So what is communion? It's this word that's thrown around, I think like most words we use in the English language, fairly flippantly. It's quite unfortunate because even in Christian circles, groups of people still have no idea that communion is more than the eucharist or sacrament of taking a piece of bread and wine to remind us of Jesus' death. Communion definitely serves this purpose, and I have no reason to deny that claim, but what I am pointing at is the fact that communion as an idea very infrequently gets put into the category that it rightfully belongs in. If you look at the root word, you should immediately see that "commune" and "communion" have similar roots, which in terms of English should draw out similar words like "community", "communism", and maybe even the idea of "togetherness". The idea of the word is not just to have a community, but to have a community that surrounds you and shares with you. It's not a political statement, but a familial statement. It isn't about territory or dominion, it is about intimacy and relation.
So how do you "take" communion? What I'd like to point out is we often refer to "communion" as a noun of sorts, and you simply cannot "take" community, you must "have" community or "participate within" a community. It's not an act of righteousness, it is an act of love first and foremost. Actually, it's not about taking at all, but about receiving and giving. We are incredibly quick to assign words of warfare, of political charge to situations that simply do not fit into that category of thinking. It is not only a dishonor through language, but I think shows the condition of the heart. When you are given the opportunity to have communion, ask yourself: "Am I taking this to be closer with Jesus, to be reminded of His good sacrifice, or am I taking this to remind me of my purity, to atone for my sins, to remind me of the authority that I have in Christ?" Then throw both questions out, because to "take" is to have an action that you are somehow involved in. To receive, however, is the most graceful of stances that you can have.
This is what I'd like for all of us to think about. How can I best receive what the Lord has freely given? How can I best receive and host the presence that the Lord is all too quick to give? We are not worthy because we can take communion, or perform some act of righteousness, but we are worthy because the Lord Himself has demonstrated our worth through His own act that brings us back into communion with Him. One word that is also closely rooted in "communion" in semantics is the word "communication". We have been invited back to the communication with our Lord Jesus, and it's a beautiful thing. This is what we have the Son heart of God. If you've ever listened to the "groans too deep for words" from the Holy Spirit, or even let these out yourself, then you know that you are in communion with the Most High. That is how I'd like to define communion, as not just an act of taking a piece of bread and drinking some wine, but to really accept the invitation to interact and live in the relationship of the Trinity. To not just have a theological precept that defines our expectations, but to sit down as a Son and be rejoiced in by the Father, and then participate in the rejoicing in the Father as a Son. This, is where it starts and it ends, and to be frank, is where eternity is.
So next time you're eating bread and drinking wine, do it with Jesus. Accept the invitation to see Him in all His glory and seek His face wholly and truly. Stand with Him and explore His heart for you, allow Him to gaze into your soul and spirit vulnerably. Allow Him to show you the way the truth and the life He has for you.
And don't forget to swallow.
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Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
How do you express yourself?
I hope that you're enjoying reading these blog posts, I heartily enjoy writing them, as they both give me something to do that's not wasteful, and provide an outlet to get some ideas onto paper that are jumbling around in my skull. I want to talk about self-expression and how it is that we as humans are expected to express ourselves. If you are human, you might think of self-expression as a beautiful thing, whilst you may not exactly agree or necessarily enjoy all forms of expression, I think there is something we must begin to take both more seriously and stop taking too seriously. If there was an easy way to describe this I would attempt to do that, however, because this is such a finicky thing for an observer to place his finger on don't expect a 100% well-baked thought.
While I will refrain from using too many "I think" statements, in the interest of persuading you to think about it for yourself, I will lean toward more confident statements. So don't let that sway you. Now, let's take a step back and try to separate into ingredients what it is about self-expression that is both so beautiful and very controversial. The first form that is thought of upon reading that sentence is the form that is expressed via art. While there are many different forms of art, we must take into consideration things that are not generally recognized as art. Business, for instance, and how one writes their emails, ought to be seen as an art form simply due to the fact that if we considered it an art form it would become higher quality as an overflow of the expression of professionalism. Not only would it allow for more personality and therefore more personableness, it would also create a desire within customers to keep coming back because they were either: Treated extremely well, or made to feel like they were known personally. This is an art-form that could use a little less rigid thought and scripted guidelines and would benefit from more freedom in the way that people are managed and directed.
The second form is the expression of our bodies as humans. This can be found in dancing, singing, laughing, crying, sex. This can also be found in unhealthy expressions such as alcoholism, abuse, depression, pornography. To the naked eye, it is not so obvious why any of these things are considered "bad or good" and one can definitely make the argument that too much of any one of these would give way to the chase of something that is very obviously not God. Yet the thing that we forget is that these are all art forms at some point. Some more obvious than others, but because they are expressions of our overflow of what we do as humans, they are still art. Some might click off of this because I seem to be making the case that art is acceptable. That is simply not the case, but I do want to make the case that we ought to consider it art nonetheless because then we would at least appreciate the power that all of these activities hold in our hearts. Just because we can make the argument that it is art does not automatically concede the fact that it is "good art", or "art we ought to check out."
If I were to tell you "hey you should check out this cool ritual my buddy and I did to summon an ancient Greek God, it was a pretty weird chat, but I think you'd like it." most of us would have the good sense to step away from that, and not check it out. However, that's because I am purposefully serving this blog to a Christian audience. If you were somebody who has not accepted their identity as a Son of God, then how would you be able to tell what's a good idea and a bad idea? Even if you have discernment about people, that doesn't necessarily mean you have any discernment spiritually, and that can be said for Christians and non-Christians alike. Yet if we have discernment we still may not see that a ritual is also a form of expression and art.
So WHY am I making the argument that art is all around us? Well, that much should be obvious; because it is. But the real question should be this: "Why am I making the argument that we ought to respect these things simply for the fact that they are art?" Because art inherently holds the heart, focus, and power that the creator holds, and that authority according to Genesis is immense. That would mean that our expressions have the power to subdue and rule over all the earth, and yet we don't realize that the creators are the ones in this world that are ruling over it. We must start to see each and every person as a creative individual that is specifically designed to have dominion over an art form that is precisely theirs. Then and only then will we conceive the value that every person inherently has, the beautiful and breathtaking thing that each of us not only has the potential to become but is. I believe as Christians that is what we should be spending much more time doing. Not calling people out and explaining why they're wrong, but instead providing guidance, a foothold, a foundation to their creative force, and the source of that force. To give someone power that great is one of the most generous things we can do, and it is also the most life-giving, loving action we can perform. So you, reader, go and be creative, write that poem you've always wanted to write, sing/record that song that's stuck in your head, knit that sweater for your kids, write that card or letter.
Express yourself, and walk in the authority that God is calling you to!
While I will refrain from using too many "I think" statements, in the interest of persuading you to think about it for yourself, I will lean toward more confident statements. So don't let that sway you. Now, let's take a step back and try to separate into ingredients what it is about self-expression that is both so beautiful and very controversial. The first form that is thought of upon reading that sentence is the form that is expressed via art. While there are many different forms of art, we must take into consideration things that are not generally recognized as art. Business, for instance, and how one writes their emails, ought to be seen as an art form simply due to the fact that if we considered it an art form it would become higher quality as an overflow of the expression of professionalism. Not only would it allow for more personality and therefore more personableness, it would also create a desire within customers to keep coming back because they were either: Treated extremely well, or made to feel like they were known personally. This is an art-form that could use a little less rigid thought and scripted guidelines and would benefit from more freedom in the way that people are managed and directed.
The second form is the expression of our bodies as humans. This can be found in dancing, singing, laughing, crying, sex. This can also be found in unhealthy expressions such as alcoholism, abuse, depression, pornography. To the naked eye, it is not so obvious why any of these things are considered "bad or good" and one can definitely make the argument that too much of any one of these would give way to the chase of something that is very obviously not God. Yet the thing that we forget is that these are all art forms at some point. Some more obvious than others, but because they are expressions of our overflow of what we do as humans, they are still art. Some might click off of this because I seem to be making the case that art is acceptable. That is simply not the case, but I do want to make the case that we ought to consider it art nonetheless because then we would at least appreciate the power that all of these activities hold in our hearts. Just because we can make the argument that it is art does not automatically concede the fact that it is "good art", or "art we ought to check out."
If I were to tell you "hey you should check out this cool ritual my buddy and I did to summon an ancient Greek God, it was a pretty weird chat, but I think you'd like it." most of us would have the good sense to step away from that, and not check it out. However, that's because I am purposefully serving this blog to a Christian audience. If you were somebody who has not accepted their identity as a Son of God, then how would you be able to tell what's a good idea and a bad idea? Even if you have discernment about people, that doesn't necessarily mean you have any discernment spiritually, and that can be said for Christians and non-Christians alike. Yet if we have discernment we still may not see that a ritual is also a form of expression and art.
So WHY am I making the argument that art is all around us? Well, that much should be obvious; because it is. But the real question should be this: "Why am I making the argument that we ought to respect these things simply for the fact that they are art?" Because art inherently holds the heart, focus, and power that the creator holds, and that authority according to Genesis is immense. That would mean that our expressions have the power to subdue and rule over all the earth, and yet we don't realize that the creators are the ones in this world that are ruling over it. We must start to see each and every person as a creative individual that is specifically designed to have dominion over an art form that is precisely theirs. Then and only then will we conceive the value that every person inherently has, the beautiful and breathtaking thing that each of us not only has the potential to become but is. I believe as Christians that is what we should be spending much more time doing. Not calling people out and explaining why they're wrong, but instead providing guidance, a foothold, a foundation to their creative force, and the source of that force. To give someone power that great is one of the most generous things we can do, and it is also the most life-giving, loving action we can perform. So you, reader, go and be creative, write that poem you've always wanted to write, sing/record that song that's stuck in your head, knit that sweater for your kids, write that card or letter.
Express yourself, and walk in the authority that God is calling you to!
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Pick the fruit you're given.
This week I've been struggling to put a string of thought into one cohesive story. I feel like everything I write has been fragmented and hard to follow, and it could be because I'm traveling and enjoying Spain, or it could be because I'm distracted. Those of you who do read this, please pray for me and my family. There are a few things that are more conducive to my person than being totally encompassed by God. I've been writing a lot about where our authority starts, but I was recently asked "Where does your authority go?" If you've read Ephesians one of the most popular verses is 2:8, where it says that we are seated in Christ. It would seem to imply that our place of leadership is done in the lap of our Bridegroom. What it does not imply is the fact that this throne is a mobile throne, that flies around on the wings of Cherubim. Take into consideration the fact that in heaven there is no mention of stationary thrones, but that the people stay stationary on the throne. Who's to say that the thing that moves in heaven is the buildings, and not the people?
