is... love!”
“God is... love!”
So fly on the wings of the dove to floating smiles..
*** And now to explain***
This is really just a little song I wrote spontaneously.. I just picked up my guitar.. and really the melody is almost stolen from Nataly Dawn's "dying to live"... but I like these lyrics that came out.. It's basically about the desire to see people come to know God.. at first... then it moves from that into remembering what it was like when you personally first began praying and asking questions and seeking God and wanting to know what he was REALLY like.. then it moves out to sharing that with others and what it's like to even begin to try to put God's love into words and how utterly & totally futile of an effort that really can be (because the love & peace of God really is inexpressible in human terms) .. and how we need to explain that any of our own words are only a shadow of what Christ' love is really like.. :D
P.S. & yes.. it is appropriately titled "Christian" as it is about Christianity & the whole process & experience of it... but is also very relative to my friend, Christian S.
Here's praying that you can be a part of several coming to know this whole experience in spirit & in truth...
the "..." means the trip is not an ending.. it is not even an event.. it is just a precursor of faith that leads to another movement of faith.. and then another step of faith.. there is no ending. It has only begun!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Waiting for...
Today I was reading again (yeah.. I seem to do that a lot now).. and Song of Solomon 4:7 and then 8:6-7 really seemed to punch me in the gut. Here's what I mean, let's look at a few versions of this.
verse 4:7 (ESV) --You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
(The Message)-- You’re beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.
(NLT)-- You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.
Now I just listed these differing versions to show that this isn't just a one translation fluke. Solomon is telling his love that she has NO FLAW!!! How can this be? The Bible doesn't lie, right? How then can Solomon say that his woman has no flaw? He can't! His woman isn't Christ.. that'd be sick! He's not being allegorical.. this is an actual love relationship he's talking about!!!!
So then what does he mean?
I think he's saying that his woman is perfectly imperfect!
What do I mean by this? First let me preface by saying that we need to be listening to Solomon more if that IS what he meant. Don't we need to be telling our women that their imperfections make them perfect? They are perfectly imperfect, aren't they?
Solomon was saying that every little thing about his woman is what makes her his. They are one and he doesn't want to be one with 1,000,000 other women (at least at this time he didn't). He wants to be one with a unique woman that God has set out just for him. His desire is not for a bland mass produced cheap wine that he can liken to love... but for a woman that is a unique wine with a distinct spice & features that set her apart as different from the rest of the fold! He wants to compliment her every body part from head to foot only to later compliment her again from foot to head. Isn't that the zeal & depth of love that we all want?
Shouldn't we remember this more, guys? Should you remember this more, ladies?
Even if Solomon turned out to be a man ruled by his passions in the end.. we can still learn something from his early years with the LORD.
Take a look at this passage from chapter 8.
(Song of Solomon 8:6-7)- Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
Just look at how a woman responds to a man that shows this kind of love to her.. we can see it.. the summation of it all.. here's how the message paraphrases it--
Hang my locket around your neck,
wear my ring on your finger.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can’t drown love,
torrents of rain can’t put it out.
Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold—
it’s not to be found in the marketplace.
& here's how the NIV version puts it --
6 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of his house for love,
it would be utterly scorned.
Now you can't tell me you don't want that kind of love. That's the kind of love that really can & will leave with no option but to think of Christ love & mercy! Why would I deserve another human to complete me in that kind of way? Why would I deserve another human to help me honor Christ in that way.. ??? and for it to be pleasing for us to be pleased with the sight and experience of each other at the same time!!! God really is amazing.. What else could Song of Solomon lead us to say?
I know it may seem like "Biblical erotica" to the older people, but that's okay too. God created sex. He wants to remind us that everything he created is good and that includes having fun... it just needs to be in the right season. But then again, isn't that kind of love worth waiting for?
verse 4:7 (ESV) --You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
(The Message)-- You’re beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.
(NLT)-- You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.
Now I just listed these differing versions to show that this isn't just a one translation fluke. Solomon is telling his love that she has NO FLAW!!! How can this be? The Bible doesn't lie, right? How then can Solomon say that his woman has no flaw? He can't! His woman isn't Christ.. that'd be sick! He's not being allegorical.. this is an actual love relationship he's talking about!!!!
So then what does he mean?
I think he's saying that his woman is perfectly imperfect!
What do I mean by this? First let me preface by saying that we need to be listening to Solomon more if that IS what he meant. Don't we need to be telling our women that their imperfections make them perfect? They are perfectly imperfect, aren't they?
Solomon was saying that every little thing about his woman is what makes her his. They are one and he doesn't want to be one with 1,000,000 other women (at least at this time he didn't). He wants to be one with a unique woman that God has set out just for him. His desire is not for a bland mass produced cheap wine that he can liken to love... but for a woman that is a unique wine with a distinct spice & features that set her apart as different from the rest of the fold! He wants to compliment her every body part from head to foot only to later compliment her again from foot to head. Isn't that the zeal & depth of love that we all want?
Shouldn't we remember this more, guys? Should you remember this more, ladies?
Even if Solomon turned out to be a man ruled by his passions in the end.. we can still learn something from his early years with the LORD.
Take a look at this passage from chapter 8.
(Song of Solomon 8:6-7)- Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
Just look at how a woman responds to a man that shows this kind of love to her.. we can see it.. the summation of it all.. here's how the message paraphrases it--
Hang my locket around your neck,
wear my ring on your finger.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can’t drown love,
torrents of rain can’t put it out.
Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold—
it’s not to be found in the marketplace.
& here's how the NIV version puts it --
6 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of his house for love,
it would be utterly scorned.
Now you can't tell me you don't want that kind of love. That's the kind of love that really can & will leave with no option but to think of Christ love & mercy! Why would I deserve another human to complete me in that kind of way? Why would I deserve another human to help me honor Christ in that way.. ??? and for it to be pleasing for us to be pleased with the sight and experience of each other at the same time!!! God really is amazing.. What else could Song of Solomon lead us to say?
I know it may seem like "Biblical erotica" to the older people, but that's okay too. God created sex. He wants to remind us that everything he created is good and that includes having fun... it just needs to be in the right season. But then again, isn't that kind of love worth waiting for?
Saturday, August 28, 2010
because sometimes the rules of grammar & poetics & verse just don't apply to me
So I think I'm a pretty good writer. I think I'm pretty smooth with words sometimes.. & then God hits me. Today I was listening & looking over some of the most poetic, awe-filled, thrilling text ever written. Do you know what it is? It is the Song of Solomon, as found in the Holy Bible. Solomon had IT in his day.. he knew how to compliment a woman! Now, I'm sure some of his metaphors wouldn't do so well now.. but in his day saying a girl was like a dove, had all her teeth (sorry West Virginia women) or was like a horse.. seemed to be a good place to start. After reading some of that stuff & just listening to things on it a lot.. how could I not go for some spontaneous riffing on love?
Here we go.....
To what great thing might I liken this love,
is it the sun or the moon or the oceans great floors?
No, love could never be the sun, for it never blinds
& always illuminates the soul searching all darkness far & wide..
in order that it may be brought to the light!
& rest assured, it could never be the moon, for the moon
is only full but seldom & love is always full, fuller than full
of the most lofty words used to describe her even in this!
