Thursday, August 21, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
On the First Day of the Week
Death where has you sting gone?
Oh Grave! Where is your claim?
You have been defeated.
Your tyrhanny has come to an end,
Crushed by he who was accursed.
The light is passing, far into your depths.
Your caves, your caverns, and your sea.
Have you not known, have you not heard?
All creation groaning for your abdication.
There is an end for there is one who rules the sea.
The terror within has become contained.
Blood speaks of a deeper light, a deeper life,
One in which all tears are wiped away,
For pain and suffering are his displeasure.
His delight bursts forth in renewal,
His smile sustaining all things,
Friends and enemies alike.
His eyes are on those who hope in his kindness,
Whose hearts burn for the restoration of all things.
In silence he hears every groan and every tear.
Reverberating throughout his heart
Intermingling with his own.
Strength unto the weak and healing to the broken,
Justice pours forth from his throne on behalf
Of the brokenhearted.
Put your trust in God, for his Kingdom is sure.
Put your trust in God, for his blood is enough.
Put your trust in God, he lift your head and strengthen your heart.
Heaven mourns over the broken,
But the day of salvation is at hand.
The last enem's destruction is sentenced,
Death shall be no more.
Oh Grave! Where is your claim?
You have been defeated.
Your tyrhanny has come to an end,
Crushed by he who was accursed.
The light is passing, far into your depths.
Your caves, your caverns, and your sea.
Have you not known, have you not heard?
All creation groaning for your abdication.
There is an end for there is one who rules the sea.
The terror within has become contained.
Blood speaks of a deeper light, a deeper life,
One in which all tears are wiped away,
For pain and suffering are his displeasure.
His delight bursts forth in renewal,
His smile sustaining all things,
Friends and enemies alike.
His eyes are on those who hope in his kindness,
Whose hearts burn for the restoration of all things.
In silence he hears every groan and every tear.
Reverberating throughout his heart
Intermingling with his own.
Strength unto the weak and healing to the broken,
Justice pours forth from his throne on behalf
Of the brokenhearted.
Put your trust in God, for his Kingdom is sure.
Put your trust in God, for his blood is enough.
Put your trust in God, he lift your head and strengthen your heart.
Heaven mourns over the broken,
But the day of salvation is at hand.
The last enem's destruction is sentenced,
Death shall be no more.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
A Brief Statement on Words
A confession in a prudent time awakens the dormant and even at times the dying. What do we stand on except for that of words and the Word itself. Our composition is based entirely of the word of One’s power sustaining all things. They flow in and out of the cognition of the comatose and the mentally ill as they do the brilliant and the quick witted, reception holds another story. The unlocking of identity and authority of love and even depression hinge on these entities. The make up of a freer sect of breeds the modern elitist. This is our war. They fly around us as wordsmiths and spin doctors alike hold the leash by which we in this land have come out of the womb with. Though wrapped around our neck the freedom is by no means and easy anecdote. One man’s leash is another man’s noose and the reigns tighten by the day.
Oh, what sweet freedom we find in the words that still and quiet our souls. The Word that towers above the need of answers or even explanation this alone is our salvation. The mercenaries of other ages have lauded over the status quo rendering the situation as one of a mess. There have always been renegades and always rebels. The funky one are the only ones worth noting anymore it seems. The brilliant man truly is toppled. An exasperation throws away the sequences of order and logic and the heart gnaws away for the pain of the indescribable. The reign they hold over us, these masters, these words, either to brighten the eye or to depress the mouth. The expanse of longing for these establish us as who we are. The poetic romantic scraping off the demagogues inaugural address. Tools that mold that manipulate that build and that confront.
Like a starting gun to a firing squad to the trigger to the charismatic, the word “Fire” holds the keys to life and death. Four letters, on syllable, and a handful of connotations. Yet this is just one of a plethora of terms in our common vocabulary and at times graze on the border of redundancy. We grope for meaning and find it not. We speak calling things forth sputtering into a needless collapse. Our treaties are but dust and are worth just as much often as the paper it was written on. Unmarked Native American graves are our testament.
It became flesh, skin, bone, uvula, the whole works. It dwelt among us and was surrounded by noise, clamoring, grunts, moans, pants, screams, cries, and various and assorted syllables. In this regiment of things He upheld, created, saw, felt, and expressed himself through He lived. Yet He was known not. He who is life, the Creator and sustainer of all things became flesh and died allowing us to be one with him. There are those whose words do not fall to the ground and that is because it is in fact not mere chattering but the very Word of God. Logos in audible form, proceeding from a broken and contrite human being. This is love that we may become one with Him. So in turn may we depart and flee from the messes and meditations of men and commune with the eternal Excellence and bring him forth to abide within freeing us from the noose of the echoes of emptiness that the princes of the air mutters before they fade into nothing. Eat the scroll. Consume the word. Feast on the Lord and life, and love, and light will abound.