How else could I begin to answer than "Where does my authority go?" Well, we can start by saying "My authority begins and ends with intimacy and God's grace." Meaning while we are following God's grace and keeping track of where He takes us, we are under His authority, which is how we have authority. So to put it simply, when the throne moves, I move. When God's grace is poured out on the land, I am poured out on the land. When God prays I listen, and then I pray and agree with Him what He says. I have been deep in pondering about my relationship with the Holy Spirit. To me, while Jesus himself gave his life for us, what we have to interact with of His promise is the Holy Spirit. This is essential to our walk. The Holy Spirit is the one doing the work inside of us, through us, and with us, and yet we can't accurately say that the Holy Spirit has a gender. While Jesus himself says "He is called the comforter." Seemingly referring to the Spirit as a He, the first time the Spirit is mentioned in Genesis 1:2, the author uses a genitive feminine noun in the original Hebrew for "Breath." However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Holy Spirit is referred to as a she, simply because of the fact that Hebrew nouns have Genders, like most languages besides English. Now, with the case of Mother Mary, who around there is a lot of controversies, because of her conception of Jesus, who is God, and the fact she has been worshipped as the mother of God it brings in a new nuance. In other religions such as Zoroastrianism, Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, Indian Hinduism, Thai Buddhism the most powerful gods always follow the formula of a godly Father, a godly mother, and a godly Son. There are different stories and myths with each of them, but the formula stands in most traditional beliefs.
Why is this significant? Because it is a trinitarian formula, one which every professing Christian believes, and one which our own religion has tried to follow, except it gets messy when we realize that the Holy Spirit is a 'He'. Because with our new formula, we have a Father, a Father, and a Son, as far as who is to be worshipped and praised. Now with that being said, that's what we see as far as being able to with our earthly eyes, but it's not entirely accurate, and if you are sensitive, really does not feel intuitive. So we must take it a step further. God through the prophet Moses says "like a mother eagle I will stir up your nest." Jesus Himself says "O, Israel how I desire to gather you under my wings as a Hen gathers her brood." There are many other times that God says He is 'like' a mother to us. Therefore we must take into consideration that this whole trinitarian thing is a much more layered subject to the traditional formula than even Christian's have figured out. It doesn't necessarily need to be controversial, we just need to realize that God has all the good qualities of both Father's and Mother's and Sons. You can say the same for Daughters in that matter. Often times in my own dreams the Holy Spirit shows up as a woman, whether she is old or young. To me, this simply means that I have a better outlook on women than I do men. It is who I prefer to talk to and receive advice from. It does not change the fact that I see God as my Father. However, it does tell me that God is more than willing to make a point. He's also very willing to meet you where you're at.
This is something that we as Christians must begin to learn, and really seek to understand. As a disciple I was very favorably met where I was at, and now that I've grown God has continued to show me his faithfulness in meeting me where I'm at with the introduction of new and interesting topics. The work has got to start somewhere, and I must be willing to do it. However, because I know that my God is in the work, it makes me all the more willing to do it and to keep treading. Because then, I know that what I'm doing truly has a purpose, and I'm not just doing meaningless things without Him.
This is something that we as Christians must begin to learn, and really seek to understand. As a disciple I was very favorably met where I was at, and now that I've grown God has continued to show me his faithfulness in meeting me where I'm at with the introduction of new and interesting topics. The work has got to start somewhere, and I must be willing to do it. However, because I know that my God is in the work, it makes me all the more willing to do it and to keep treading. Because then, I know that what I'm doing truly has a purpose, and I'm not just doing meaningless things without Him.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
The Son heart of God - PT. 3
The Son heart of God is a heart of authority. Last post I discussed that it is through submission that this authority is received. This post I will discuss how part of that submission is generosity, and gratitude.
Before we begin it's going to be important that we get a few things out of the way. I am not creating a new doctrine, and I am not interested in taking away from the doctrine that is already available to us through the Bible. If anything I say can be argued biblically, please feel free to correct me, otherwise thank you for reading.
In the previous post I discussed how Daniel saw the Messianic figure coming on the throne of fire as the 'Son of man', whom Jesus says is actually Him. Now if we do some language transliteration, we'll learn that Messiah, Christ, and Anointed One all mean the same thing. There are simply two different root words for the same translation, in English and other Latin/greek based languages. In the new testament a soldier refers to the ones following Paul as "Χριστιανός" (Christianos) which literally translates to "little anointed ones". This word only occurs thrice in the NT, and is actually referred to in a derogatory way. However 1 Peter 4:6 claims it and says it is an honorable title, so be humbled that we can wear the name of Christ. The essence that I'm getting at is the fact that God has anointed us as He anointed Christ, with the Holy Spirit. We have been called to follow Him with our entire lives, and being a "Little anointed one" is the most important thing we can ever do in our life. However the fulfillment of living in this title is giving the right and power we have received from it right back to the rightful owner of the title. Jesus.
We cannot do this without first realizing it is a gift, which then allows us to be grateful for it. Then, once we become grateful for it we realize that we can receive it in its fullness. Once we have received it in its fullness, we can then give it away. This is what communion with the LORD is like. Giving because you have been able to receive so freely and openly. Receiving so that you can give. This is the beginning of authority. This is the beginning of our true walk in Christ, is experiencing the communion that He has with His Yeshua, his Adonai, and His Ruach Kodesh. That is what we are called to as Christians.
GOOD LORD, is that not the coolest thing ever!? Like, we're literally invited to be a SON of the most important, paramount, influential figure of the entire universe. The excitement that we feel about that is hard to fathom, and even harder to illustrate with words. This is why we must grasp the Son heart of God, because with a simple perspective shift we can see ourselves in eternal communion with a Father who really really loves us. The really crazy part about it is how personal it is. This is the intimacy aspect of the Son heart of God. Communion starts and ends with intimacy. Which I will talk about next post.
Monday, November 18, 2019
The Son heart of God - Pt. 2
Something that has been scratching my brain, and consistently reminding me of the amazing grace and goodness of the heart of the Father is the authority that the "son of man" is given. Many of us are familiar with the term "son of man" because it is the title that Jesus MOST OFTEN uses to refer to Himself. However, it is also the most common way that Ezekiel hears himself being addressed by the LORD.
The LORD said to me "Son of man, prophesy to Israel’s mountains. Give them this message: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD!" (Ezk 36...)
Yet, this is also the title that Daniel uses in his famous Messianic prophecy when he says "I saw him on the throne like the Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13. Which is where Jesus is hypothesized to have gotten this idea of being the Son of Man. However, this is also what you and I are. Son of men, seated on a throne, flying around the Heavens, because we are seated in Christ. We are seated in Messiah. So I think when Jesus says things to the Pharisees like "Don't you know that the son of man has authority to forgive even the sins here on earth?" He was also giving us that authority. Or "just as the son of man has authority to forgive, so he has authority to forgive on the sabbath." It's intense to think about what authority we've been given, seemingly flippantly. Then again we have to remember that before we fell all of the authority in regards to ruling and subduing the earth was given to us.
When was it revoked? Many theologians make the argument that we willingly gave it to the enemy, which isn't necessarily wrong, but I believe Jesus not only came to win that authority back, to propitiate our iniquities and transgressions but also to show us the authority we've had on earth all along. The authority that we have when we work in complete submission and obedience to the Father.
This is the essence of the Heart of the Son. That formula of complete obedience, humility, grace, and truth and in our case, repentance, is the key to understanding the Son. As we realize more that we've been called to sonship, we must seek to understand the authority that we're freely being given. We must pursue at all costs the intimacy we are given access to. This means finding our fulfillment in, becoming one with, being totally obedient to, and radically in love with our Dad. There are some things I'd really like for you to think about during this series. A few questions to ask yourself: Do you know the authority that you've been given? Have you truly tried to fathom the potential of the authority that you have been given?
If our authority starts with intimacy we must recognize that intimacy requires striving to His rest. (Heb 4) That laying supine before the Lord, being completely vulnerable to His searching our hearts, and being willing to submit all of our desires to Him is the first step to becoming complete (greek word for perfect 'teleios' Matt 5:48) and engrossing ourselves with His love for us. One of the things that I've been learning a lot lately is the satisfaction is loving the Lord completely and letting His love wash over me completely. This is important to me to be more complete. I am learning to not just act like a son, doing all the things that make me a son, but really truly being a son. It is essential to our walk. To walk in Love.
The LORD said to me "Son of man, prophesy to Israel’s mountains. Give them this message: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD!" (Ezk 36...)
Yet, this is also the title that Daniel uses in his famous Messianic prophecy when he says "I saw him on the throne like the Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13. Which is where Jesus is hypothesized to have gotten this idea of being the Son of Man. However, this is also what you and I are. Son of men, seated on a throne, flying around the Heavens, because we are seated in Christ. We are seated in Messiah. So I think when Jesus says things to the Pharisees like "Don't you know that the son of man has authority to forgive even the sins here on earth?" He was also giving us that authority. Or "just as the son of man has authority to forgive, so he has authority to forgive on the sabbath." It's intense to think about what authority we've been given, seemingly flippantly. Then again we have to remember that before we fell all of the authority in regards to ruling and subduing the earth was given to us.
When was it revoked? Many theologians make the argument that we willingly gave it to the enemy, which isn't necessarily wrong, but I believe Jesus not only came to win that authority back, to propitiate our iniquities and transgressions but also to show us the authority we've had on earth all along. The authority that we have when we work in complete submission and obedience to the Father.
This is the essence of the Heart of the Son. That formula of complete obedience, humility, grace, and truth and in our case, repentance, is the key to understanding the Son. As we realize more that we've been called to sonship, we must seek to understand the authority that we're freely being given. We must pursue at all costs the intimacy we are given access to. This means finding our fulfillment in, becoming one with, being totally obedient to, and radically in love with our Dad. There are some things I'd really like for you to think about during this series. A few questions to ask yourself: Do you know the authority that you've been given? Have you truly tried to fathom the potential of the authority that you have been given?