& stand affirmed that she is definitely deeper than ocean floors,
yet filled with peace, marked through & through with sands of
diamonds & pearls of the gleaming oyster's hue!
Purer than time of the baby's birth..
Purer than grammar of the language of God's birth!
There is neither Greek, nor gentile.. nor friend nor foe!
There is neither weak one, or meek man.. or strong man alone!
NO this is the love that unites us all,
and to this love I will liken the hair of the bride.
And to this I will liken the thrills of the past loves, divine.
The love that will compel me to break down all the walls,
The love that will compel me to stand so straight & so tall,
The love that will compel me to break these rules of common verse
that the poets set before me.. & still I won't rehearse..
It is a spontaneous, it is a moment,
It is a glimmer into the sun.
It is to travel, it is two oceans,
but formed together to make us one.
Where WE claim to live as separates, but in reality were always one.
& WE claim to eat fine dinners, but now our real wine & feasting comes.
When the lover is his.. & his is the wine,
the choicest drink from the choicest vine.
When the lover is his.. & his is the bride,
Must we part our ways & tell the sum of our crimes?
IT is for the best, IT is but for a time.
IT is for the best, know this, true love of mine..
as it stops & it starts & it dashes & darts in sparks
But for softness of her hand, I trade this fire in for her heart.
Here we go.....
To what great thing might I liken this love,
is it the sun or the moon or the oceans great floors?
No, love could never be the sun, for it never blinds
& always illuminates the soul searching all darkness far & wide..
in order that it may be brought to the light!
& rest assured, it could never be the moon, for the moon
is only full but seldom & love is always full, fuller than full
of the most lofty words used to describe her even in this!
& stand affirmed that she is definitely deeper than ocean floors,
yet filled with peace, marked through & through with sands of
diamonds & pearls of the gleaming oyster's hue!
Purer than time of the baby's birth..
Purer than grammar of the language of God's birth!
There is neither Greek, nor gentile.. nor friend nor foe!
There is neither weak one, or meek man.. or strong man alone!
NO this is the love that unites us all,
and to this love I will liken the hair of the bride.
And to this I will liken the thrills of the past loves, divine.
The love that will compel me to break down all the walls,
The love that will compel me to stand so straight & so tall,
The love that will compel me to break these rules of common verse
that the poets set before me.. & still I won't rehearse..
It is a spontaneous, it is a moment,
It is a glimmer into the sun.
It is to travel, it is two oceans,
but formed together to make us one.
Where WE claim to live as separates, but in reality were always one.
& WE claim to eat fine dinners, but now our real wine & feasting comes.
When the lover is his.. & his is the wine,
the choicest drink from the choicest vine.
When the lover is his.. & his is the bride,
Must we part our ways & tell the sum of our crimes?
IT is for the best, IT is but for a time.
IT is for the best, know this, true love of mine..
as it stops & it starts & it dashes & darts in sparks
But for softness of her hand, I trade this fire in for her heart.
from ridiculous to regular to revolutionary
“Pray for me. I had a checkup 2day. I tested positive 4 sexy. I'm allergic to haters. My blood type is ballin, my pulse is pimpin and the Dr. says this is why I'm hot.”
I heard this today as I listened to a sermon on Song of Solomon. The pastor was describing how a personal trainer at his church was training a rather out of shape woman. Now, this woman had the trainers number and after some training... (she was still out of shape, but had gotten to know & like this trainer).. she had decided to come in one day & claim that she just had a triple-decker, cheese/bacon burger. Now since she had just eaten this monstrous burger, she knew that there was a “chance” something bad could happen after her workout. ON this day, she decided to use that opportunity to fake a blackout in order to see the trainers reactionary care for her.
I use this moment to remind you of what can happen when a woman starts pursuing a man & reversing the natural order of leadership that God intended for relationships. I mean, according to the Bible.. a man is supposed to be the one to lead & initiate a relationship. Why, you ask? When they don't... this is the kind of crazy/stalker/stupid stuff that can happen. You get women eating way too much (or too little) & passing out for attention... (or drinking lots for attention, or popping pills for attention, or having sex before marriage for attention).
Back to the crazy woman story though...
Now this same woman quit the training soon after that (since she was obviously in it & motivated by the wrong reasons in the first place). Could we have ever seen that coming, really? You laugh.. Some of us will quit on God because of the same type deal. We “train” with him because of what we think we can get out of him.. but when he's not interested in taking our bribes and cheap swindling offers.. we decide we've had enough of “the game”. WE give up.
(I should probably stop preaching long enough to finish the story.. for real)
Anyways, this woman... not working out with the trainer anymore.. decided that she was going to start sending awkward/lewd/weird/amazingly annoying/stupid text messages to her former trainer. The quote from the beginning of this article is from one of her text to the trainer. Just in case the craziness of “said text” hasn't set in with you, I will quote it again:
“Pray for me. I had a checkup 2day. I tested positive 4 sexy. I'm allergic to haters. My blood type is ballin, my pulse is pimpin and the Dr. says this is why I'm hot.”
How do we stop this madness? HOW? REALLY HOW????
Here's my proposed solution. WE start with Romans 8. WE read Romans 8 and then we realize that we don't have the proper context on that even until we real Romans 7. IN this we see the battle of “spirit vs. flesh” & the battle of doing what God wants vs. doing what we want. Now, Romans 7 & 8 would remind me of a need to read Colossians to further magnify what this is all about. It's about my identity.
If I am IN CHRIST, then I no longer care so much for backwards, self-seeking things of the world. IF I am IN CHRIST, then I no longer even want to speak in such a way as to please men, but to please God instead. IF I am in Christ I will want to focus on the heavenly things. We see this “IF I AM IN CHRIST” further brought out in Colossians chapter 3. Don't take my word for it, read it and see!
But this isn't where it ends, no! What does this then remind me of? After I read Colossians I am reminded of the “world vs Christ” scenario yet again.. this leads me to read the book of 1st John & in 1st John I am quickly reminded that the one who claims to be in & of Christ should walk the same way that Jesus walked. I am also reminded that the world & flesh & all of its passions & lusts are passing away. I am reminded what love is & what it looks like & how it operates when it is truly perfected! This then brings me to a further focus on love & it reminds me of Ephesians 5 & how Christ loved the church. This then reminds me of 1st Corinthians 12, 13, 14 (to fully contextualize) & shows me that the great function of the church is to love & that love is the most important thing. It shows me that I can technically even be a minster for a church & have many great spiritual gifts but not have love!
That last statement scares me.. because.. we have so many growing people & churches in America. We have so many people growing in knowledge (be it secular or spiritual) but I would wonder if they truly have love. WE have people who are so good at so many things.. but the scripture says that I can be good at even speaking on Christ behalf & still not have love!!!! Is this why so many backwards relationships are happening? Are we good at doing & saying “love” but not BEING “love”? The scriptures testify that God is love... holy.. and righteous.. and pure.. and full of life.
What is our love? Is our love holy? Is our love righteous? IS our love pure? Is our love full of life to the full? This is what Jesus came to bring.. he says in the book of John that he came so that we might have life & have it to the FULL!!!!! How do we maximize that?