With this I hope to return to the blogging world
Oh, what sweet freedom we find in the words that still and quiet our souls. The Word that towers above the need of answers or even explanation this alone is our salvation. The mercenaries of other ages have lauded over the status quo rendering the situation as one of a mess. There have always been renegades and always rebels. The funky one are the only ones worth noting anymore it seems. The brilliant man truly is toppled. An exasperation throws away the sequences of order and logic and the heart gnaws away for the pain of the indescribable. The reign they hold over us, these masters, these words, either to brighten the eye or to depress the mouth. The expanse of longing for these establish us as who we are. The poetic romantic scraping off the demagogues inaugural address. Tools that mold that manipulate that build and that confront.
Like a starting gun to a firing squad to the trigger to the charismatic, the word “Fire” holds the keys to life and death. Four letters, on syllable, and a handful of connotations. Yet this is just one of a plethora of terms in our common vocabulary and at times graze on the border of redundancy. We grope for meaning and find it not. We speak calling things forth sputtering into a needless collapse. Our treaties are but dust and are worth just as much often as the paper it was written on. Unmarked Native American graves are our testament.
It became flesh, skin, bone, uvula, the whole works. It dwelt among us and was surrounded by noise, clamoring, grunts, moans, pants, screams, cries, and various and assorted syllables. In this regiment of things He upheld, created, saw, felt, and expressed himself through He lived. Yet He was known not. He who is life, the Creator and sustainer of all things became flesh and died allowing us to be one with him. There are those whose words do not fall to the ground and that is because it is in fact not mere chattering but the very Word of God. Logos in audible form, proceeding from a broken and contrite human being. This is love that we may become one with Him. So in turn may we depart and flee from the messes and meditations of men and commune with the eternal Excellence and bring him forth to abide within freeing us from the noose of the echoes of emptiness that the princes of the air mutters before they fade into nothing. Eat the scroll. Consume the word. Feast on the Lord and life, and love, and light will abound.
With this I hope to return to the blogging world
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Happy Advent
As it does every year, Christmas time has come again. It’s the wonderful time of the year of family togetherness, sharing, love and of course the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Often what first comes to my memory at least are fond memories of Christmas cookies, Christmas music, Family, some of my favorite presents (one of my all time favorites being the G.I. Joe headquarters), and manger scenes. However, throughout the years and especially this year the magic seems gone. I am assuming it is something to do with growing up because all that is seen is another break from the monotony and hectic pressures of all of life’s needs and concerns. As a kid I stared with wide-eyed amazement at the Christmas tree our family would put up and just get lost in the colorful glow and would often climb under it and stare up for a better look. The house smelled like cookies and my siblings and I would be giddy with expectation of our presents to come while we watched the specials on TV like Rudolph and the Grinch. Joy set in with a mystical blanket that covered everything that I knew.
Yet now I sit in front of a tree and gas fueled fire somewhat missing those days and looking at the world as what it truly is, cold and grim. Granted that I have become much more of a cynic through the past five or so year, more than most but working on it. I could rant and rave about the commercialization of a sacred holiday or even feel so enlightened to bring up pagan traditions and play the role of the wise Grinch. I say this not to make sure that the taste of coal goes forth in this advent but to inspire, provoke, and possibly instill a little hope.
It has been awhile since I have seen a Christmas movie. Some of the bigger ones like Elf and the Santa Clause trilogy have been some of the more notable in the past few years. My favorite by far was the Nativity film that came out last year. The bulk of the family flicks that come out inspire warmth, love, compassion and kindness to one’s fellow man, a breath of fresh air from the chaos and disappointment from life. Sad to say that the most recent Christmas film I watched was the first Die Hard movie, which I suggest no one to see. On top of being filled with profuse profanity, spots of nudity, and all around violence, it also took place on Christmas Eve. Things were blown up, adultery was made light, bitterness was glorified, lives were violently ended, pride was praised, and injustice was having a heyday. This, my friends, is the meaning of Christmas.
Now, before I get labeled a jaded Scrooge, I know that it’s tempting, to better clarify this is the reason for Christmas. Christmas has more often than not become a tradition of Americana and then passes by with the huge sales the next year. Carols are reflected on and we thank Jesus for becoming a baby so that we may have salvation. We are thankful for the gift of God and are befuddled at the hats of the Magi, in this brief time joy has truly come to the world.