If our authority starts with intimacy we must recognize that intimacy requires striving to His rest. (Heb 4) That laying supine before the Lord, being completely vulnerable to His searching our hearts, and being willing to submit all of our desires to Him is the first step to becoming complete (greek word for perfect 'teleios' Matt 5:48) and engrossing ourselves with His love for us. One of the things that I've been learning a lot lately is the satisfaction is loving the Lord completely and letting His love wash over me completely. This is important to me to be more complete. I am learning to not just act like a son, doing all the things that make me a son, but really truly being a son. It is essential to our walk. To walk in Love.
Friday, November 15, 2019
The Son heart of God
This topic is likely to have quite a few episodes of thought, due to the fact that it is a very meaty subject, capable of turning many worlds upside down, and as far as I know it still has yet to be discussed in fullness by anyone, we must take it one bite at a time. In my short walk in Christianity, there have been very few teachers that speak on the intimacy and closeness of our hearts to God. The ones that do, however, concede and condition the fact in their own hearts that this is how God created us, to be in total dependence and communion with our almighty provider. Yet there are ever fewer teachings that delve into this and begin to realize that Colossians 1 is describing the creation story, yet in a much more deific sense. Jesus has the fullness of deity dwelling within Him, yet He is also responsible for creating everything that God himself created in the seven days of Genesis 1-2. "How did they do this?" is what we all have to ask ourselves at some point, and to be frank, that's the mystery of it. They just did. However, we can also answer this question by saying "in relationship." They achieved the greatest task known to man, in the history of the universe, in relationship with one another, in communion. Father, Son, and we can maybe call the Holy Spirit Mother.
The Father commanded, ("Let there be light") the Spirit empowered, ("and behold") and the Son acted ("there was light"). The Father commanded ("the son can only do") the Spirit empowered ("what he sees") the Son acted ("his Father doing").
If you can't tell by now, it is a cycle of union, obedience, and oneness in thought. This quick exercise very aptly displays the importance of obedience to the voice, but it's more than that. It very deeply and profoundly explains the importance of communion, of time spent alone with the Father, of submission and intimacy with the heart of the Father. It is a fallacy to think that the Son doesn't carry the heart of the Father, because when they are so like each other that you can't even distinguish what the Father does in place of what the Son does you know that it is a supernatural occurrence.
There is a stage where it gets hard to put into words the goodness of the Father's heart, the love that he pours out onto those who He has called son's so freely. Yet in this world, it is the most important thing we have access to, and what our challenge is is to grasp the Son heart of God, with both hands and hang on as tightly as we can, no matter what. We hang on because we know there is absolutely no question that this is the best thing we'll ever do with our lives, and there is nothing that can even come close to being loved by the fullness of deity who dwells within us.
The Father commanded, ("Let there be light") the Spirit empowered, ("and behold") and the Son acted ("there was light"). The Father commanded ("the son can only do") the Spirit empowered ("what he sees") the Son acted ("his Father doing").
If you can't tell by now, it is a cycle of union, obedience, and oneness in thought. This quick exercise very aptly displays the importance of obedience to the voice, but it's more than that. It very deeply and profoundly explains the importance of communion, of time spent alone with the Father, of submission and intimacy with the heart of the Father. It is a fallacy to think that the Son doesn't carry the heart of the Father, because when they are so like each other that you can't even distinguish what the Father does in place of what the Son does you know that it is a supernatural occurrence.
There is a stage where it gets hard to put into words the goodness of the Father's heart, the love that he pours out onto those who He has called son's so freely. Yet in this world, it is the most important thing we have access to, and what our challenge is is to grasp the Son heart of God, with both hands and hang on as tightly as we can, no matter what. We hang on because we know there is absolutely no question that this is the best thing we'll ever do with our lives, and there is nothing that can even come close to being loved by the fullness of deity who dwells within us.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Brooding
Today I looked back at my history. Back to a distant part of me that I haven't seen for a very long time, a time when I had a black dog as my best friend, when I had no idea about heavenly hosts, beings or demons, but thought that hell was here on Earth. I had written poetry even back then, brooding in the dark over how much I longed to be out. I looked back at my distant relationships, how I found meaning in what I thought of as "love" and how much I thought I mattered, and really only used the other person for my training or education. I look back and see the performance mindset that riddled my every cell, that perfectionist inside of me that so desired to be recognized as perfect and honest, but knowing I could hardly be honest with myself.
Then I look at the external situation of my past, of my hopelessness, of my injuries that I don't need to hold on to, of the abuses that I endured not thinking it was even abuse. Still I battle with giving people the benefit of the doubt and it has been a long battle of trusting people with my emotions and being. Technically, however, God only truly commands us to trust in Him.
There's still a part of me that wholeheartedly disagrees with putting my heart out on the table for all to examine. I've long struggled with self-hate, and self-distrust. I have struggled with pleasure-seeking and relationships for the sake of fulfilling selfish desires. I have struggled with the idea that I'm just one fake person moving from being fake somewhere else to being fake in an entirely new way. Often times I struggle with my talents and giftings, and battle constantly with valuing others well. Inherently I also battle frequently with my own value as well as the value of others.
However I also am at a place of reflection for the purpose of seeing how much I've changed and adapted. Who I came from and who I am becoming, and besides all the baggage I stopped carrying I also see how I've grown to be more honest in my beliefs with others and have grown in valuing where I am and who I am with. I've come to realize that sharing lives with the people whom I love is very valuable, and being able to get to know people, culture, languages and jumping out of my comfort zone has been liberating to say the least, but the only one who gets the glory is God and God alone. For Him and through Him have I been made anew and changed into a more influential and positive individual. For Him and Through Him I have learned how to feel again. It is He who has freed me from myself.
Monday, October 28, 2019
When was the last time you cried?
Like really cried. Wept uncontrollably, felt the weight of the world and reflected on the grief that we have experienced. Sometimes it feels like our world is collapsing under the weight of failure, of death, and oppression. In light of listening to Kanye's album, I am extremely grateful that it is a thing. He addresses issues like the fact that the Church as the Bride of Christ rejects what Jesus would have accepted with open arms. Saying things like "what are all the 'Christians' saying?" Well it's a good question, looking up "Kanye West conversion" some of the most popular articles are of people naysaying that Kanye is genuine about his faith, and have called his album uncreative and "Kanye just being Kanye with more bible verses."
I stopped reading after that.
Because what I'm hearing out of "JESUS IS KING" is a heart cry that has experienced the weight of the world, and given it to the only person who can handle it. What I'm hearing is someone who rejoices in their salvation, their Yeshua. What I'm hearing is someone who really cries.
Throughout the world there are cries. There is a woman whom I love dearly that has decided to devote her life to Christ, even though her husband is disapproving and denying of Jesus as Lord. I hear her cries, and they are powerful. There is a man whom I love dearly who experiences the weight of the world and grief at how the church is so focused on not expressing Jesus, and I hear his cries. O how they cause grief to fall in a room. In inner-city apartments, there are cries as loved ones are shot dead. Just. Like. That.
It's easy to respond to a song that makes you want to dance. It's hard to see someone weeping on the floor, get down next to them, and cry with them. Albeit half of the church is so scared shitless of showing any emotion due to oppression that the endeavor to play songs that make them want to dance is essentially listless.
IT'S NOT ABOUT "WHAT IS APPROPRIATE." It is about "what is meaningful?" It is about "what is loving?", it is about the power of looking outside of yourself and realizing that you have what it takes to be compassionate. When you feel the heart of Jesus and how it breaks for the homeless, the people who don't belong on the streets, but are there for whatever reason, it's hard to not have tears flowing.
Then, later on, you find joy in that suffering, but that's another campsite entirely. What is of utmost importance is that we as a church experience the heart of God, and that we allow Him to move in ours.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Life on the Line
First off let's define "the line".
The line can mean multiple things, I can put my machine on the assembly line. I can put my foot on the boundary line. I can even get in line to checkout once I've finished shopping for groceries. These things are maybe nominal at best with what I'm going to try to describe to you. While maybe the boundary line is the closest, a performance-related boundary is just about the farthest from the image I can attempt to describe for a few reasons. In most sports there's just grass on the other side and the only consequence is that you would have a whistle blown at you to warn you from going over the line again. In other boundary lines there are clear cut rules on how to navigate them, such as in a car where you may drive over the line that divides lanes to get off on the next exit. Let's go a little more extreme though.
Imagine yourself standing in Arizona, having just driven for 8 hours to see one of the world's many wonders, The Grand Canyon. You came by yourself since you like to venture alone, and you're now making the home stretch from your car to the viewpoint that you have not yet chosen. Looking around you immediately realize how hot it is in comparison to the inside of your car. Already uncomfortable. You can see the red sands stretching for what seems like decades, the cacti and sagebrush echoing in the wind. Joshua trees are planted in an attempt to stop the sand from getting into the parking lot but with a wind like this, you can't help but get your shoes a little bit dirty. You begin to walk toward the building which all tourists must go through, a ridge slowly coming into view with what looks like a sheer drop off. You pay your money and walk toward where everyone else is chattering and oohing, taking their tourist photos, and enjoying their tourist friends who have tourist clothes and tourist hats. They all have an advantage, they see the boundary. They see the railing you see, but see it as it is purposed for. You see it as a challenge, as a goal. In dreams and meditations, you've been told to "jump." This is the boundary line that was in your mind at first. You get to the edge of the railing and look down, marveling at the amazing drop you ask God one more time "you sure about this?"
The most obvious thing to point out during this journey is that you would very quickly make your arrival in heaven if you were to succeed the jump. Everything you ever thought you could achieve, ever wanted to spend time doing, any person you thought you could love, any family you figured you would have had the opportunity to create. Gone. Just. Like. That. However, if we're being honest, this is what the Bible has called us to. This is how God has chosen to interact with those who say they want to give their lives to Him. It's shown over and over, Abraham, David, Joshua, Moses, Jesus, Paul, Timothy, Andrew. All of these Historical characters drive a piece home. God is not interested in giving us the life we think we want, He's interested in giving us the life He wants us to experience. Sometimes we will perceive that He is much more interested in killing us than He is at giving us life, and this is quite the opposite of what He's accomplishing and doing inside of us. For "whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it." You are told to "jump." If you feel like you're barely hanging on to the cliff edge your challenge is to let go, and let yourself free fall into His arms.
After all, without Him life is meaningless, or as Ecclesiastes likes to say "Vanity. Vanity. Everything is vanity!"