I really think it is only by dwelling on the scriptures repeatedly & often... even many times daily. See, I prompted you & myself with a question earlier in this article & then I attempted to answer it somewhat. There was no quick way for me to answer it. AS soon as I mentioned one scripture on it, I began to think of another that interconnected with that one in order to shed deeper insight unto the issue. This is how God works. He uses all of scripture to collectively edify & teach us. WE can't get stuck on one passage or one issue.. all of it can teach us through the spirit of Christ. However, this can only happen if we are seeking to have the mind of Christ.
When we do this, we begin to be fully transformed in word & thought, in mind & heart, in deed, in spirit & truth. What can this lead us to do regarding such controversial things as relationships? Here's what it helps me to do & say. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak as to what & how the LORD has dealt & is dealing with my own heart.. & he will search it even further & see if there is any hurtful way in me & purge it & bring that part of me to light as well.. because that is my prayer.
1)“Dating” isn't dating. The world & Christ have differing views on how to love & respect & hold & cherish a woman... as a bride or even potential bride. It doesn't matter if we use different terms for dating than the world if we end up doing the same thing in action.
2)How can I set up boundaries? What do those boundaries look like? Is it okay for me to even kiss her? Would kissing her now be opening something that would lead me to cherish future intimacy with her less ?
3)How will I react when others question the contrary approach of loving her the way Christ wants me to instead of the way the world thinks I should? How will I handle this in a public manner? How will I handle this in a private manner? How will I show myself to be a leader in this & take initiative so that she doesn't feel alone & ostracized because of loving/living purely as Christ would have her live?
4)How will we truly keep Christ first.. even in our daily talking & commotion? It is not enough to cut off worldly elements of a relationship if we are not going to substitute those worldly elements with Godly elements.
5)How will I keep a list of thoughts such as this from merely being a list of things that I plan to put into action? How can I make this stuff practical?
6)How will I remind her that she is a jewel & a crown to me.. despite the fact that her boss & others might treat her like garbage on a semi-daily basis?
7)How will I keep pursuing her even once I have her?... because true love.. Christ' love.. keeps pursing you even once it has you.. like the Psalmist says in the Hebrew.. it is like a hunter almost.. you can even hide from it & it still pursues.. it is that form of goodness.. the kind that just keeps hunting you all of your days.. “Surely goodness will pursue me in the house of God forever!” How can I make my love like that goodness to her? How can I really make it like Christ love so that she wants to experience it with the all of the senses? Taste it.. feel it.. smell it..hear it.. drink it.. know it.. utterly & completely & totally.
8)How can I be so overwhelmed & influenced & filled with the things of Christ that she sees Christ every time she looks at me.. or talks to me.. or shares a moment with me? (this one is almost like a summary of number 7.. because number 7 is THAT IMPORTANT)
You see, I don't have it all together.. even with Christ! I mean, did you not just see how many questions I've posed in this list of things Christ either has dealt or is dealing with me on? See, I did it AGAIN!!!!... Another question, lol. The point is not to eliminate unknowns, but to stand on what I do know, Christ! Everything else is a chance to be embraced as an opportunity for faith. I say that because faith can be a verb.. we can “faith” something. English grammar doesn't seem to agree with that, but in the original Greek there is a word for faith as a verb. I suggest we live out our faith that way.. as a verb. It is only when we live out our faith & love & hope as a verb that we can begin to see how Christ really wants our relationships to be anyway. This doesn't only apply to “dating”. This applies to every kind of possible relationship... even yours with God! When we only see these things as nouns.. they are merely like ideas & names. They may even be like adjectives that describe something.. but they don't bring it to life & show it to us. Only verbs can show it to us! Only verbs can bring us to life! This is why love IS a verb & faith IS a verb & hope IS a verb!!! Forget the limitations of man made grammar. (After all, most of us don't stick to grammar in real life anyway..) Grammar is weak. We are weak, but God is not. Only through him can we ever overcome these fallacies. And here's what he reminds me of over & over..
Words carry an inherent weakness and strength. Words carry in themselves a life & a death. Words carry in themselves both a sword & a flag or mercy. However, it is up to us to choose which of these things to release from words! How then may we release anything to make these words more than words except by actions? The answer then is plain & simple: WE must act! WE must go! WE must do! WE must decide!
So, what is your decision?
I heard this today as I listened to a sermon on Song of Solomon. The pastor was describing how a personal trainer at his church was training a rather out of shape woman. Now, this woman had the trainers number and after some training... (she was still out of shape, but had gotten to know & like this trainer).. she had decided to come in one day & claim that she just had a triple-decker, cheese/bacon burger. Now since she had just eaten this monstrous burger, she knew that there was a “chance” something bad could happen after her workout. ON this day, she decided to use that opportunity to fake a blackout in order to see the trainers reactionary care for her.
I use this moment to remind you of what can happen when a woman starts pursuing a man & reversing the natural order of leadership that God intended for relationships. I mean, according to the Bible.. a man is supposed to be the one to lead & initiate a relationship. Why, you ask? When they don't... this is the kind of crazy/stalker/stupid stuff that can happen. You get women eating way too much (or too little) & passing out for attention... (or drinking lots for attention, or popping pills for attention, or having sex before marriage for attention).
Back to the crazy woman story though...
Now this same woman quit the training soon after that (since she was obviously in it & motivated by the wrong reasons in the first place). Could we have ever seen that coming, really? You laugh.. Some of us will quit on God because of the same type deal. We “train” with him because of what we think we can get out of him.. but when he's not interested in taking our bribes and cheap swindling offers.. we decide we've had enough of “the game”. WE give up.
(I should probably stop preaching long enough to finish the story.. for real)
Anyways, this woman... not working out with the trainer anymore.. decided that she was going to start sending awkward/lewd/weird/amazingly annoying/stupid text messages to her former trainer. The quote from the beginning of this article is from one of her text to the trainer. Just in case the craziness of “said text” hasn't set in with you, I will quote it again:
“Pray for me. I had a checkup 2day. I tested positive 4 sexy. I'm allergic to haters. My blood type is ballin, my pulse is pimpin and the Dr. says this is why I'm hot.”
How do we stop this madness? HOW? REALLY HOW????
Here's my proposed solution. WE start with Romans 8. WE read Romans 8 and then we realize that we don't have the proper context on that even until we real Romans 7. IN this we see the battle of “spirit vs. flesh” & the battle of doing what God wants vs. doing what we want. Now, Romans 7 & 8 would remind me of a need to read Colossians to further magnify what this is all about. It's about my identity.
If I am IN CHRIST, then I no longer care so much for backwards, self-seeking things of the world. IF I am IN CHRIST, then I no longer even want to speak in such a way as to please men, but to please God instead. IF I am in Christ I will want to focus on the heavenly things. We see this “IF I AM IN CHRIST” further brought out in Colossians chapter 3. Don't take my word for it, read it and see!