There is no book, in my opinion that talks about the incarnation and the meaning of it like that of Isaiah. So much more than forgiveness of sins is at hand:
“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives. "And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the LORD. And as for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring," says the LORD, "from this time forth and forevermore." Isaiah 59:14-21
Now that is quite a heavy passage. This is the love that John 3:16 talks about and is far more poetically explained in Philippians 2:6-11. Jesus came to establish a Kingdom and for that reason He came.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:6-7
My friends we have a God who sees and who cares. We have a God who came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and who will permanently crush the serpent’s head and restore righteousness (Gen 3). Righteousness is not some ethereal moral code but rather the correct order in which all things were meant to be and in accordance to the glory of God (Hab 2:7) which is all things aligned to the triune God of relational love. Christmas was for the oppressed, for the poor, for those in bondage, and for the afflicted. Christmas is for every single act of injustice that happens under the sun and the guarantee that there will be justice will be done (Rev 22:12). A Kingdom was brought to the earth through our sympathetic High Priest (Heb 4:14-16) and a day is coming when His and our Father will come and wipe every tear away (Rev 21:4).
I know that this was a tad bit lengthy but with this I wish you a merry and blessed Christmas. May the peace and love of God which go beyond comprehension encounter and guard you and your family. Take heed, justice is coming and we truly do have a good King!
Yet now I sit in front of a tree and gas fueled fire somewhat missing those days and looking at the world as what it truly is, cold and grim. Granted that I have become much more of a cynic through the past five or so year, more than most but working on it. I could rant and rave about the commercialization of a sacred holiday or even feel so enlightened to bring up pagan traditions and play the role of the wise Grinch. I say this not to make sure that the taste of coal goes forth in this advent but to inspire, provoke, and possibly instill a little hope.
It has been awhile since I have seen a Christmas movie. Some of the bigger ones like Elf and the Santa Clause trilogy have been some of the more notable in the past few years. My favorite by far was the Nativity film that came out last year. The bulk of the family flicks that come out inspire warmth, love, compassion and kindness to one’s fellow man, a breath of fresh air from the chaos and disappointment from life. Sad to say that the most recent Christmas film I watched was the first Die Hard movie, which I suggest no one to see. On top of being filled with profuse profanity, spots of nudity, and all around violence, it also took place on Christmas Eve. Things were blown up, adultery was made light, bitterness was glorified, lives were violently ended, pride was praised, and injustice was having a heyday. This, my friends, is the meaning of Christmas.
Now, before I get labeled a jaded Scrooge, I know that it’s tempting, to better clarify this is the reason for Christmas. Christmas has more often than not become a tradition of Americana and then passes by with the huge sales the next year. Carols are reflected on and we thank Jesus for becoming a baby so that we may have salvation. We are thankful for the gift of God and are befuddled at the hats of the Magi, in this brief time joy has truly come to the world.
There is no book, in my opinion that talks about the incarnation and the meaning of it like that of Isaiah. So much more than forgiveness of sins is at hand:
“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives. "And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the LORD. And as for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring," says the LORD, "from this time forth and forevermore." Isaiah 59:14-21
Now that is quite a heavy passage. This is the love that John 3:16 talks about and is far more poetically explained in Philippians 2:6-11. Jesus came to establish a Kingdom and for that reason He came.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:6-7
My friends we have a God who sees and who cares. We have a God who came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and who will permanently crush the serpent’s head and restore righteousness (Gen 3). Righteousness is not some ethereal moral code but rather the correct order in which all things were meant to be and in accordance to the glory of God (Hab 2:7) which is all things aligned to the triune God of relational love. Christmas was for the oppressed, for the poor, for those in bondage, and for the afflicted. Christmas is for every single act of injustice that happens under the sun and the guarantee that there will be justice will be done (Rev 22:12). A Kingdom was brought to the earth through our sympathetic High Priest (Heb 4:14-16) and a day is coming when His and our Father will come and wipe every tear away (Rev 21:4).
I know that this was a tad bit lengthy but with this I wish you a merry and blessed Christmas. May the peace and love of God which go beyond comprehension encounter and guard you and your family. Take heed, justice is coming and we truly do have a good King!