Friday, October 18, 2019
Building Blocks
AS OF LATE I've been discovering what "balance" really means, and how in many ways looking for balance is more harmful than helpful. While I greatly value balance and figuring things out along with harmonization and whatnot, it's very hard to justify some of the things we do in light of who God is.
What I mean is this: If we are so busy trying to find a balance that we forget to find God, we are doing ourselves, our church, and our God a great disservice. If we spend so much time avoiding heresy, we'll quickly become heretics ourselves of what the Most High God is going after, and what His goals are. We'll become despondent, apostate, and worst of all... forgotten. It's like God has made it clear to those whom He dearly loves that He's moving His body, and His bride further into perfection, creatively and artistically in only the way He can do, and if you're not on board, well, you're sadly going to miss the train. It's not like He doesn't want us to be involved. Personally, I believe that is one of God's deepest desires, to have his creation involved with what He's up to. You know, I find it telling that two of the greatest Apostles in acts (Peter and John) astonished those who were educated in the Law and the Way of the Law, while themselves being completely uneducated. They didn't care what the standards were for pursuing Jesus, they just wanted Jesus.
The thing that hurts is coming to the realization that we as a church have lost that, nearly completely. We value preachers and pastors who have a doctorate in systematic theology over someone who simply shares the gospel. We pursue answers to arguments and proofs of what we think over simply allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to be on full display. We seem to put blame on the enemy, on the other factions and sects of OUR BODY, and forget that putting blame doesn't get anybody anywhere, and taking responsibility is the key to opening ourselves up to innocence and purity. We value "Godly men and women" yet have no clue what self-righteousness versus living in the LORD our righteousness really means. Our leaders have failed us, and we have failed our Leader. We have called others Rabbi when there was only ever meant to be One Rabbi. The more I hear teaching on systematic theology, and open my study bible to theological essays that attempt to explain a complicated issue, the more I want to throw up all over and burn the thing.
Perhaps the reason why is because there is something I've tasted that's worth so much more than that and getting stuck in theology is what I know kept me from it. Getting myself wrapped in the web of apologetics, epistemology, soteriology, hermeneutics, contextualization, only ever taught me that I can very easily get stuck in my head, and forget what God wants to do in my heart. Getting myself stuck in these seemingly good things gave me a righteousness and automatic lesson of how to practice smiling when I don't even want to smile. It gave me a practice of putting on a mask of love and hope when all I felt inside was death and disingenuine lies that told me "these people are nuts, why am I even here."
One of the most powerful sermons I've ever heard is one where a lady got up on the stage, got ready to speak, and started weeping for a solid forty minutes. Uncontrollably wailing, crying at how we've succeeded in translating our sin into justifiable measures of making sure we keep everything under control. Where we've translated our bad experiences and blamed God for the suffering we've received. Where our only real success has been successfully misrepresenting our King and His Good News.
Lord how you long for your church! Lord O how you long for your church! "come back to me" He says. "Can you imagine the world we can be apart of together?" "Darling, I still desire to bring you into my courts, into my wedding feast. I still desire to have a partnership with you. I still want you. I am with you. Come back to me my love, and I will give you a new heart, and the amazing gift of intimacy with my love. Come and float with me down the river of Truth and Light. Let us forget your worries and hesitations. Let us walk together and enjoy each other's company. I love you, and I always will."
What I mean is this: If we are so busy trying to find a balance that we forget to find God, we are doing ourselves, our church, and our God a great disservice. If we spend so much time avoiding heresy, we'll quickly become heretics ourselves of what the Most High God is going after, and what His goals are. We'll become despondent, apostate, and worst of all... forgotten. It's like God has made it clear to those whom He dearly loves that He's moving His body, and His bride further into perfection, creatively and artistically in only the way He can do, and if you're not on board, well, you're sadly going to miss the train. It's not like He doesn't want us to be involved. Personally, I believe that is one of God's deepest desires, to have his creation involved with what He's up to. You know, I find it telling that two of the greatest Apostles in acts (Peter and John) astonished those who were educated in the Law and the Way of the Law, while themselves being completely uneducated. They didn't care what the standards were for pursuing Jesus, they just wanted Jesus.
The thing that hurts is coming to the realization that we as a church have lost that, nearly completely. We value preachers and pastors who have a doctorate in systematic theology over someone who simply shares the gospel. We pursue answers to arguments and proofs of what we think over simply allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to be on full display. We seem to put blame on the enemy, on the other factions and sects of OUR BODY, and forget that putting blame doesn't get anybody anywhere, and taking responsibility is the key to opening ourselves up to innocence and purity. We value "Godly men and women" yet have no clue what self-righteousness versus living in the LORD our righteousness really means. Our leaders have failed us, and we have failed our Leader. We have called others Rabbi when there was only ever meant to be One Rabbi. The more I hear teaching on systematic theology, and open my study bible to theological essays that attempt to explain a complicated issue, the more I want to throw up all over and burn the thing.
Perhaps the reason why is because there is something I've tasted that's worth so much more than that and getting stuck in theology is what I know kept me from it. Getting myself wrapped in the web of apologetics, epistemology, soteriology, hermeneutics, contextualization, only ever taught me that I can very easily get stuck in my head, and forget what God wants to do in my heart. Getting myself stuck in these seemingly good things gave me a righteousness and automatic lesson of how to practice smiling when I don't even want to smile. It gave me a practice of putting on a mask of love and hope when all I felt inside was death and disingenuine lies that told me "these people are nuts, why am I even here."
One of the most powerful sermons I've ever heard is one where a lady got up on the stage, got ready to speak, and started weeping for a solid forty minutes. Uncontrollably wailing, crying at how we've succeeded in translating our sin into justifiable measures of making sure we keep everything under control. Where we've translated our bad experiences and blamed God for the suffering we've received. Where our only real success has been successfully misrepresenting our King and His Good News.
Lord how you long for your church! Lord O how you long for your church! "come back to me" He says. "Can you imagine the world we can be apart of together?" "Darling, I still desire to bring you into my courts, into my wedding feast. I still desire to have a partnership with you. I still want you. I am with you. Come back to me my love, and I will give you a new heart, and the amazing gift of intimacy with my love. Come and float with me down the river of Truth and Light. Let us forget your worries and hesitations. Let us walk together and enjoy each other's company. I love you, and I always will."
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Walking in the Prophetic
To me, everyone has a prophetic gifting. To me, the Holy Spirit can move through anyone and everyone, and maybe it'd be even more accurate to say 'everything' than simply 'everyone'. However, in much the same way, we like to have guided and tangible lines that others have prepared to help with definitions. Why? Why is it that we so value and enjoy restricting a good thing, by defining it? We restrict friendships by defining what kind of friends we are, we restrict sports, board-games, grammar, and... God. When we restrict and try to define God, we get tied up theologically, we forget the bigness, and try to downplay how important it is that we allow God to define Himself. When we define who God is, we can very easily run into situations where God is absolutely not moving, pride has taken over, and people are trying to build a tower to the heavens.
What we should be looking for are guidelines, and nothing less. Something that explains how something is how it can be used, and how it affects our lives. What guidelines are is a foundation, while definitions are boundaries of which restrict, rather than allow growth. Because of this, it's important that we are careful to accept and run with any single teaching or doctrine, but instead become careful to read and apply what we're taught. For instance, I've recently been introduced to a ministry who has a lot of different insights in many different areas, especially in regard to how humans interact with the Kingdom of Heaven, and God the Father. They have a specific topic expositing the gifts detailed in Romans 12:6-8, and how everyone in the Body of Christ embodies a different personality type detailed by one of these gifts. This isn't necessarily a gift you are given once you are saved but is how God originally designed you from your mother's womb. For instance, if someone has the "redemptive gift" of Prophet, they are going to see things very black and white, have a deep sense of intuition, and be built with a very vibrant emotional design, and have very intense emotions. This is what the ministry calls "the structure of the person." While I've been gaining insights about the way God sees people, I have also been quick to ensure that I'm not taking this topic into my heart as doctrine, it is simply a guideline that we can use to get to know people better.
Another example of what I've been learning in my own life is how we interact with God. What we know about God, and can know about God is regarded in what we consider His Book, i.e the Holy Bible. Yet there are countless debates, theologians, books, exposition, exegesis, interpretation, and 'proper' ways of thinking and coming to the Bible, and we haven't stopped to consider that all of them could be right. We haven't stopped to consider that the bias we're coming at the Bible toward is a bias that has been handed to us by generations of right and wrong beliefs about who the Bible represents. Yet this is a key that is being handed down by certain circles within the Body of Christ who has influenced the world in a big way. The key is this: that each of us have no idea what God is doing, what He's going to do next, and how He's going to do it unless we ask Him, and know Him. Many of us feel betrayed when something happens in our church that isn't necessarily in our scope of reference. When something is preached upon that has not been clearly talked about Biblically speaking. What if that something happened to us though? How would we react?
How would we react if we came into a room where God's presence was so strong that it knocked you over, or if someone came to you and told you everything about your life? Would you lean toward being offended and hardened, or would you gasp and feel known by the Almighty One who leads the person in front of you to prophecy? Furthermore, if you were shown all of the fruits you have borne, whether it be by ministry or other means, would you be pleased with the seeds that you've sown? Would you stop and consider that even the ground must be rotten if nothing good ever happens to you? At what point do you reflect upon your rotten fruits and stop blaming your neighbor for having cursed your ground? At what point do you throw your hands up, look up to the Throne and beg for mercy for cultivating a product which can only breed distaste, hate, and disgust? Would you stop selling your awful fruits, or would you learn to market the rottenness and take it as an opportunity to sell it as compost to the innocent and blameless, who will take the cursed fruit and turn it into a blessing for those around them? Who will not only multiply the fruits by one-hundred fold, but be able to satisfy the needs of their entire family, by finding a way to grow wheat, meat, and rich wine simply because they consider your rotten compost a blessing to their fields.
This is a call to introspect yourself and put your heart under a microscope made for even the hardest of hearts. Ask the Holy Spirit to judge you and your intentions with everything, O Lord you have searched me and known me, all of my ways are before you! Before I was formed you had written in your book my days, every one of them. Psalm 139 is a good psalm to read in lieu of this topic. If you have not felt known by the Lord, ask Him what's in your book. If you haven't felt known by the Lord for a long time, ask Him to judge your heart and mind. It's a good thing, to ask to be made pure before the Almighty. He will honor your request, and in fact, desires deeply to clean you up. So be made clean before Him, beloved. Keep walking, and persevere.