But this isn't where it ends, no! What does this then remind me of? After I read Colossians I am reminded of the “world vs Christ” scenario yet again.. this leads me to read the book of 1st John & in 1st John I am quickly reminded that the one who claims to be in & of Christ should walk the same way that Jesus walked. I am also reminded that the world & flesh & all of its passions & lusts are passing away. I am reminded what love is & what it looks like & how it operates when it is truly perfected! This then brings me to a further focus on love & it reminds me of Ephesians 5 & how Christ loved the church. This then reminds me of 1st Corinthians 12, 13, 14 (to fully contextualize) & shows me that the great function of the church is to love & that love is the most important thing. It shows me that I can technically even be a minster for a church & have many great spiritual gifts but not have love!
That last statement scares me.. because.. we have so many growing people & churches in America. We have so many people growing in knowledge (be it secular or spiritual) but I would wonder if they truly have love. WE have people who are so good at so many things.. but the scripture says that I can be good at even speaking on Christ behalf & still not have love!!!! Is this why so many backwards relationships are happening? Are we good at doing & saying “love” but not BEING “love”? The scriptures testify that God is love... holy.. and righteous.. and pure.. and full of life.
What is our love? Is our love holy? Is our love righteous? IS our love pure? Is our love full of life to the full? This is what Jesus came to bring.. he says in the book of John that he came so that we might have life & have it to the FULL!!!!! How do we maximize that?
I really think it is only by dwelling on the scriptures repeatedly & often... even many times daily. See, I prompted you & myself with a question earlier in this article & then I attempted to answer it somewhat. There was no quick way for me to answer it. AS soon as I mentioned one scripture on it, I began to think of another that interconnected with that one in order to shed deeper insight unto the issue. This is how God works. He uses all of scripture to collectively edify & teach us. WE can't get stuck on one passage or one issue.. all of it can teach us through the spirit of Christ. However, this can only happen if we are seeking to have the mind of Christ.
When we do this, we begin to be fully transformed in word & thought, in mind & heart, in deed, in spirit & truth. What can this lead us to do regarding such controversial things as relationships? Here's what it helps me to do & say. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak as to what & how the LORD has dealt & is dealing with my own heart.. & he will search it even further & see if there is any hurtful way in me & purge it & bring that part of me to light as well.. because that is my prayer.
1)“Dating” isn't dating. The world & Christ have differing views on how to love & respect & hold & cherish a woman... as a bride or even potential bride. It doesn't matter if we use different terms for dating than the world if we end up doing the same thing in action.
2)How can I set up boundaries? What do those boundaries look like? Is it okay for me to even kiss her? Would kissing her now be opening something that would lead me to cherish future intimacy with her less ?
3)How will I react when others question the contrary approach of loving her the way Christ wants me to instead of the way the world thinks I should? How will I handle this in a public manner? How will I handle this in a private manner? How will I show myself to be a leader in this & take initiative so that she doesn't feel alone & ostracized because of loving/living purely as Christ would have her live?
4)How will we truly keep Christ first.. even in our daily talking & commotion? It is not enough to cut off worldly elements of a relationship if we are not going to substitute those worldly elements with Godly elements.
5)How will I keep a list of thoughts such as this from merely being a list of things that I plan to put into action? How can I make this stuff practical?
6)How will I remind her that she is a jewel & a crown to me.. despite the fact that her boss & others might treat her like garbage on a semi-daily basis?
7)How will I keep pursuing her even once I have her?... because true love.. Christ' love.. keeps pursing you even once it has you.. like the Psalmist says in the Hebrew.. it is like a hunter almost.. you can even hide from it & it still pursues.. it is that form of goodness.. the kind that just keeps hunting you all of your days.. “Surely goodness will pursue me in the house of God forever!” How can I make my love like that goodness to her? How can I really make it like Christ love so that she wants to experience it with the all of the senses? Taste it.. feel it.. smell it..hear it.. drink it.. know it.. utterly & completely & totally.
8)How can I be so overwhelmed & influenced & filled with the things of Christ that she sees Christ every time she looks at me.. or talks to me.. or shares a moment with me? (this one is almost like a summary of number 7.. because number 7 is THAT IMPORTANT)
You see, I don't have it all together.. even with Christ! I mean, did you not just see how many questions I've posed in this list of things Christ either has dealt or is dealing with me on? See, I did it AGAIN!!!!... Another question, lol. The point is not to eliminate unknowns, but to stand on what I do know, Christ! Everything else is a chance to be embraced as an opportunity for faith. I say that because faith can be a verb.. we can “faith” something. English grammar doesn't seem to agree with that, but in the original Greek there is a word for faith as a verb. I suggest we live out our faith that way.. as a verb. It is only when we live out our faith & love & hope as a verb that we can begin to see how Christ really wants our relationships to be anyway. This doesn't only apply to “dating”. This applies to every kind of possible relationship... even yours with God! When we only see these things as nouns.. they are merely like ideas & names. They may even be like adjectives that describe something.. but they don't bring it to life & show it to us. Only verbs can show it to us! Only verbs can bring us to life! This is why love IS a verb & faith IS a verb & hope IS a verb!!! Forget the limitations of man made grammar. (After all, most of us don't stick to grammar in real life anyway..) Grammar is weak. We are weak, but God is not. Only through him can we ever overcome these fallacies. And here's what he reminds me of over & over..
Words carry an inherent weakness and strength. Words carry in themselves a life & a death. Words carry in themselves both a sword & a flag or mercy. However, it is up to us to choose which of these things to release from words! How then may we release anything to make these words more than words except by actions? The answer then is plain & simple: WE must act! WE must go! WE must do! WE must decide!
So, what is your decision?
Friday, August 27, 2010
A 2nd (more weighty) parable
It has been said that when you are stranded in life then you are all alone. This is the meaning of that word stranded, to be completely and utterly lonely in every sense. How could you know if you really are alone in every sense? Don't the trees whisper the hints of the divine? Don't the waves roar the greetings of the magnificent? Then you!, why should you keep on running in place while saying, “I am so terribly alone in every way!”. Look at this life, wasn't it made for true living? Weren't YOU made for true living? Why then must you keep biting at yourself until your body and mind give way to the lie that you have created? This is nothing more than a product of your own dissolute fixation.
Behold, 40 men set out on a journey and with them they took many supplies. One man was put in charge of the food. One man was put in charge of the water. Still, another man was placed in charge of the security of these items. Now these men set out on a journey from the Ethiopian highlands to Egypt, for the land was drying up. Now this journey would be a long and grueling one, since the region was enclosed by mountains on either side.
The travelers set out on their journey and were determined to make the most of the day. Each day they awoke with this mindset, knowing that every minute other hungry people from the highlands may be beating them to Egypt. Now, it was important that they arrive there before the others, because even a mighty place as Egypt would not allow an entire nation of outsiders to dwell among its native people.
First came the mountains, but in order to leave the once flourishing highlands they would have to make a sacrifice. See, some of the travelers had grown weary at this point and in order to climb the mountains on either side they would need to be revived with food and water. The problem was that the men in charge of the food and water could only bring enough for a forty day journey. Seeing as this was the case, the travelers were told that they may have to face extreme hunger at times in order to stretch the food and water supplies. Nevertheless, the travelers grew weary and indignant and cried out for sustenance. As this was the case, the three in charge discussed the issue and sided with the people for the sake of argument.