Monday, November 26, 2007
A Bit of Hope
Efficiency has become the way we have defined success, using in this case the royal “we.” Granted God is by far the most efficient being in all of existence, the popular conceptions of it seem so contrary to His nature. It seems that when God said, “Let us make man in our own image!” the picture that almost appears is that of a lawyer, philosopher, and accountant standing around some blueprints attempting to hash out this newfangled monstrosity. Tireless effort thrown together ends up only in the creation rebelling and the conclave of Creator beings frustrated. Its times like this I wish my mind wasn’t cluttered with so much Gnostic and post-Freudian thought and I could actually get a better hold on beholding God. Don’t get me wrong those are not the only things to blame, we shan’t ignore the purple elephant of the fallen nature by any means but too much detachment has seemed to become the status quo and in far too many cases the golden calf.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit birthed all of the created order from the overflow of what they were, are, and will be which is the ineffable joyous immeasurable fountain of love. God has, for me in my upbringing, always seemed as if He were not quite sure what to do with creation. You had the angels and the demons, the elite being that really ruled over the humans; animals who the humans ruled over and were either cute or tasted good or neither; and then there were humans who were made in the image of God meaning that our physiological frame was in some way shape or form a vague comparison to His own. The Trinity was never really applied to anything with the exception of the time the word was actually used. Interchange amidst the Godhead was almost something unnecessary to divulge into or at least it was too noble a pursuit.
With such a detached view it is easy to miss the purpose of even existence. To be honest what had encompassed the years prior was more like communism than Christianity. We work and save people in order to get a pat on the back from God and when you do really well people will acknowledge what you are doing and you might get persecuted, only in the end to have the person realize how good a person you really are. If it came to it, martyrdom was always a high calling. I mean if Jesus could die a gruesome death why couldn’t we. In the end all that seemed left was just a vague picture of this huge mass singing songs for eternity on some shiny surface. Which I guess why the idea of Heaven terrified me so much, perpetual monotony never is appealing unless it is coupled with perpetual agony.
In the end all that I had been left with was the meaning of life was to worship God because He was God and that is what you did. I had heard stories of she kina type experiences and every now and then went to a service where people fell down. The height of encounter was either seeing something really cool or showing some form of emotion.
We were made for so much more. We truly were. Genesis says that we are made in the likeness of God and are to do our heavenly Father’s will. As sons and daughters our primary occupation is to be like our Father through our Brother Jesus Christ. Above all Jesus and God do not base their entire relationship around some strategy board moving people and angelic beings around but their primary occupation is being completely immersed in the love of each other and pouring that forth. At their right hand is pleasures forever more and the fullness of joy is in their presence. This mind you is the God who created music, color, monkeys, mountains, dancing, laughter, sex, relationship, human beings, the four living creatures, and everything else. The angels around His throne are not mindless drones perpetually yelling words God likes to hear but the stay due to the fact that God’s beauty far surpasses any articulation or comprehension. God does not create that which does not reflect His glory, and everything yearns for His rule and reign to be established. Rocks are capable of crying out praise and the Earth is groaning like a woman in labor waiting for God’s radiance to be unrestrained.
This is the God we worship. What a thousand sunrises cannot paint and what a thousand sonatas can articulate pales in comparison to the one who can lay the forest bare with a single blast from His nostrils. To think that we (assuming people are the only ones reading this not highly learned gorillas) were made to partake of that divine and glorious fellowship. I mean words like “glory” and “divine” have been so beaten into the ground that almost all meaning has been stripped from them. The cosmos have been stretched forth by His hand and God knows every movement of my heart. He sees when I wake up, He knows the words that come out of my mouth, He knows what moves me, He knows the sin I am going to commit minutes after I feel His presence deeply, He knows my days and orders my steps, He is coming to rule and reign, and He holds all things together with the power of His word. This is my God,
My God is love. My God is not a detached ruler of a vapid subjugation He mildly loathes. His ways are not our ways nor His thoughts our thoughts. Though our being reflects Him by nature He is not entirely like us. He is the God of communion and the God of Rest. How can one rest detached from others. He who seeks isolation seeks their own destruction. True rest is found in the deepest intimacy feeling secure in every area of your life, this is where the striving ceases.
God is so often looked at as a means to an end and He is only part of the end because that is what the contract we signed stipulates. However, He is the Beginning and the End. The cross was more than a big rubber stamp to declare “Forgiven” on our sin stained name tags but it was the unifying of all things. Jesus went to the furthest extent of pain and abandonment in order for us to enter into the divine fellowship of joy. Jesus came to redeem all and redemption is not just a mere legal standing but it is a reversal of the curse and will be fulfilled when He comes to rule and reign. This does not negate the pursuit of holiness and intimacy but spurs us forward. Jesus did not die for a quota but for a pure and spotless Bride, one in who He would not be unequally yoked to. The cry in our hearts which is a faint reflection of the one in God’s heart is one for total intimacy. There is a reason why Jesus did not say, “Go into the world and make converts,” but called the body to make disciples. We are to follow in His footsteps and not just obtain a shotgun message. In order to walk in the footsteps of Christ we need to be able to be as He is and enter into love, those who love Him are those who obey His commands.