What we should be looking for are guidelines, and nothing less. Something that explains how something is how it can be used, and how it affects our lives. What guidelines are is a foundation, while definitions are boundaries of which restrict, rather than allow growth. Because of this, it's important that we are careful to accept and run with any single teaching or doctrine, but instead become careful to read and apply what we're taught. For instance, I've recently been introduced to a ministry who has a lot of different insights in many different areas, especially in regard to how humans interact with the Kingdom of Heaven, and God the Father. They have a specific topic expositing the gifts detailed in Romans 12:6-8, and how everyone in the Body of Christ embodies a different personality type detailed by one of these gifts. This isn't necessarily a gift you are given once you are saved but is how God originally designed you from your mother's womb. For instance, if someone has the "redemptive gift" of Prophet, they are going to see things very black and white, have a deep sense of intuition, and be built with a very vibrant emotional design, and have very intense emotions. This is what the ministry calls "the structure of the person." While I've been gaining insights about the way God sees people, I have also been quick to ensure that I'm not taking this topic into my heart as doctrine, it is simply a guideline that we can use to get to know people better.
Another example of what I've been learning in my own life is how we interact with God. What we know about God, and can know about God is regarded in what we consider His Book, i.e the Holy Bible. Yet there are countless debates, theologians, books, exposition, exegesis, interpretation, and 'proper' ways of thinking and coming to the Bible, and we haven't stopped to consider that all of them could be right. We haven't stopped to consider that the bias we're coming at the Bible toward is a bias that has been handed to us by generations of right and wrong beliefs about who the Bible represents. Yet this is a key that is being handed down by certain circles within the Body of Christ who has influenced the world in a big way. The key is this: that each of us have no idea what God is doing, what He's going to do next, and how He's going to do it unless we ask Him, and know Him. Many of us feel betrayed when something happens in our church that isn't necessarily in our scope of reference. When something is preached upon that has not been clearly talked about Biblically speaking. What if that something happened to us though? How would we react?
How would we react if we came into a room where God's presence was so strong that it knocked you over, or if someone came to you and told you everything about your life? Would you lean toward being offended and hardened, or would you gasp and feel known by the Almighty One who leads the person in front of you to prophecy? Furthermore, if you were shown all of the fruits you have borne, whether it be by ministry or other means, would you be pleased with the seeds that you've sown? Would you stop and consider that even the ground must be rotten if nothing good ever happens to you? At what point do you reflect upon your rotten fruits and stop blaming your neighbor for having cursed your ground? At what point do you throw your hands up, look up to the Throne and beg for mercy for cultivating a product which can only breed distaste, hate, and disgust? Would you stop selling your awful fruits, or would you learn to market the rottenness and take it as an opportunity to sell it as compost to the innocent and blameless, who will take the cursed fruit and turn it into a blessing for those around them? Who will not only multiply the fruits by one-hundred fold, but be able to satisfy the needs of their entire family, by finding a way to grow wheat, meat, and rich wine simply because they consider your rotten compost a blessing to their fields.
This is a call to introspect yourself and put your heart under a microscope made for even the hardest of hearts. Ask the Holy Spirit to judge you and your intentions with everything, O Lord you have searched me and known me, all of my ways are before you! Before I was formed you had written in your book my days, every one of them. Psalm 139 is a good psalm to read in lieu of this topic. If you have not felt known by the Lord, ask Him what's in your book. If you haven't felt known by the Lord for a long time, ask Him to judge your heart and mind. It's a good thing, to ask to be made pure before the Almighty. He will honor your request, and in fact, desires deeply to clean you up. So be made clean before Him, beloved. Keep walking, and persevere.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
The way I walk
Something that's quite fascinating to me is how there's many many preachers, teachers, and pastors who are putting out sermons that seem to be actively explaining how wrong other churches are, and when you ask them what the other church is doing right they usually respond with something like "Well God can use them, but..." or "Well they're going after God but..." then they rattle off reasons like how much they've corrupted the word of God, how silly it is that they go and post the same thing over and over. Paul saw these disputes and many divisions such as these in his own church, but it's talked about the most in the first letter to the church residing within Corinth. His concerns were that "This division is basically pointless, who are you following, Paul, Apollos or Yeshua?" The next thing he says is "put down your divisiveness and walk in love for one another." Stop worrying about your worthless disagreements, and contradicting what Yeshua told his disciples the world would know HIM by! Do we want people to know the Anointed King, and His Kingdom or not?
This is a troubling concept for me. This is a concept that has frequently brought me to my knees, has brought me to tears actively arguing with God about the state of His church. As Yeshua says "if they are not for me, they are against me." He is the one who is going to be doing the winnowing, the harvest is coming, and you should really know by now whether you're a weed, or a wheat plant. Such things are of an eternal nature. This is why it is so important to know who you are. Who Yeshua is, and what the Gospel really means. Obviously the first step to answering this question would be to go back to the Bible, as people who may not even be Christian one of the most widely used verses is taken immediately out of context of John 3, where Yeshua is explaining to Nicodemus, a pharisee who served on the Sanhedrin who was severely confused about this heavenly, and earthly stuff that he had almost never heard, and certainly never heard about in his tradition built from mans ideas, that he didn't necessarily have a frame of reference for it. Yeshua didn't talk about the subject of "that God gave His only begotten son to save the sins of many, that whosoever should believe in him should be saved" but that this act was called "new birth" into the world of the Spirit. The primary pronouncement was actually that God was ushering in a new king, and this kingdom would be taking place both in the spiritual and in the natural, so those who were "born again" would actually be born again into the Spirit. Some have called it simply "dimension", and while this may be a somewhat accurate phrase, Paul talks about us walking as citizens in heaven. Now if it were Yeshua explaining this He would probably say something like "Do you not know that you are literally seated with me?" It would be quite the realization for us as a church to suddenly know that we are literally living in Heaven, while we are here on earth. While the government of Heaven is completely perfect, it's near impossible to imagine. It's a good thing we have a God of the impossible though. To answer tough questions like "how do we even follow Matthew 5-7?" It's super important that we realize what kind of bias we've been bred with. Thus far this is how I'm ordering my interests, from most important to least important. While philosophically it's important to me, I will make no claim that I am currently living this way, but hope to be there soon.
1. God
2. The people around me
3. The church (maybe I should count this as 2.)
4. Killing my bias
So God, what doctrine am I believing that is completely contrary to what you say in your word? What part of the spirit am I actively quenching? How have I not completely understood that I am actively walking the streets of Heaven now, and am still actively working as a representative of your Kingdom and Glory? How have I grieved you and your Holy Spirit? - This is my prayer, for me and for the church. At least right now.
Thank you for reading!!
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Job is quite an interesting character
There are many theological, and deep verses not very hidden within Job, but my feeling is people typically only read the beginning of Job, and the end of Job to see what happens. Everyone knows he's a man that suffered greatly, but I'm beginning to see this man as someone who suffered a lot, and gained deep and profound revelation through his suffering. The reason I say this is because Job is regularly, scholastically, and traditionally recognized as one of the oldest characters in the Bible, namely he was one of the original Patriarchs (just after the flood of Noah.) His existence and life is further corroborated through mention by the prophet Ezekiel (14:14), that he was a living breathing human.
Yet there are many things we as westerners question about his life, like how, after his family died, did he get that back so suddenly? How did he not die after the sudden onslaught of illness, stress, depression, hopelessness, and downright hellish? How was he STILL considered an upright, righteous, and blameless man in the eyes of the LORD, even after nearly accusing God of being unjust? How was any part of his situation just? Well these are all questions that are important to ask. If I wanted to feed you revelation, I would tell you to stop reading here, but this is my blog, and I like to share what conclusions I've come to. To be clear, this mystery is magnificent to me, and I am not interested in preaching to you, or teaching you new theological truths, but I am more so interested in challenging your own beliefs about yourself, God, the world, and Justice. As I've been reading Job, I am thoroughly challenged and brought new commentary because of the sheer fact that it is a very well written book. The literary genius in nearly unparalleled, and upon reading the NET version, and looking at the comments of the translators, this fact has become quite the more clear. I would definitely recommend at least reading the comments in the first chapter before you continue, but however you read this is entirely up to you. I would at least admonish you to read Job, else you may risk receiving nothing out of this post, as I am assuming you have at least some context to pull what I am framing here into.
So Job was given profound and deep revelation, even through his suffering. Job had a deep relationship with the LORD, you can see how this played out in the beginnings of the story, which not only covered how Job was upright and blameless, but how he would attempt to cover for the potential sins of his questionable descendants. He would even make sacrifices for himself, and one of the first things he does upon the onset of his affliction is praise the LORD. That alone is enough to give him props, but later on he even expands and corrects his friends, who are accusing him of not caring for the orphans, and seeing him abuse the widows of his community, who Job claims to have helped from the womb, and to take the orphans into his own family, giving them jobs, pay, and stay. He even admits that if he hadn't given rights to his servants, and listened to their heed, he wouldn't be able to answer any accusations the LORD had against him. (Job 3113-15. There's your anti-slavery text, the servants came from the same God he did, treating them wrong is absolutely wrong, and they have rights just as we do.) Even after the friends of Job continuously attempted to accuse him of doing some sort of wrong, he would straightaway provide evidence, and surety that they hadn't actually witnessed him doing these things, but that he acted in quite the opposite spirit. The sins even Job is aware of that would make him unholy and irreverent toward God are basically the exact set of sins Jesus remarks upon in Matthew 5-7. That's right, the Sermon on the Mount was there before Moses even got the Law. Upon Job's own awareness, he is sure that he has followed this law perfectly, up to the point of saying if he's opened the door in his heart to sin, he would be found guilty before the lord.
Furthermore, the priesthood was active presumably before Abraham ever even met Melchizedek, not only is Job prophetic, but he is also authoritative. While of course he is not joyful, or even spirit-filled as us believers have the amazing blessing of being today, he was more righteous than most Christians, of course by his own rite, and God is his witness, but still the point remains. God says through Ezekiel "I will cause you to walk in my commands" (36:27), so we don't have a lot of excuse in regard to sin, and acting on fleshly desire. Yet this is a series of epiphanies that have been flowing as of late. In the first chapters of Job, the scene described as a room designed to allow a counsel to make decisions and sovereign judgments on the creation of the LORD, He actively invites Hist host i.e angels to suggest and make decisions. One of these angels pointed out is the satan, who is subsequently asked where he came from. The satan coyly replies "oh I was walking to and fro upon the surface" prowling, and seeking(1 Pet 5:8). The LORD replies with "have you considered my faithful servant Job? He is a righteous and blameless man, and serves me always", the satan then replies "have you not protected him with a hedge, and for this reason he serves you? Otherwise [I bet] he would curse you to your face."