The next morning after everyone had filled their bellies and gotten their rest, the camp set to cross the mountains. Near the summit though, the man in charge of food had a fierce encounter with a mountain lion. Now the man wasn't hurt, but all of the food was lost as the animal took from it while he was sleeping. The other two leaders of the camp were outraged and said, “Why is it that you would lie down and rest and sleep during the day when you should have been making preparation for the whole group?” Then the other leaders voted to leave the one in charge of food on his own so that he might die or survive of his own cause.
Now this man, left to his thoughts and the LORD, realized that the mountain on the other side of the highlands wasn't nearly as treacherous on the descent. This man, who had been abandoned for dead by his group, left the mountain that the group was ascending so that he may climb the other mountain instead. Now, to do this he would have to travel back across the trail that had already walked so that he may reach the way that he saw as correct in the LORD's eyes.
This man reached the other mountain in 10 days and didn't suffer much hunger or thirst, for the way that he traveled held many wild creatures which the LORD provided as food. There were also many brooks and even a river to help lead along his path to the mountain. This man was refreshed as he arrived at the mountain and climbed it without much problem. The man encountered a mountain lion once more, but had no food to carry with him so the lion kept his distance.
Now for the other travelers it was not so. These other travelers set out to descend the mountain on which they had ascended and found that it was a very steep drop off. For days the travelers squabbled amongst themselves trying to decide the best way to make the descent. Finally, after 10 days of squabbling, the two leaders exerted themselves to lead and decided to do something. Now these leaders, the same two that had no mercy on their fellow leader, were very proud and didn't want to admit that it would be safer to retrace their footsteps and climb the other mountain. Because of this pride, the two leaders kept their mouths shut and began descending the mountain.
At the three day mark,of the descent, the group of 37 travelers and 2 leaders had made it one third of the way down the mountain. The group had 27 days remaining to get to Egypt if they wanted to make time. At the sixth day mark, of the descent, the group of 37 travelers and 2 leaders had made it two thirds of the way down the mountain. At this point though, the leader in charge of the security of the water had become thirsty and began to take rations of the water that weren't allotted to him. So with 24 days remaining the travelers kept on through the night so that they made it to the foot of the mountain with 22 days remaining. Now the former leader, which had been left for dead, took only 5 days total to climb his mountain and descend it. So even after this time, this man, was left 25 days to get to Egypt.
Upon overtaking his mountain, the former leader bowed and thanked his God for delivering him twice from the lion and also for providing him with food and water to sustain him. This man now realized that he had 25 days in which to reach Egypt and began thinking about how he should proceed. The man first prayed to God for wisdom that he might not be foolish in his planning and cost himself life only for a moment of comfort. Because this man was so bold in his prayer, God granted him the wisdom to know that he would have to cross the Sahel region in order to get to Egypt the fastest.
Now, the other group, the group of 37 travelers and 2 leaders were not so. This group realized that they had only 22 days left to arrive at Egypt. These had arguing among the people because of the suffering that had already taken place. The two leaders once again convened to decide how to proceed from the foot of the mountain. These decided that the Sahel was not the way to go since it had become almost as harsh of the region as the Sahara in many aspects. These decided that they would travel around the outskirts of the Sahel. So then, the leaders lead the travelers the way around the Sahel closest to the coastline. Now this discussion of the two leaders took 2 days to decide upon so that there remained 20 days for travel.
Now the former leader, the one which had been abandoned by the group, was traveling straight through the heart of Sudan country. He encountered a Godly family in a small village and these people took note of his courage and humility. These realized that he had no one but God to look out for him. The traveler told these people his story and they felt compassion on him and gave him much. Now with new sandals, fresh bread and water, the traveler that once had nothing had as much as the entire camp had started out with. This one now had 22 days to reach Egypt.
Now, the other group was crossing around the outskirts of the Sudan region. These were along the coastal regions when a fierce storm blew in. The storm caused great rain and wind for three days and nights so that the camp had to completely halt their journey for a time. At the end of the great rains, the group had only 17 days to reach Egypt. The 2 leaders had not thought about such difficulty in traveling the coastal areas. At this time the water supply had also become contaminated with salt from the sea. These travelers now knew that they had a problem. Even the leaders couldn't hide their foolishness from the travelers at this point. The group now couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if they hadn't so hastily agreed to leave the other leader behind. The group wondered if maybe the other leader had been a threat to the other leaders to begin with. Maybe this is why the two leaders had opted so hastily and easily to leave him for dead?
Now, the one that had been left for dead earlier, he was flourishing in his conditions because of his great dependance and reverence for the LORD. This one traveled through desert like territory in the Sudan and didn't even have to hunger or thirst! Behold this was all because this man hungered and thirsted for righteousness first! Now with about 15 days remaining on the 40 day time table, this one arrived at Egypt early due to the LORD. The once abandoned one again prayed thanks to the LORD and even asked for further direction from him. The man knew that if the LORD had allowed him to be early then it must be for a reason. The LORD then placed it on the man's heart to travel to Cairo so that he may tell his story in the capitol city streets. Seeing this would please the LORD, the traveler journeyed 6 more days and arrived in Cairo on the 9th day remaining.
Now, the other group, the group of 37 and 2 leaders; they had become stagnant. These travelers knew at this point that their leadership was no good. The group was blinded though so that they could not see that they were also at fault for the mistakes of the leadership. These travelers opted to form a mutiny against their leadership. While the two leaders were sleeping one night, the crowd bound them in their tents and cast them into the sea. Each leader had a millstone tied around his neck. The travelers did not realize though, that throwing blame on the leaders, even if justly placed, would not help their own problems. By time the crowd had devised this scheme to take the lives of the leaders 2 days and nights had passed. Now, with 15 days remaining, the group decided that a few leaders would be a bad idea. The group pleaded that each member should have a vote in every matter so that no one again could unjustly rule over the whole or hide important information. So then the group had no food or water as the set out to finish the journey to Egypt.
Behold, the once abandoned one arrived in Cairo and spread his news of the LORD's great favor and mercy on those who love him. He shared that to each man a choice was given between two paths and two mountains and that one would be very deceiving. The man urged the people to pay close attention that they not trust in their own hearts, but instead have faith in God. He told them that one path would trick them into thinking that they all could have just enough of everything they wanted, but that same path would end in death. He told them that one path would be filled with hunger and thirst, but that it would grow hunger and thirst for righteousness. “It has been said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, he said. So then upon this great teaching the people began to examine their lives and put their trust in the LORD. These people saw how one way seemed right to a man but ended in death and so they prayed in reverence for the LORD's great provision, power and grace.
Meanwhile, the group of the 37 set out to finish their journey without food or water. This group had made things worse on itself at this point because everyone had been given a say, even the ones that were ignorant. The group didn't realize that the whole lot of them were ignorant and blind for placing their trust in their own capabilities. This group of 37 traveled on for 3 more days with no food or water and at this point had 12 days left to get to Egypt. With no energy in which to move or travel, the group lost its drive and found itself off course and in the Sahara desert. Like a blind man walking to his own death, the group couldn't see the impending doom of any journey apart from the LORD's side.