His plan is not based on our whims or accomplishments. He is not critiquing humanity to see if they measure up to His standing. There is a reason why the meek and the poor and spirit are blessed. He is not holding His breath hoping that by some miracle we get everything right, but it is He Himself who is the one who is the Good Shepherd declaring the beginning from the end. His way is gentle and He leads with tenderness. Though He rules with resolve stronger than any iron fist He knows that we are but dust and does not see people as pawns in a game which He is locked in willing for casualties to be a flippant thing. He does not even delight in the death of the wicked but is a God that is longsuffering and came to suffer with us.
The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. The law brings death and we are to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. He allows the rain to fall on the good and the wicked, this is His perfection. Justice comes forth from His throne and is surrounded by mercy. He does not demand a rigid mechanical obedience because robots are incapable of love, which is the only commandment. We have a High Priest, we have an Intercessor, we have a Friend who was tempted in every way and learned obedience through suffering in order to sympathize (suffer) with us. This is our boldness. This is our confidence. This is our righteous: Faith in Him who loved us.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit birthed all of the created order from the overflow of what they were, are, and will be which is the ineffable joyous immeasurable fountain of love. God has, for me in my upbringing, always seemed as if He were not quite sure what to do with creation. You had the angels and the demons, the elite being that really ruled over the humans; animals who the humans ruled over and were either cute or tasted good or neither; and then there were humans who were made in the image of God meaning that our physiological frame was in some way shape or form a vague comparison to His own. The Trinity was never really applied to anything with the exception of the time the word was actually used. Interchange amidst the Godhead was almost something unnecessary to divulge into or at least it was too noble a pursuit.
With such a detached view it is easy to miss the purpose of even existence. To be honest what had encompassed the years prior was more like communism than Christianity. We work and save people in order to get a pat on the back from God and when you do really well people will acknowledge what you are doing and you might get persecuted, only in the end to have the person realize how good a person you really are. If it came to it, martyrdom was always a high calling. I mean if Jesus could die a gruesome death why couldn’t we. In the end all that seemed left was just a vague picture of this huge mass singing songs for eternity on some shiny surface. Which I guess why the idea of Heaven terrified me so much, perpetual monotony never is appealing unless it is coupled with perpetual agony.
In the end all that I had been left with was the meaning of life was to worship God because He was God and that is what you did. I had heard stories of she kina type experiences and every now and then went to a service where people fell down. The height of encounter was either seeing something really cool or showing some form of emotion.
We were made for so much more. We truly were. Genesis says that we are made in the likeness of God and are to do our heavenly Father’s will. As sons and daughters our primary occupation is to be like our Father through our Brother Jesus Christ. Above all Jesus and God do not base their entire relationship around some strategy board moving people and angelic beings around but their primary occupation is being completely immersed in the love of each other and pouring that forth. At their right hand is pleasures forever more and the fullness of joy is in their presence. This mind you is the God who created music, color, monkeys, mountains, dancing, laughter, sex, relationship, human beings, the four living creatures, and everything else. The angels around His throne are not mindless drones perpetually yelling words God likes to hear but the stay due to the fact that God’s beauty far surpasses any articulation or comprehension. God does not create that which does not reflect His glory, and everything yearns for His rule and reign to be established. Rocks are capable of crying out praise and the Earth is groaning like a woman in labor waiting for God’s radiance to be unrestrained.
This is the God we worship. What a thousand sunrises cannot paint and what a thousand sonatas can articulate pales in comparison to the one who can lay the forest bare with a single blast from His nostrils. To think that we (assuming people are the only ones reading this not highly learned gorillas) were made to partake of that divine and glorious fellowship. I mean words like “glory” and “divine” have been so beaten into the ground that almost all meaning has been stripped from them. The cosmos have been stretched forth by His hand and God knows every movement of my heart. He sees when I wake up, He knows the words that come out of my mouth, He knows what moves me, He knows the sin I am going to commit minutes after I feel His presence deeply, He knows my days and orders my steps, He is coming to rule and reign, and He holds all things together with the power of His word. This is my God,
My God is love. My God is not a detached ruler of a vapid subjugation He mildly loathes. His ways are not our ways nor His thoughts our thoughts. Though our being reflects Him by nature He is not entirely like us. He is the God of communion and the God of Rest. How can one rest detached from others. He who seeks isolation seeks their own destruction. True rest is found in the deepest intimacy feeling secure in every area of your life, this is where the striving ceases.