While I'm obviously not quoting them word for word, the tone is there. However, in much the same way where is Job in this room? Could they be looking at Job through some sort of crystal ball, or window into the earth? Well, some have suggested that this scene is actually taking place in a court room, and typically the accused is brought into the court room, so perhaps Job is spiritually brought into the court room of the council, and is not cognitively present. Maybe he got revelation later on at this vision happening, if he is the one who wrote the book. If he is not, he seems to be vaguely aware that the accuser has a book that he brings to the Almighty (31:35), with which he uses to accuse Job. That which is being brought to question are Job's motives, since he had begun, and ended totally blessed and covered by the LORD. Every aspect of Job's questioning, accusations, and experiential trials brought him to his knees, begging and pleading that the Lord would hear his argument, as he was rightfully tired of being listened to by people who constantly wanted to argue whether Job was wrong or right. I wouldn't blame him honestly, this if part of the state of the church that makes me sad. The church leaders today look more like Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. While yes, 2 Tim 3:16-17 says all scripture is good for reproof, and 1 Tim 5:20 says all who sin must be convicted, it is double-minded thinking to say and judge those outside of your congregation, it is disingenuous, and furthermore only brings condemnation upon yourself. What I'm saying is this: chill out on convicting others, walk in your conviction, and if God convicts you to convict another about their personal sin, or the sin of a nation, do so. For anything done without conviction is sin, and it is your job to walk in the integrity of your conviction.
Job did this perfectly, despite suffering more loss, ache, pain, hurt, judgment, hunger, mistreatment, and abuse than you ever have or will. Furthermore, he was literally recommended by his own wife, the woman who would have supposedly followed Job in his righteousness, to curse his God. Yet Job knew who was both responsible, and didn't. There's this aspect in the story of Job that the version of the cuddly, playful, happy God we really like to see doesn't jive well. God didn't provide Job visions of comfort, in fact quite the opposite (7:14), nor did he find him favor. According to Job, God had caused this to happen to him, and he wasn't entirely wrong. This was confusing to him, honestly it's still confusing to me. There's not a lot I'd rather have than at least a straight answer to the questions I have, and this is Job's entire premise. Not that God made a mistake, not that His judgment was unrighteous, but that Job didn't exactly know why this was being allowed. He didn't have an answer to tell people why this was happening, and his friends decided for him what that answer was: his own sin. Job was fully aware it was definitely not un-repentant sin, he seemed to even acknowledge that
his issue wasn't the fact that God had anything on him, and Job is persistent to this, while still keeping his integrity intact. You can't keep your integrity intact unless you're honest. This is why when sin comes up in my personal life, I plead guilty. Only by pleading guilty can it be washed, by the One who took responsibility for -my- sin.
Beside Moses and Jesus, I would go so far to call Job the third most humble man. He was willing to accept whether he had caused this chaos to befall him. He was willing to be wrong. In our own suffering, we ought to be much more willing to be wrong, else we'll never be made right. So then, take into consideration this: The wise words of a man directed toward me, a young, giddy, bright-looking individual, ready to take on the world, without the slightest clue as to how to do it; "you're wrong." Straight up, point blank, 'you're wrong'. I won't give him credit here, for interest in keeping it anonymous, but I will tell you this, this thought has shaped the way I receive learning, stay open to new lessons, and even how I interact with God, and others who I am discussing God with. I would suggest internalizing this lesson deeply, to the very core of you, because when you stand before the Lord, who can really be right? Well the Lord, that's who.
So be okay with being wrong. Be like Job, suffer, and learn a lot. You'll be well on your way then.
Just as I present this to you, know that I am wrong. While I myself have a high affinity for correctness, and righteousness, I do expect my bias and individual convictions to get in the way of writing. Do be careful with such illnesses of the brain, get in the mind of Christ if you truly want to receive whatever words He may have written here, and more than anything, enjoy the rest of your day!
With Love,
Andrew.
Yet there are many things we as westerners question about his life, like how, after his family died, did he get that back so suddenly? How did he not die after the sudden onslaught of illness, stress, depression, hopelessness, and downright hellish? How was he STILL considered an upright, righteous, and blameless man in the eyes of the LORD, even after nearly accusing God of being unjust? How was any part of his situation just? Well these are all questions that are important to ask. If I wanted to feed you revelation, I would tell you to stop reading here, but this is my blog, and I like to share what conclusions I've come to. To be clear, this mystery is magnificent to me, and I am not interested in preaching to you, or teaching you new theological truths, but I am more so interested in challenging your own beliefs about yourself, God, the world, and Justice. As I've been reading Job, I am thoroughly challenged and brought new commentary because of the sheer fact that it is a very well written book. The literary genius in nearly unparalleled, and upon reading the NET version, and looking at the comments of the translators, this fact has become quite the more clear. I would definitely recommend at least reading the comments in the first chapter before you continue, but however you read this is entirely up to you. I would at least admonish you to read Job, else you may risk receiving nothing out of this post, as I am assuming you have at least some context to pull what I am framing here into.
So Job was given profound and deep revelation, even through his suffering. Job had a deep relationship with the LORD, you can see how this played out in the beginnings of the story, which not only covered how Job was upright and blameless, but how he would attempt to cover for the potential sins of his questionable descendants. He would even make sacrifices for himself, and one of the first things he does upon the onset of his affliction is praise the LORD. That alone is enough to give him props, but later on he even expands and corrects his friends, who are accusing him of not caring for the orphans, and seeing him abuse the widows of his community, who Job claims to have helped from the womb, and to take the orphans into his own family, giving them jobs, pay, and stay. He even admits that if he hadn't given rights to his servants, and listened to their heed, he wouldn't be able to answer any accusations the LORD had against him. (Job 3113-15. There's your anti-slavery text, the servants came from the same God he did, treating them wrong is absolutely wrong, and they have rights just as we do.) Even after the friends of Job continuously attempted to accuse him of doing some sort of wrong, he would straightaway provide evidence, and surety that they hadn't actually witnessed him doing these things, but that he acted in quite the opposite spirit. The sins even Job is aware of that would make him unholy and irreverent toward God are basically the exact set of sins Jesus remarks upon in Matthew 5-7. That's right, the Sermon on the Mount was there before Moses even got the Law. Upon Job's own awareness, he is sure that he has followed this law perfectly, up to the point of saying if he's opened the door in his heart to sin, he would be found guilty before the lord.
Furthermore, the priesthood was active presumably before Abraham ever even met Melchizedek, not only is Job prophetic, but he is also authoritative. While of course he is not joyful, or even spirit-filled as us believers have the amazing blessing of being today, he was more righteous than most Christians, of course by his own rite, and God is his witness, but still the point remains. God says through Ezekiel "I will cause you to walk in my commands" (36:27), so we don't have a lot of excuse in regard to sin, and acting on fleshly desire. Yet this is a series of epiphanies that have been flowing as of late. In the first chapters of Job, the scene described as a room designed to allow a counsel to make decisions and sovereign judgments on the creation of the LORD, He actively invites Hist host i.e angels to suggest and make decisions. One of these angels pointed out is the satan, who is subsequently asked where he came from. The satan coyly replies "oh I was walking to and fro upon the surface" prowling, and seeking(1 Pet 5:8). The LORD replies with "have you considered my faithful servant Job? He is a righteous and blameless man, and serves me always", the satan then replies "have you not protected him with a hedge, and for this reason he serves you? Otherwise [I bet] he would curse you to your face."
While I'm obviously not quoting them word for word, the tone is there. However, in much the same way where is Job in this room? Could they be looking at Job through some sort of crystal ball, or window into the earth? Well, some have suggested that this scene is actually taking place in a court room, and typically the accused is brought into the court room, so perhaps Job is spiritually brought into the court room of the council, and is not cognitively present. Maybe he got revelation later on at this vision happening, if he is the one who wrote the book. If he is not, he seems to be vaguely aware that the accuser has a book that he brings to the Almighty (31:35), with which he uses to accuse Job. That which is being brought to question are Job's motives, since he had begun, and ended totally blessed and covered by the LORD. Every aspect of Job's questioning, accusations, and experiential trials brought him to his knees, begging and pleading that the Lord would hear his argument, as he was rightfully tired of being listened to by people who constantly wanted to argue whether Job was wrong or right. I wouldn't blame him honestly, this if part of the state of the church that makes me sad. The church leaders today look more like Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. While yes, 2 Tim 3:16-17 says all scripture is good for reproof, and 1 Tim 5:20 says all who sin must be convicted, it is double-minded thinking to say and judge those outside of your congregation, it is disingenuous, and furthermore only brings condemnation upon yourself. What I'm saying is this: chill out on convicting others, walk in your conviction, and if God convicts you to convict another about their personal sin, or the sin of a nation, do so. For anything done without conviction is sin, and it is your job to walk in the integrity of your conviction.
Job did this perfectly, despite suffering more loss, ache, pain, hurt, judgment, hunger, mistreatment, and abuse than you ever have or will. Furthermore, he was literally recommended by his own wife, the woman who would have supposedly followed Job in his righteousness, to curse his God. Yet Job knew who was both responsible, and didn't. There's this aspect in the story of Job that the version of the cuddly, playful, happy God we really like to see doesn't jive well. God didn't provide Job visions of comfort, in fact quite the opposite (7:14), nor did he find him favor. According to Job, God had caused this to happen to him, and he wasn't entirely wrong. This was confusing to him, honestly it's still confusing to me. There's not a lot I'd rather have than at least a straight answer to the questions I have, and this is Job's entire premise. Not that God made a mistake, not that His judgment was unrighteous, but that Job didn't exactly know why this was being allowed. He didn't have an answer to tell people why this was happening, and his friends decided for him what that answer was: his own sin. Job was fully aware it was definitely not un-repentant sin, he seemed to even acknowledge that
his issue wasn't the fact that God had anything on him, and Job is persistent to this, while still keeping his integrity intact. You can't keep your integrity intact unless you're honest. This is why when sin comes up in my personal life, I plead guilty. Only by pleading guilty can it be washed, by the One who took responsibility for -my- sin.