In Egypt, the once forgotten one was honored by the Pharaoh and made into a great official for the nation. The forgotten one remembered these words, “To the one whom much is given, much will also be required.” The forgotten one did not forget where he came from and thus prayed to the LORD every chance that he had. This one continued sharing the Gospel of God and his own testimony throughout all of his days in Egypt, and so he prospered in the LORD. He told of how the two paths were good and evil and how one disguised itself so that it may be more appealing to men. Many men will travel that road, but blessed is the man that realizes his blindness and turns about to go the opposite way in accordance with repentance!
The group of 37 were not so, they were like chaff which the wind blows away. One by one the 37 realized that they had wandered into the desert. At this point, the realization of being in the desert did the group no good. Seem 7 days had passed of this wandering before the group came to its' senses. The group now only had 5 days to get to Egypt, but almost no life force in which to carry them to this land of greatness. Now, having no leader, the group began squabbling once again. Behold, this squabbling was like the entire journey of the 37 and the 2 leaders they had killed. No profit came of this, but instead they began devising ways in which to kill each other so that they might survive even a day longer in the desert. Water was scarce though, and so even the ones that resulted to greed and murder had no chance. These people had created an allusion in their minds and would go to any lengths to attain this dream of promise. The only thing the people didn't do is have faith. The people didn't pray and didn't give reverence to the LORD and so they fell away from his favor and from this life in a manner that no man would wish to suffer.
Now, even you righteous may face a desert in your life, but remember the one who had been left for dead. This one had faith and prayed and the LORD provided. This one even, though, did suffer hunger and thirst and various trials first, but it was so that he might hunger and thirst for righteousness above ALL things! You then remember this and do not be like the chaff of the 37 travelers that would not take blame for their own problems of sin and forgetfulness of God! You then do not be like their 2 leaders either, for they not only forgot the LORD, but set the pattern of deception that their people would follow for all of their days. I tell you, these men have suffered at the hands of the world but it is nothing compared to the death of many deaths that they would have to face thereafter! You then, lead not one man astray by the wicked ways of false teaching, but instead prepare yourself for righteousness and then share your knowledge of wisdom and repentance. Do this, even as the righteous traveler did and you too will be blessed with a wisdom of God that permeates all situations and trails in life.
Behold, 40 men set out on a journey and with them they took many supplies. One man was put in charge of the food. One man was put in charge of the water. Still, another man was placed in charge of the security of these items. Now these men set out on a journey from the Ethiopian highlands to Egypt, for the land was drying up. Now this journey would be a long and grueling one, since the region was enclosed by mountains on either side.
The travelers set out on their journey and were determined to make the most of the day. Each day they awoke with this mindset, knowing that every minute other hungry people from the highlands may be beating them to Egypt. Now, it was important that they arrive there before the others, because even a mighty place as Egypt would not allow an entire nation of outsiders to dwell among its native people.
First came the mountains, but in order to leave the once flourishing highlands they would have to make a sacrifice. See, some of the travelers had grown weary at this point and in order to climb the mountains on either side they would need to be revived with food and water. The problem was that the men in charge of the food and water could only bring enough for a forty day journey. Seeing as this was the case, the travelers were told that they may have to face extreme hunger at times in order to stretch the food and water supplies. Nevertheless, the travelers grew weary and indignant and cried out for sustenance. As this was the case, the three in charge discussed the issue and sided with the people for the sake of argument.
The next morning after everyone had filled their bellies and gotten their rest, the camp set to cross the mountains. Near the summit though, the man in charge of food had a fierce encounter with a mountain lion. Now the man wasn't hurt, but all of the food was lost as the animal took from it while he was sleeping. The other two leaders of the camp were outraged and said, “Why is it that you would lie down and rest and sleep during the day when you should have been making preparation for the whole group?” Then the other leaders voted to leave the one in charge of food on his own so that he might die or survive of his own cause.
Now this man, left to his thoughts and the LORD, realized that the mountain on the other side of the highlands wasn't nearly as treacherous on the descent. This man, who had been abandoned for dead by his group, left the mountain that the group was ascending so that he may climb the other mountain instead. Now, to do this he would have to travel back across the trail that had already walked so that he may reach the way that he saw as correct in the LORD's eyes.
This man reached the other mountain in 10 days and didn't suffer much hunger or thirst, for the way that he traveled held many wild creatures which the LORD provided as food. There were also many brooks and even a river to help lead along his path to the mountain. This man was refreshed as he arrived at the mountain and climbed it without much problem. The man encountered a mountain lion once more, but had no food to carry with him so the lion kept his distance.
Now for the other travelers it was not so. These other travelers set out to descend the mountain on which they had ascended and found that it was a very steep drop off. For days the travelers squabbled amongst themselves trying to decide the best way to make the descent. Finally, after 10 days of squabbling, the two leaders exerted themselves to lead and decided to do something. Now these leaders, the same two that had no mercy on their fellow leader, were very proud and didn't want to admit that it would be safer to retrace their footsteps and climb the other mountain. Because of this pride, the two leaders kept their mouths shut and began descending the mountain.
At the three day mark,of the descent, the group of 37 travelers and 2 leaders had made it one third of the way down the mountain. The group had 27 days remaining to get to Egypt if they wanted to make time. At the sixth day mark, of the descent, the group of 37 travelers and 2 leaders had made it two thirds of the way down the mountain. At this point though, the leader in charge of the security of the water had become thirsty and began to take rations of the water that weren't allotted to him. So with 24 days remaining the travelers kept on through the night so that they made it to the foot of the mountain with 22 days remaining. Now the former leader, which had been left for dead, took only 5 days total to climb his mountain and descend it. So even after this time, this man, was left 25 days to get to Egypt.
Upon overtaking his mountain, the former leader bowed and thanked his God for delivering him twice from the lion and also for providing him with food and water to sustain him. This man now realized that he had 25 days in which to reach Egypt and began thinking about how he should proceed. The man first prayed to God for wisdom that he might not be foolish in his planning and cost himself life only for a moment of comfort. Because this man was so bold in his prayer, God granted him the wisdom to know that he would have to cross the Sahel region in order to get to Egypt the fastest.
Now, the other group, the group of 37 travelers and 2 leaders were not so. This group realized that they had only 22 days left to arrive at Egypt. These had arguing among the people because of the suffering that had already taken place. The two leaders once again convened to decide how to proceed from the foot of the mountain. These decided that the Sahel was not the way to go since it had become almost as harsh of the region as the Sahara in many aspects. These decided that they would travel around the outskirts of the Sahel. So then, the leaders lead the travelers the way around the Sahel closest to the coastline. Now this discussion of the two leaders took 2 days to decide upon so that there remained 20 days for travel.
Now the former leader, the one which had been abandoned by the group, was traveling straight through the heart of Sudan country. He encountered a Godly family in a small village and these people took note of his courage and humility. These realized that he had no one but God to look out for him. The traveler told these people his story and they felt compassion on him and gave him much. Now with new sandals, fresh bread and water, the traveler that once had nothing had as much as the entire camp had started out with. This one now had 22 days to reach Egypt.