God is so often looked at as a means to an end and He is only part of the end because that is what the contract we signed stipulates. However, He is the Beginning and the End. The cross was more than a big rubber stamp to declare “Forgiven” on our sin stained name tags but it was the unifying of all things. Jesus went to the furthest extent of pain and abandonment in order for us to enter into the divine fellowship of joy. Jesus came to redeem all and redemption is not just a mere legal standing but it is a reversal of the curse and will be fulfilled when He comes to rule and reign. This does not negate the pursuit of holiness and intimacy but spurs us forward. Jesus did not die for a quota but for a pure and spotless Bride, one in who He would not be unequally yoked to. The cry in our hearts which is a faint reflection of the one in God’s heart is one for total intimacy. There is a reason why Jesus did not say, “Go into the world and make converts,” but called the body to make disciples. We are to follow in His footsteps and not just obtain a shotgun message. In order to walk in the footsteps of Christ we need to be able to be as He is and enter into love, those who love Him are those who obey His commands.
His plan is not based on our whims or accomplishments. He is not critiquing humanity to see if they measure up to His standing. There is a reason why the meek and the poor and spirit are blessed. He is not holding His breath hoping that by some miracle we get everything right, but it is He Himself who is the one who is the Good Shepherd declaring the beginning from the end. His way is gentle and He leads with tenderness. Though He rules with resolve stronger than any iron fist He knows that we are but dust and does not see people as pawns in a game which He is locked in willing for casualties to be a flippant thing. He does not even delight in the death of the wicked but is a God that is longsuffering and came to suffer with us.
The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. The law brings death and we are to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. He allows the rain to fall on the good and the wicked, this is His perfection. Justice comes forth from His throne and is surrounded by mercy. He does not demand a rigid mechanical obedience because robots are incapable of love, which is the only commandment. We have a High Priest, we have an Intercessor, we have a Friend who was tempted in every way and learned obedience through suffering in order to sympathize (suffer) with us. This is our boldness. This is our confidence. This is our righteous: Faith in Him who loved us.
Friday, October 12, 2007
My Hundredth Blog: A Premium Weez
Well, what do you know, 100 blog entries. Yup, that is some accomplishment I guess. Shoot I am currently celebrating this momentous occasion with a heapin cup of hot cocoa and gazing into my family's gas powered fire place. The brisk tint of fall has already seeped within my veins bringing nothing but joy to my already content demeanor. On a side not I think demeanor is a pretty boring word, it has a sophisticated sound about it but I think it is only really appropriate for describing a funeral or a coroner's tune fish sandwich.
Well it has been awhile since I have done any honest blogging, a poem here, some thoughts there and that is really about it. Sad to say for the most part the little blogging community I found myself reading went the way of the dodo bird and rapcore and straight up died, its a sad day. The only possible way to avenge such an atrocity is to find five dollars, but honestly, I would need to find atleast ten. A sleek Hamilton would do the trick I mean in this day and age it oculd nearly buy you a car... we do have such a lovely economy.
So an update on life. Amidst the hustle and occasional bustle of my life I have now begun to run sound at the Justice House of Prayer. It has been really fun. I have a meager three sets a week but I try and make the most of it. Granted I am a total newbie and each day I learn that I know even less than I thought I did , I love the fact that I actually effect the sound of some worship teams. I mean it makes me happy, especially at the JPR because the teams are so fresh and have not all conduced themselves into the almost generic IHOP sound. Granted there is a mass of variation within but once you step back it is just a gigantic swirl as an entity unto its own. I mean it is such a breath of freshb air to hear a man shred in fluid 80's style mean electirc guitar, it does the heart well. Along with the pancreas. There is a small chance that I may get the position of sound cordinator over there as well, it was offered to me but I have yet to hear anything back, which is fine with me because I am busy enough as it is with schoolwork.
Now on to school. Classes have been an absolute blast. I have been blessed to dive back into my old debate roots over both of the previous modules and thank God for that lovely kiss. Our class dynamic has been something to completely cherish. Last year I was in a class of about a hundred people and only really knew about a tenh of them. My classes now have twenty people in them and we are really beginning to bond. The Nightwatch FSM as a whole has been throwing down like fiends. God has truly birthed a community with us in the nights and it is something that is forerunning things which are coming to IHOP as a whole. A prophetic spirit has been riding with us and unity has become our defining line. The spirit of unity through the bond of peace flourishes greater than the monster weeds in my back yard and let me tell you that is a wonderful thing (yet I cringe about the yardwork waiting for me when I wake up.) We are with each other almost every night of the week building deep friendships and having good times.