Beside Moses and Jesus, I would go so far to call Job the third most humble man. He was willing to accept whether he had caused this chaos to befall him. He was willing to be wrong. In our own suffering, we ought to be much more willing to be wrong, else we'll never be made right. So then, take into consideration this: The wise words of a man directed toward me, a young, giddy, bright-looking individual, ready to take on the world, without the slightest clue as to how to do it; "you're wrong." Straight up, point blank, 'you're wrong'. I won't give him credit here, for interest in keeping it anonymous, but I will tell you this, this thought has shaped the way I receive learning, stay open to new lessons, and even how I interact with God, and others who I am discussing God with. I would suggest internalizing this lesson deeply, to the very core of you, because when you stand before the Lord, who can really be right? Well the Lord, that's who.
So be okay with being wrong. Be like Job, suffer, and learn a lot. You'll be well on your way then.
Just as I present this to you, know that I am wrong. While I myself have a high affinity for correctness, and righteousness, I do expect my bias and individual convictions to get in the way of writing. Do be careful with such illnesses of the brain, get in the mind of Christ if you truly want to receive whatever words He may have written here, and more than anything, enjoy the rest of your day!
With Love,
Andrew.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Eyes cast down, fixed upon the ground!
This is me thinking about a song called "Shake me down - Cage the Elephant". The lyrics start like
"I'll keep my eyes fixed on the Son" is perhaps one of the most humbling and settling phrases we can speak out and truly believe in our hearts. When our focus is shaped and directed toward The Righteous Branch of David, we see how helpless, and hopeless we are without Him. When we see Him alive, moving, living, and active, we see how merciful, kind, and loving He is. To me, having the revelation of Jesus is the most precious gift we could ever be given by the Father, because once we've seen Jesus, we have also seen the Father, "for me and the Father are one." Even now, if I am not asking Him "what do you want to say to these people" I am doing myself, and you, reader, a disservice in not supplying to you the sacred, good, and most Holy conversation that each of us get to be a part of with our Lord and Savior. Not because we are worthy, but because He has allowed, and made us worthy. This is amazing Grace. It's awesome, awe-inspiring. It is good.
So this day, keep your eyes fixed on the son, turn your gaze toward the almighty presence of God and His Holy Spirit. Let your entire being cast out the tendrils of your consciousness toward His love, and allow Him to reach you with His enlightenment, meditation, and rest. To Him, and from Him are all things, for He is worthy of all of our praise, and every second of thanksgiving. While this may be a rollercoaster of sorts, for each of us this challenge of keeping our focus and rest in Him is worthy to take up head on, for the burden that is carried with it is light, and the yoke that we face is easy. Make this challenge your obsession, and every passion. Make Jesus Christ your end goal, and perhaps He will change your plans, perhaps He will keep them just the same. Either way if you really want to follow Him, you must abandon all hope for either, and simply hope in Him. For He knows every word He has written in your scroll. Be bold to ask to read such a book, and be willing to listen. Most importantly, fall in love dangerously and recklessly, for this Love is the end and the beginning, the creator and steward of all things. Keep it up. Praise the Lord, Amen.
"Shake me down, not a lot of people left around, who knows now, softly laying on the ground, their eyes cast down. Fixed upon the ground, their eyes cast down. I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun!"To me these lyrics are both very powerful, telling, and exhibiting a portion of the gospel. With the simple change of one word to (I'll keep my eyes fixed on the Son.) you have the centrality of the gospel and all of it's weight in a few sentences. This phrase portrays two types of people in the world, a division between "they" and "I". Or the Other, and Myself. While you can find portions of the gospel in this song, you can also see the illness of pride lurking in the darkness of this mans heart. The "Me, Myself, and I" is what he's truly worried about, rather than the "We, Us, and Each Other". There's an aspect to God being a relational God, but I think as a church we are missing an aspect of Jesus as our presidential electorate, or Jesus as the leader who directs and composes a family, together. While it may seem that we are individual beings with a command over each of our lives that may differ from each other, we must realize that each of our plans is toward the fulfillment of the prophecy of bringing heaven to earth, and earth to heaven. The "Big Picture" in the kingdom is growing with each other toward the common goal of seeing Yeshua our Messiah act righteousness upon the lands who have forsaken Him and His character of peace, justice, love, and mercy i.e His name being lived out with each other, and at the highest of these the intimacy of which we get to experience with Jesus himself as the highest of our prizes.
"I'll keep my eyes fixed on the Son" is perhaps one of the most humbling and settling phrases we can speak out and truly believe in our hearts. When our focus is shaped and directed toward The Righteous Branch of David, we see how helpless, and hopeless we are without Him. When we see Him alive, moving, living, and active, we see how merciful, kind, and loving He is. To me, having the revelation of Jesus is the most precious gift we could ever be given by the Father, because once we've seen Jesus, we have also seen the Father, "for me and the Father are one." Even now, if I am not asking Him "what do you want to say to these people" I am doing myself, and you, reader, a disservice in not supplying to you the sacred, good, and most Holy conversation that each of us get to be a part of with our Lord and Savior. Not because we are worthy, but because He has allowed, and made us worthy. This is amazing Grace. It's awesome, awe-inspiring. It is good.
So this day, keep your eyes fixed on the son, turn your gaze toward the almighty presence of God and His Holy Spirit. Let your entire being cast out the tendrils of your consciousness toward His love, and allow Him to reach you with His enlightenment, meditation, and rest. To Him, and from Him are all things, for He is worthy of all of our praise, and every second of thanksgiving. While this may be a rollercoaster of sorts, for each of us this challenge of keeping our focus and rest in Him is worthy to take up head on, for the burden that is carried with it is light, and the yoke that we face is easy. Make this challenge your obsession, and every passion. Make Jesus Christ your end goal, and perhaps He will change your plans, perhaps He will keep them just the same. Either way if you really want to follow Him, you must abandon all hope for either, and simply hope in Him. For He knows every word He has written in your scroll. Be bold to ask to read such a book, and be willing to listen. Most importantly, fall in love dangerously and recklessly, for this Love is the end and the beginning, the creator and steward of all things. Keep it up. Praise the Lord, Amen.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Rain reign, come today, let your glory sweep us away.
There's something that happens inside of you when you experience the power of the Lord through faith. I've talked before about this idea of "Faith in Him", but even since then the same principle applies, but my individual experience has changed exponentially. Before I was making the argument that Faith in Him is what would drive you to do good works, to step out. Now I know that Faith in Him is what drives you to change from the inside out. There is something that shifts, or lurches when you begin to know, understand, and experience the Lord. When you've asked for Him to press His face against yours (Ezk 22), you start to get the revelation that Our God is an All Consuming Fire. (Heb 12:29) Once you've realized the Fear of the Lord doesn't just look like reverence, or acknowledgement that God is The Righteous One that we hear about in the word, or that He will one day come to claim vengeance on His enemies. It doesn't look like having a knowledge that Jesus is humble, gentle, and gives us a yoke that is easy. It looks like shivering on the ground, letting Him impale you, presenting to Him a sacrifice that is only remotely worthy of His praise because of His mercy. It looks like when you're standing high, falling before him, nose to the ground, with full awareness and inability to compare anything even remotely close to His glory, and when He asks you to stand, you stand and present to Him a bowl of incense, that He's given you the responsibility to carry in your heart at all times. It is being in awe and rejoicing in His judgment. Psalm 58:10 Says "The Righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance, The Lord will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked." Wow. Can you even fathom what it would be like to be washed in the blood of your enemies? By your Lord? In so many ways the culture we live in today is so averse to war cries, to outward expressions of battle and faith. We've become engrossed in being as docile as possible, and we've lost the zeal that the Lord Himself says He will cloak us in. (Isa 59:17)
So what does it truly look like to see the Lord reign in our lives? If you ask Him to reign in your life, I hope you really truly mean it. The NET version bible Translates Adonai Tzevoat into 'The Lord who commands armies'. Otherwise more commonly accepted as "The Lord of Hosts." The reason they did this is because in Old English the traditional understanding of "Hosts" was not someone who invited you over to their house so that you could have dinner with them. While this is an aspect of God's character He graces us to experience, the word hosts captures this legion, or militaristic regime which the Lord is the head of. Now obviously we can go into this as a church, but we must remember that this war is not with Flesh and Blood, but with Dominions, Principalities, and Spirits. (Eph 6:11-12). We are not going to be bathed in the blood of those who live and die by the flesh, but instead we are going to be covered in the Glory Train (Isa 6:1, Psa 68:18) of the victory that Our Yeshua has won. He has been rewarded the keys of Hades, and of Heaven to allow whom He wishes, and banish whom He wishes. He has presented you a fair warning, it is your responsibility to choose. Do you want to be covered by the train, or be enslaved by it? Either way God has won.
"Come, enjoy the meal I've set before you my love. For you, see, I have filled my temple with sacrifices. You may eat of the finest breads and meats, and drink of the finest wines. My love, I want to experience you, enjoy your presence as a husband enjoys his wives bosom. I have sent you to many places, and we have had many works together, but this day my love it is just you and I. Your enemies once surrounded you, there was once when you saw nothing, only bleak images wishing to drown them out by drowning yourself, but this day, my love, we have had victory. Take my hand, and I will bring you into my arms, come and fall for me as I have fallen for you. I have chosen you since the beginning of time, and from the beginning of the foundations of the earth. Now, you are with me, and I am yours. Thank you for remaining faithful, as I have remained faithful to you."
Monday, September 23, 2019
Yahweh
The love that comes from a father to his son is something that cannot be matched.
Many fathers would tell you what it's like watching their first, second, or even third son being delivered, they will often pause, you might catch a tear in their eye, or rolling down their cheek. Occasionally they'll even describe the experience of loving something more than themselves.
This affectionate, profound desire to do things for a being they're responsible for creating
and shaping is irreplaceable.
There's something about the way a father will smile at you when he's proud of you.
When you've just aced your first solo, or even turned in your homework assignment on time.
When you've picked up a book that he recommended, or hit your first pitched ball.
It's special, telling a little story of all the emotions he might feel when he's watching his
creation grow up.
There's something special about being surprised about how mature
you've gotten while both admiring how far you've come.