Now, the other group was crossing around the outskirts of the Sudan region. These were along the coastal regions when a fierce storm blew in. The storm caused great rain and wind for three days and nights so that the camp had to completely halt their journey for a time. At the end of the great rains, the group had only 17 days to reach Egypt. The 2 leaders had not thought about such difficulty in traveling the coastal areas. At this time the water supply had also become contaminated with salt from the sea. These travelers now knew that they had a problem. Even the leaders couldn't hide their foolishness from the travelers at this point. The group now couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if they hadn't so hastily agreed to leave the other leader behind. The group wondered if maybe the other leader had been a threat to the other leaders to begin with. Maybe this is why the two leaders had opted so hastily and easily to leave him for dead?
Now, the one that had been left for dead earlier, he was flourishing in his conditions because of his great dependance and reverence for the LORD. This one traveled through desert like territory in the Sudan and didn't even have to hunger or thirst! Behold this was all because this man hungered and thirsted for righteousness first! Now with about 15 days remaining on the 40 day time table, this one arrived at Egypt early due to the LORD. The once abandoned one again prayed thanks to the LORD and even asked for further direction from him. The man knew that if the LORD had allowed him to be early then it must be for a reason. The LORD then placed it on the man's heart to travel to Cairo so that he may tell his story in the capitol city streets. Seeing this would please the LORD, the traveler journeyed 6 more days and arrived in Cairo on the 9th day remaining.
Now, the other group, the group of 37 and 2 leaders; they had become stagnant. These travelers knew at this point that their leadership was no good. The group was blinded though so that they could not see that they were also at fault for the mistakes of the leadership. These travelers opted to form a mutiny against their leadership. While the two leaders were sleeping one night, the crowd bound them in their tents and cast them into the sea. Each leader had a millstone tied around his neck. The travelers did not realize though, that throwing blame on the leaders, even if justly placed, would not help their own problems. By time the crowd had devised this scheme to take the lives of the leaders 2 days and nights had passed. Now, with 15 days remaining, the group decided that a few leaders would be a bad idea. The group pleaded that each member should have a vote in every matter so that no one again could unjustly rule over the whole or hide important information. So then the group had no food or water as the set out to finish the journey to Egypt.
Behold, the once abandoned one arrived in Cairo and spread his news of the LORD's great favor and mercy on those who love him. He shared that to each man a choice was given between two paths and two mountains and that one would be very deceiving. The man urged the people to pay close attention that they not trust in their own hearts, but instead have faith in God. He told them that one path would trick them into thinking that they all could have just enough of everything they wanted, but that same path would end in death. He told them that one path would be filled with hunger and thirst, but that it would grow hunger and thirst for righteousness. “It has been said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, he said. So then upon this great teaching the people began to examine their lives and put their trust in the LORD. These people saw how one way seemed right to a man but ended in death and so they prayed in reverence for the LORD's great provision, power and grace.
Meanwhile, the group of the 37 set out to finish their journey without food or water. This group had made things worse on itself at this point because everyone had been given a say, even the ones that were ignorant. The group didn't realize that the whole lot of them were ignorant and blind for placing their trust in their own capabilities. This group of 37 traveled on for 3 more days with no food or water and at this point had 12 days left to get to Egypt. With no energy in which to move or travel, the group lost its drive and found itself off course and in the Sahara desert. Like a blind man walking to his own death, the group couldn't see the impending doom of any journey apart from the LORD's side.
In Egypt, the once forgotten one was honored by the Pharaoh and made into a great official for the nation. The forgotten one remembered these words, “To the one whom much is given, much will also be required.” The forgotten one did not forget where he came from and thus prayed to the LORD every chance that he had. This one continued sharing the Gospel of God and his own testimony throughout all of his days in Egypt, and so he prospered in the LORD. He told of how the two paths were good and evil and how one disguised itself so that it may be more appealing to men. Many men will travel that road, but blessed is the man that realizes his blindness and turns about to go the opposite way in accordance with repentance!
The group of 37 were not so, they were like chaff which the wind blows away. One by one the 37 realized that they had wandered into the desert. At this point, the realization of being in the desert did the group no good. Seem 7 days had passed of this wandering before the group came to its' senses. The group now only had 5 days to get to Egypt, but almost no life force in which to carry them to this land of greatness. Now, having no leader, the group began squabbling once again. Behold, this squabbling was like the entire journey of the 37 and the 2 leaders they had killed. No profit came of this, but instead they began devising ways in which to kill each other so that they might survive even a day longer in the desert. Water was scarce though, and so even the ones that resulted to greed and murder had no chance. These people had created an allusion in their minds and would go to any lengths to attain this dream of promise. The only thing the people didn't do is have faith. The people didn't pray and didn't give reverence to the LORD and so they fell away from his favor and from this life in a manner that no man would wish to suffer.
Now, even you righteous may face a desert in your life, but remember the one who had been left for dead. This one had faith and prayed and the LORD provided. This one even, though, did suffer hunger and thirst and various trials first, but it was so that he might hunger and thirst for righteousness above ALL things! You then remember this and do not be like the chaff of the 37 travelers that would not take blame for their own problems of sin and forgetfulness of God! You then do not be like their 2 leaders either, for they not only forgot the LORD, but set the pattern of deception that their people would follow for all of their days. I tell you, these men have suffered at the hands of the world but it is nothing compared to the death of many deaths that they would have to face thereafter! You then, lead not one man astray by the wicked ways of false teaching, but instead prepare yourself for righteousness and then share your knowledge of wisdom and repentance. Do this, even as the righteous traveler did and you too will be blessed with a wisdom of God that permeates all situations and trails in life.
A Modern Parable
The flesh of man is like a guitar string that was manufactured with hidden weaknesses. What man can know these weaknesses unless he is told? And who then tells man of all hidden things so that their dull, calloused eyes may be opened? Is it not the son of man that reveals all hidden things, even those things once thought of as questionable and impossible by man, so that the light of dawn may be true as the everlasting light of the father that it was meant to be? We know then, that even the weakness of the faulty guitar string is nothing compared with the weakness of man! For consider the cracks within man's will that he can do nothing in and of his of his own self! But with God all things can be made new again!
I tell you, a man is like that broken guitar string that was manufactured with many hidden weaknesses. The world could not foresee these weaknesses but the father foresaw of them and intended them for humility and holiness. He saw that these weaknesses would be so in order that man might look to him and realize that with God the impossibilities of man are rendered possible! This same broken guitar string is also like a man that doesn't behold his need for grace; but once broken, he may run to that same grace he once ignored so that he may have life everlasting. At this moment man's heart will no longer be a broken string, but instead it will become a vibrant one with sounds like many harps that echo God's glory to a lost and dying world. At this moment, even now, his heart will become a vibrant string that will never break, because his humble exaltation of the Lord has made him new. His heart will be like a new and shining one that is immune to the lust of the world and only moved by the purity of heaven. He will sit before the Lord's feet and sit even as Mary did, unworried about the concerns of the world. This one, he will realize that he was like a guitar string manufactured with many weaknesses. This one, he will realize that his weaknesses grew humility and out of humility holiness! This one will draw near to God, and God to him. This one will pray, and he will fast and he will have faith in all things! But you, be like this one and not the many that have grumbled over these weaknesses to the point of bringing even more folly upon themselves. For out of much turmoil can many great blessings come, but out of needless words only the bread of idleness will be born! After all, did Noah profit the blessing of God by idle words or by faith? Did not David profit the favor of the Lord by realizing the battle is the Lord's? Did not Job profit in reverence for the LORD over argument? Then you also realize that weakness in the eyes of men can be used for great things by the LORD of the universe! Does not the Lord, your God, still use the despised things of the earth to bring his name glory? Does not the LORD use the weak things of the world to show his strength and bring the kings and mighty men of this world to their very knees? You then, count yourselves as honored if you should be weak or endure any manner of suffering for the Lord's name and count it as an honor being brought before his very face! The eyes of the LORD are continually upon his children and he cannot forsake a righteous man. You then, be righteous and root yourselves in Christ as he is the Godhead in its fullness, even born of flesh. You then, be holy even as the father is holy, for the spirit of Christ can make even forgotten things new!