This past week ten of us stayed up all day and went to the Omaha zoo. Apart from the catatonic beginning and ending it was a blast, well the catatonic parts were rather gnarly as well. I mean the shennanagins started right from the beginning when all the guys were greeted in the men's restroom by Josiah saying, "There is a woman in here and she promises she will not look." I mean, classic. She was trying to get her son out who seemed pretty adamant about not leaving. We explored all sorts of terrain from the desert to the rainforest. Two of the more memorable animals were the orangutans and the gorillas. The orangutans tried their hardest to clap, snap, and frown their way into getting food from Tiffany but they did not succeed. All the while the gibbon sitting next to them just stared into space and scratched his belly. In the land of gorillas our group gathered around the protective glass to gaze upon these wild and majestic creatures. Emily locked eyes with the alpha male and he bounded over to where she was and punched the glass as hard as he could. I was daze for about ten seconds and then my entire body was consumed with fear, gorillas my friend, are powerful creatures. The trip left me longing for two things: my own kids to run wild and be filled with wonder and enthusiasm AND the millenial kingdom to come so that we may freely dwell with animals and understand them.
As fall has arrived it is time to have definitive music for the season. Each of the prior falls have had their definitive sounds. 05 had the dulcet tones of Sufjan Stevens and the Danielson Famile. 06 was strictly mewithoutYou. However, I do have a few notable mentions for this year. Currently I have been jamming to the newest release by Maylene but my favorite discovery has been that of Woven Hand. Fronted by David Eugene Edwards, grandson of a holiness rider, brings not only some heavy "alterna-country" or "goth-folk" but also the fear of the Lord. Originally known for his other band Sixteen Horsepower, this is a force to truly be reckoned with. Another band I would love to display to the one or two people who may stumble across this blog is Gogol Bordello. Their frontman is the lead character in the movie Everything is Illuminated, which was a great film..... bearing in mind that the end is always sad when Christ is not involved.
So that is all for now. It has been a wild ride on this blog, let me tell ya. In a while I shall get back to throwing down theological heaviness, but until be blessed in Christ's name.
Well it has been awhile since I have done any honest blogging, a poem here, some thoughts there and that is really about it. Sad to say for the most part the little blogging community I found myself reading went the way of the dodo bird and rapcore and straight up died, its a sad day. The only possible way to avenge such an atrocity is to find five dollars, but honestly, I would need to find atleast ten. A sleek Hamilton would do the trick I mean in this day and age it oculd nearly buy you a car... we do have such a lovely economy.
So an update on life. Amidst the hustle and occasional bustle of my life I have now begun to run sound at the Justice House of Prayer. It has been really fun. I have a meager three sets a week but I try and make the most of it. Granted I am a total newbie and each day I learn that I know even less than I thought I did , I love the fact that I actually effect the sound of some worship teams. I mean it makes me happy, especially at the JPR because the teams are so fresh and have not all conduced themselves into the almost generic IHOP sound. Granted there is a mass of variation within but once you step back it is just a gigantic swirl as an entity unto its own. I mean it is such a breath of freshb air to hear a man shred in fluid 80's style mean electirc guitar, it does the heart well. Along with the pancreas. There is a small chance that I may get the position of sound cordinator over there as well, it was offered to me but I have yet to hear anything back, which is fine with me because I am busy enough as it is with schoolwork.
Now on to school. Classes have been an absolute blast. I have been blessed to dive back into my old debate roots over both of the previous modules and thank God for that lovely kiss. Our class dynamic has been something to completely cherish. Last year I was in a class of about a hundred people and only really knew about a tenh of them. My classes now have twenty people in them and we are really beginning to bond. The Nightwatch FSM as a whole has been throwing down like fiends. God has truly birthed a community with us in the nights and it is something that is forerunning things which are coming to IHOP as a whole. A prophetic spirit has been riding with us and unity has become our defining line. The spirit of unity through the bond of peace flourishes greater than the monster weeds in my back yard and let me tell you that is a wonderful thing (yet I cringe about the yardwork waiting for me when I wake up.) We are with each other almost every night of the week building deep friendships and having good times.