A bitter-sweetness as the realization that he'll never see this progress, or experience this new thing the same way, yet a pondering of what could possibly come next in your amazing creativity.
There's a special treat in being a dad who has the responsibility of offering a shoulder to cry on.
When you've been bullied at school, or feel like you're a failure at everything, or are
grieving the loss of a loved one.
A father would offer the refuge of his loving arms and hold you
in security.
When you're blatantly wrong about something, he wouldn't rashly correct you, but would offer guidance in your decision making, and ask you questions as to why you're thinking the way you are.
When you feel like life is meaningless and not worth it, he would help you
and love you, and comfort you just with his presence.
When you feel the warmth of his arms
the worries of the world, and the weighty feeling of nothingness simply melts away as you
experience the fullness of love from a good father.
Yet, this is probably the most idealistic father known to man.
In human terms, if we're being real here, there is absolutely nobody who even comes close to offering this sort of father-ship to his sons and daughters.
We can't blame them either, who is perfect after all, and yet there's something inside of
each of us, I believe, that longs for the really really good father, perhaps exactly what I've described
above, perhaps even better.
A superhero father, one who takes you on amazing
adventures in saving children from the sex trade!
Or a dad who leaves you love notes in your lunch box.
Many of the qualities could even describe to you your experience of your mother.
There is something within each of us that recognizes these parental roles, actions, and behaviors
whether it be from movies, or part of our innate nature as kids.
Many of us have been deprived of such love as well.
To me, I have my father in mind.
Not my earthly father, but my father who is in heaven.
He
is perfect beyond all doubt and measure.
He is the exact father I've described here, and way more.
It's obvious that His desire is to show His unending love to those who want it,
and when you've experienced the fullness of this love, you feel and experience weightlessness
you walk in the knowledge and absolute love that you are a child of the most high God.
This is my Father, who walks in absolute confidence in Himself and His creation.
Who shares His glory, and yet is the absolute owner of everything.
He is completely unique, He is in all things, and He is the author of all things.
Yet He is outside of description.
He belongs to none, and belongs to all.
He is love.
He is Papa, Abba, Father.
He is God.
There's something about the way a father will smile at you when he's proud of you.
When you've just aced your first solo, or even turned in your homework assignment on time.
When you've picked up a book that he recommended, or hit your first pitched ball.
It's special, telling a little story of all the emotions he might feel when he's watching his
creation grow up.
There's something special about being surprised about how mature
you've gotten while both admiring how far you've come.
A bitter-sweetness as the realization that he'll never see this progress, or experience this new thing the same way, yet a pondering of what could possibly come next in your amazing creativity.
There's a special treat in being a dad who has the responsibility of offering a shoulder to cry on.
When you've been bullied at school, or feel like you're a failure at everything, or are
grieving the loss of a loved one.
A father would offer the refuge of his loving arms and hold you
in security.
When you're blatantly wrong about something, he wouldn't rashly correct you, but would offer guidance in your decision making, and ask you questions as to why you're thinking the way you are.
When you feel like life is meaningless and not worth it, he would help you
and love you, and comfort you just with his presence.
When you feel the warmth of his arms
the worries of the world, and the weighty feeling of nothingness simply melts away as you
experience the fullness of love from a good father.
Yet, this is probably the most idealistic father known to man.
In human terms, if we're being real here, there is absolutely nobody who even comes close to offering this sort of father-ship to his sons and daughters.
We can't blame them either, who is perfect after all, and yet there's something inside of
each of us, I believe, that longs for the really really good father, perhaps exactly what I've described
above, perhaps even better.
A superhero father, one who takes you on amazing
adventures in saving children from the sex trade!
Or a dad who leaves you love notes in your lunch box.
Many of the qualities could even describe to you your experience of your mother.
There is something within each of us that recognizes these parental roles, actions, and behaviors
whether it be from movies, or part of our innate nature as kids.
Many of us have been deprived of such love as well.
To me, I have my father in mind.
Not my earthly father, but my father who is in heaven.
He
is perfect beyond all doubt and measure.
He is the exact father I've described here, and way more.
It's obvious that His desire is to show His unending love to those who want it,
and when you've experienced the fullness of this love, you feel and experience weightlessness
you walk in the knowledge and absolute love that you are a child of the most high God.
This is my Father, who walks in absolute confidence in Himself and His creation.
Who shares His glory, and yet is the absolute owner of everything.
He is completely unique, He is in all things, and He is the author of all things.
Yet He is outside of description.
He belongs to none, and belongs to all.
He is love.
He is Papa, Abba, Father.
He is God.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Launching Ceremony
Potentially the most celebratory word we have in the English language "Ceremony" carries many meanings. There are wedding Ceremonies, Ceremonials of the dead on their funeral date. Ceremonies when we graduate, fall in love, have a birthday, celebrate something significant in our culture, and in some families there are ceremonies for when you are sent.
Ceremonies can be big or small, with one person or with many. It is almost always about remembering from whence you came, and in the inverse, where you are going. This week has been nuts for me, I have celebrated with friends at my arrival to France, and we had a ceremonial dinner to welcome the beginners to the base here. It's almost unreal that there has been so much change in so little time, but so far I love it here.
I've been pondering on the idea of Faith without works, and Faith with works. Faith of God and Faith in God. On the scale of conversion to Christianity, it would make the most sense that Faith of God is very low on the scale (I'm referring to the Engel scale here, it starts at -10 and goes to 10. 1 is newly converted Christian) but what do I mean by this? Faith that God exists, that there is some higher being other than us, or even openness to the idea that there is another dimension that exists outside of our own consciousness. For a long time I was within this category, as someone who was raised with the idea of God I learned concepts that opened me up to learning some things about the Bible. There was also a period of time in my young teenage years where I felt like exploring other spiritualities and philosophies was a good idea. While today I believe that this was all part of my process to having faith in God, I can confidently say this faith in God thing was not born until recently this year. As James puts it "Faith without works is dead", a haunting verse to many, as it should be. Works are the direct result of Faith in God. However if you simply have works and no faith in God, you have dead works, and maybe faith of God. The most direct way of putting this is that if you don't lay your life down on the line, and trust in God completely and fully, then there is absolutely no way you have faith in God. Yet when you do this it is the most rewarding, fulfilling, exciting, and sometimes intuitive thing that we can do being part of God's creation. Because suddenly we're thrust into a world where we can only follow the directions of how the smartest, highest, and most benevolent being would decide how to do things. It's quite beautiful. Intense really, and to be a part of this work with God is the greatest pleasure we have access to here on Earth, until otherwise specified.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
A Journey in Prayer
While I was in Thailand there was a lot we learned about prayer. My favorite times were when we got to walk around temples, neighborhoods, cities, and villages praying, out loud, silently, for people, with hands laid upon people, and in our own little times of team worship and intercession. It was in those moments when I felt the presence of God, and when I felt that spiritual bondage, strongholds, dominions, and authorities were being broken down, and stripped of their legal right to demonize the regions of Thailand that we were ministering to. We would see inhibitions fall away, kids have more open and soft hearts. We would find that people started to smile instead of looking hopeless while trying to appease foreign and faceless gods.
An aspect of prayer that I'm starting to grow accustomed to is the act of bringing my tears to Jesus. To look at Him with the utmost hurt and confusion, beating upon His chest, demanding an answer for the awful things that happen to the people we love. Some days I feel as if I have an awesome answer, but sometimes I feel like the best answer I've ever gotten is the answer that prayer need not an answer, only prayer. Not everything feels like it's a success, sometimes I even question why I should find enjoyment in the work that Jesus and I do together, when in reality the only thing that matters is my Yeshua, and rejoicing in my Salvation From God (the literal translation of 'yesha'a'). It's not wrong to take pleasure in good things. Even the Lord took a breath and rested on the 7th day to glory in all that He had accomplished over the six day period prior. He stayed, and has been holding up the universe since, without stopping His rest. The 3rd chapter of Genesis never says "then God got up from His rest". Yet, a great question is "when did the Holy Spirit start interceding for us?". Was it when we gained a legal and utmost righteousness, bought by the precious blood of the lamb? Was it when Humans lost their righteousness and communion with the resting Lord almighty? I don't know, but one thing I do know is that He truly actually cares and intercedes on behalf of us now. It's incredible, and humbling. Absolutely the most intimate thing you can experience in your life is deep prayer and communion with the Lord Jesus. He created intimacy, He should know how to do it well.
And that's what prayer is. Intimacy, intertwined with talking sometimes, communion other times, and just spending time with your best friend who also happens to be the Ruler of the entire Universe, of which He created, and through Him nothing was not created. In many ways I've also grown in deep appreciation for Jesus and who He is. We'll get to that soon though. Just remember that prayer is about reaching deep and exploring the caverns of the heart of God hand in hand with Him.
An aspect of prayer that I'm starting to grow accustomed to is the act of bringing my tears to Jesus. To look at Him with the utmost hurt and confusion, beating upon His chest, demanding an answer for the awful things that happen to the people we love. Some days I feel as if I have an awesome answer, but sometimes I feel like the best answer I've ever gotten is the answer that prayer need not an answer, only prayer. Not everything feels like it's a success, sometimes I even question why I should find enjoyment in the work that Jesus and I do together, when in reality the only thing that matters is my Yeshua, and rejoicing in my Salvation From God (the literal translation of 'yesha'a'). It's not wrong to take pleasure in good things. Even the Lord took a breath and rested on the 7th day to glory in all that He had accomplished over the six day period prior. He stayed, and has been holding up the universe since, without stopping His rest. The 3rd chapter of Genesis never says "then God got up from His rest". Yet, a great question is "when did the Holy Spirit start interceding for us?". Was it when we gained a legal and utmost righteousness, bought by the precious blood of the lamb? Was it when Humans lost their righteousness and communion with the resting Lord almighty? I don't know, but one thing I do know is that He truly actually cares and intercedes on behalf of us now. It's incredible, and humbling. Absolutely the most intimate thing you can experience in your life is deep prayer and communion with the Lord Jesus. He created intimacy, He should know how to do it well.
And that's what prayer is. Intimacy, intertwined with talking sometimes, communion other times, and just spending time with your best friend who also happens to be the Ruler of the entire Universe, of which He created, and through Him nothing was not created. In many ways I've also grown in deep appreciation for Jesus and who He is. We'll get to that soon though. Just remember that prayer is about reaching deep and exploring the caverns of the heart of God hand in hand with Him.
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