Even this world is like a guitar string manufactured with many hidden weaknesses. The very creation groans to be reconciled to God yet again! You then, having much more favor in God's eyes than the trees and birds and fish, realize that God is light! You then, realize that the Christ died so that all things may be reconciled to the father yet again! In this way, the new day may dawn and the new world may be much sweeter than the old corrupted one. Did not the psalmist say that God knew you before you where born? Did not they say that dark is even as light to the father? For the father sees all and knows all. The father knows of your lying and sitting and all of your ways, even intimately! Where shall a man go from the father's presence? Or where shall a man go to be out of reach from the spirit? This spirit, of God, shall search the bottomless pit, the depths of sea, even the caps of every snow covered mountain until he has found his one! This spirit searches even the “unsearchable” to find the things that man can only dream of! I will praise the for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. The spirit calls and beckons the broken to be made whole yet again!
I tell you, a man is like that broken guitar string that was manufactured with many hidden weaknesses. The world could not foresee these weaknesses but the father foresaw of them and intended them for humility and holiness. He saw that these weaknesses would be so in order that man might look to him and realize that with God the impossibilities of man are rendered possible! This same broken guitar string is also like a man that doesn't behold his need for grace; but once broken, he may run to that same grace he once ignored so that he may have life everlasting. At this moment man's heart will no longer be a broken string, but instead it will become a vibrant one with sounds like many harps that echo God's glory to a lost and dying world. At this moment, even now, his heart will become a vibrant string that will never break, because his humble exaltation of the Lord has made him new. His heart will be like a new and shining one that is immune to the lust of the world and only moved by the purity of heaven. He will sit before the Lord's feet and sit even as Mary did, unworried about the concerns of the world. This one, he will realize that he was like a guitar string manufactured with many weaknesses. This one, he will realize that his weaknesses grew humility and out of humility holiness! This one will draw near to God, and God to him. This one will pray, and he will fast and he will have faith in all things! But you, be like this one and not the many that have grumbled over these weaknesses to the point of bringing even more folly upon themselves. For out of much turmoil can many great blessings come, but out of needless words only the bread of idleness will be born! After all, did Noah profit the blessing of God by idle words or by faith? Did not David profit the favor of the Lord by realizing the battle is the Lord's? Did not Job profit in reverence for the LORD over argument? Then you also realize that weakness in the eyes of men can be used for great things by the LORD of the universe! Does not the Lord, your God, still use the despised things of the earth to bring his name glory? Does not the LORD use the weak things of the world to show his strength and bring the kings and mighty men of this world to their very knees? You then, count yourselves as honored if you should be weak or endure any manner of suffering for the Lord's name and count it as an honor being brought before his very face! The eyes of the LORD are continually upon his children and he cannot forsake a righteous man. You then, be righteous and root yourselves in Christ as he is the Godhead in its fullness, even born of flesh. You then, be holy even as the father is holy, for the spirit of Christ can make even forgotten things new!
Even this world is like a guitar string manufactured with many hidden weaknesses. The very creation groans to be reconciled to God yet again! You then, having much more favor in God's eyes than the trees and birds and fish, realize that God is light! You then, realize that the Christ died so that all things may be reconciled to the father yet again! In this way, the new day may dawn and the new world may be much sweeter than the old corrupted one. Did not the psalmist say that God knew you before you where born? Did not they say that dark is even as light to the father? For the father sees all and knows all. The father knows of your lying and sitting and all of your ways, even intimately! Where shall a man go from the father's presence? Or where shall a man go to be out of reach from the spirit? This spirit, of God, shall search the bottomless pit, the depths of sea, even the caps of every snow covered mountain until he has found his one! This spirit searches even the “unsearchable” to find the things that man can only dream of! I will praise the for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. The spirit calls and beckons the broken to be made whole yet again!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
To the girl.. & God.
To the girl-- (and to God..)
What if I told you I loved you? What if I threw myself to the ground on one knee as a man in the throws of a wedding proposal? What if I threw myself onto the ground upon two knees after waking up from that wedding dream in order to pray for the future of that love? What if it were really this prayer, this hope in today & the future that propelled me towards you? What if our faith could really be the common denominator that united us? What if both of us on our knees lead to a city on their knees? What if that city on its knees lead to a nation on its knees, which then lead to entire continents pouring out to you in prayer? What if you delighted in our constant botherings that we brought to you?
to myself and anyone else listening --
Oh wait, scripture says that you do! However, we still look at you in the way that a child full of fear looks at his parents and doesn't want to pester them. We just want to go about our lives and leave you alone and keep quiet in the moments that we realize your presence so as to not take a chance at upsetting you. We forget that you tell us you have appointed watchmen over Jerusalem to pray constantly until you answer. Sadly, in our day.... we have lost ourselves as the watchmen. We have resigned our rights to true intimacy with you. We are not patient enough to pray for true intimacy. This is sad, because without patience there can never be true love. (This stands true in love of God & even neighbor (to an extent) & especially whereas spousal love is concerned.. but in a differing way..)
The summation & revelation--
If there is no intimacy with the Father, then there will be no true intimacy with the people! I write this as an oath of intimacy with you. This is a vow of my own personal choosing. You are my portion in my time of joy and of sorrow. You are on my lips in the time of day and of night. You are on my heart in time of famine and of feast. You are like a tidal wave coursing out from my bones and causing a tsunami that washes grace over my soul. May that grace be contagious. May that grace be the only thing that attracts another human soul to want to be in my presence. Let it not be about me. Let it be about you. And even if I should ever be blessed with a "helper".. (wife).. let it be as I described in my 1st paragraph. Let us be united in prayer, and through faith.. even before truly meeting and knowing each other. This is the only way that you will be the ultimate glory and praise of a marriage. Let my life, with wife, without wife, with strife, without strife... let it all be a mirror of you.
It is for your beautiful name...
{& since this is not a one time statement or story.. I cannot end it. IF this were greek it would have to be in the present indicative form most likely (indicating a present & ongoing action).}
p.s. -- There are verses that go with all of this stuff, but I just felt like writing from the heart. Obviously, if I am in the spirit then my heart is going to be speaking things that reflect the scripture.. as it is written. IF anyone reads this and desires scriptural reference to these things, I will be glad to supply them.
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