This past week ten of us stayed up all day and went to the Omaha zoo. Apart from the catatonic beginning and ending it was a blast, well the catatonic parts were rather gnarly as well. I mean the shennanagins started right from the beginning when all the guys were greeted in the men's restroom by Josiah saying, "There is a woman in here and she promises she will not look." I mean, classic. She was trying to get her son out who seemed pretty adamant about not leaving. We explored all sorts of terrain from the desert to the rainforest. Two of the more memorable animals were the orangutans and the gorillas. The orangutans tried their hardest to clap, snap, and frown their way into getting food from Tiffany but they did not succeed. All the while the gibbon sitting next to them just stared into space and scratched his belly. In the land of gorillas our group gathered around the protective glass to gaze upon these wild and majestic creatures. Emily locked eyes with the alpha male and he bounded over to where she was and punched the glass as hard as he could. I was daze for about ten seconds and then my entire body was consumed with fear, gorillas my friend, are powerful creatures. The trip left me longing for two things: my own kids to run wild and be filled with wonder and enthusiasm AND the millenial kingdom to come so that we may freely dwell with animals and understand them.
As fall has arrived it is time to have definitive music for the season. Each of the prior falls have had their definitive sounds. 05 had the dulcet tones of Sufjan Stevens and the Danielson Famile. 06 was strictly mewithoutYou. However, I do have a few notable mentions for this year. Currently I have been jamming to the newest release by Maylene but my favorite discovery has been that of Woven Hand. Fronted by David Eugene Edwards, grandson of a holiness rider, brings not only some heavy "alterna-country" or "goth-folk" but also the fear of the Lord. Originally known for his other band Sixteen Horsepower, this is a force to truly be reckoned with. Another band I would love to display to the one or two people who may stumble across this blog is Gogol Bordello. Their frontman is the lead character in the movie Everything is Illuminated, which was a great film..... bearing in mind that the end is always sad when Christ is not involved.
So that is all for now. It has been a wild ride on this blog, let me tell ya. In a while I shall get back to throwing down theological heaviness, but until be blessed in Christ's name.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Grave Robber
High noon burns the sweat soaked eyes
Dusty brows litter the anxious street
Words are hushed where sleeping dogs lie
All silent when the drunk judge takes his seat
The convict comes down the aisle lookers in tow
Lays down his six shooters the loaded twelve
Peacemakers unsheather that the people didn't know
The Sons of God do not live on shelves
Lawyer started yelling as the preacher was preachin'
Mouthed closed as he took on the hell fire blaze
Bordellos and bars and other places he be teachin'
With a tongue like Bowie's knife the words never a haze
The jury was rigged he had each one hung
Human nature was the gamble for years been set up
The hearts of men wanting holy necks wrung
Plotting his fate with backwash in a bitter cup
Preacher smirks donning hangman's mask
Noose in hand points to the old oak tree
The oak never had any questions to ask
"Cursedbe the man who hangs from me!"
He steps forward to the executioner's laugh
Putting it on like a jewelled necklace
Smeeling in the distance the burning of chaff
Passion burned in the stone set face
Blackness surrounds the roaring fist
Recompense of the piper's receipt
Eternity hosts this flagrant mist
Death shrieked with the given release
Burning eyes with the heavy axe
Hand to handle waylaying the crushing blow
Violence fills the remorseless attack
The Hangin' tree falls with no seed to sow
Grave Robber
Hear the jingle jangle of his keys
Grave Robber
Shatterin' the proud man's kness
Grave Robber
Best do what he said
Grave Robber
Comin' to judge the quick and th' dead
Dusty brows litter the anxious street
Words are hushed where sleeping dogs lie
All silent when the drunk judge takes his seat
The convict comes down the aisle lookers in tow
Lays down his six shooters the loaded twelve
Peacemakers unsheather that the people didn't know
The Sons of God do not live on shelves
Lawyer started yelling as the preacher was preachin'
Mouthed closed as he took on the hell fire blaze
Bordellos and bars and other places he be teachin'
With a tongue like Bowie's knife the words never a haze
The jury was rigged he had each one hung
Human nature was the gamble for years been set up
The hearts of men wanting holy necks wrung
Plotting his fate with backwash in a bitter cup
Preacher smirks donning hangman's mask
Noose in hand points to the old oak tree
The oak never had any questions to ask
"Cursedbe the man who hangs from me!"
He steps forward to the executioner's laugh
Putting it on like a jewelled necklace
Smeeling in the distance the burning of chaff
Passion burned in the stone set face
Blackness surrounds the roaring fist
Recompense of the piper's receipt
Eternity hosts this flagrant mist
Death shrieked with the given release
Burning eyes with the heavy axe
Hand to handle waylaying the crushing blow
Violence fills the remorseless attack
The Hangin' tree falls with no seed to sow
Grave Robber
Hear the jingle jangle of his keys
Grave Robber
Shatterin' the proud man's kness
Grave Robber
Best do what he said
Grave Robber
Comin' to judge the quick and th' dead
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