Thirty-five years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong. It was for a job interview with the University there and even though Asian culture holds no interest to me, I was interested in living in Hong Kong as it was a great jumping off point for all of the South Pacific, which I did have a strong interest in. So, I called up my sister and my American grandmother and asked them if they wanted to come along!
We had a wonderful time! One night we dined at a French restaurant in the belly of our hotel. It was the finest French meal I have ever had and you have to remember I lived in France for several years and many times more in Europe. The food was simply perfect, however, the service was frustrating!
Behind each of us stood three servers. One handled drinks, one the dinner service and one was clean up. Take a sip of water and instantly the water was replaced! If you struggled with something, deft hands would suddenly appear and cut or re-arrange it for you! Eat a roll, get a new roll! You get the idea, very stifling knowing that every word, every movement was observed and responded to by these unseen people these hands were attached to!
A true servant is hardly noticed at all. He is hidden, in this case by an overly dark dining room. Naturally, if the servant does his job correctly, the restaurant will get all of the credit and you would not even know who it was whom served you! And he/she will have done their job correctly.
Our purpose in life is to bring honor to God, not seek it from mankind. God will honor us when the time is right and in the manner of His choosing. The praise of man brings with it pride. There is no way to avoid it, it seems to be built into us (or at least me!). And pride is one of the three biggies that God goes out of His way to condemn. Yeah, it is hard not to be proud when you are so awesome (cough, cough, cough!). And God also goes out of His way to remind those whom grow proud, how easily it is to humble them and how great our need really is of Him. (sigh...)
It is un-mankind like for us to rejoice when someone else succeeds, when someone else gets the praise we know we deserve! It is even harder when someone else is getting the praise for what we did, not what they did! These glory seekers ultimately will not get theirs in the end, because God says that they, like the pharisees, have the admiration of men - all of the reward they will ever receive!
God wants us to do our deeds in secret, such that no one knows whom did what, praise is mis-directed to others, even our left hand does not know what the right just did! That is pretty secret! But, God knows and He will do as He will do in our lives to reward us now, or in the future. His choice, his reward. Very mysterious.
Of course, God tells us to, no commands us, to be LOVING, to be His SLAVE literally, to be FORGIVING, to REACH out to a world of lost and dying mankind, in their sin. The reason we are left on this planet is to DO! Do what God has instructed us to do - in general, for all of us - love, be a slave, be forgiving, witness to a lost and dying world. He did not create any of us for the bagging groceries, planting potatoes, to be deep sea fishermen, or even computer programmers. However, He does allow all of these approaches to take care of ourselves via - just so we do not lose sight of what our ultimate goal really is - to do His work.
If you think of Jesus or any of the Apostles, they sure did not spend 100% of their time in the pursuit of worldly goods. Just enough to further their work was all which was needed. We are surrounded by a world which is watching, waiting for us to stumble, waiting for us to show we are no different than them, then satisfied they can live their lives without God, because we failed.
Who we are, what we do, how we live, our attitude towards others in the Body and to the lost, our priorities will either be a witness to the truth of Jesus or the lure of the world. Many I know would never be caught dead in a church, the only sermon they are ever going to hear is from you living your life. You are God's messenger, you are God's ambassador, you are to be His living message to all around you. (II Corinthians 6:3-4)
Conversely, fill your life with bitterness, anger, lust, dishonesty, laziness, lying, etc! and the people around you will know not only are you a "Christian" but that there is no advantage, no difference to be found in being one.....
So, the point is - DO! what you are told to do in Scripture - be Loving, be a Slave to God, be Forgiving, be a Witness!
Sure, you might have other things God lays on your heart to do as well, but not as a substitute for any of those four things. But, as a servant, there is no ad lib'ing! If He is not in charge you are just wasting your time because you already have been told where you are to be and what you are to be doing. Be those four things and then there might be extra assignments as well - but not until you are faithful in the little we are told to do and be.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Being Extravagant
Thinking on John 12:1-3 and again one of my favorite people of the Bible .....
See Jesus in unpredictable places.
The Rabbis seek Jesus arrest. John 11:57
And Jesus is at the home of a leper! Is this a thanksgiving dinner?
Jesus, Simon (the healed leper), Lazarus, the disciples, Martha and Miriam (Mary).
Fall at Jesus' feet.
Martha is busy with preparations for serving the guests.
She is doing her thing.
Three time Miriam (Mary) is mentioned as being at Jesus feet:
Loving
Grieving
praising
See the big picture.
Miriam (Mary) has let her hair down, as if in mourning(?)
She anoints Jesus' feet and his hair.
As if in preparation for burial(?)
It seems she alone understood the big picture of what was going on.
In a week, Jesus would be crucified and dead!
Give only out of love.
Be willing to always give back to God, what He has already given to you.
Sponteaniously, give all you possess out of love for Jesus.
Miriam (Mary) gave out of joy for her brother's new life.
Miriam (Mary) gave out of sacrifice for her love of Jesus.
Love Jesus extravagantly!
See what He is doing!
Respond accordingly!
You will be blessed for it .....
See Jesus in unpredictable places.
The Rabbis seek Jesus arrest. John 11:57
And Jesus is at the home of a leper! Is this a thanksgiving dinner?
Jesus, Simon (the healed leper), Lazarus, the disciples, Martha and Miriam (Mary).
Fall at Jesus' feet.
Martha is busy with preparations for serving the guests.
She is doing her thing.
Three time Miriam (Mary) is mentioned as being at Jesus feet:
Loving
Grieving
praising
See the big picture.
Miriam (Mary) has let her hair down, as if in mourning(?)
She anoints Jesus' feet and his hair.
As if in preparation for burial(?)
It seems she alone understood the big picture of what was going on.
In a week, Jesus would be crucified and dead!
Give only out of love.
Be willing to always give back to God, what He has already given to you.
Sponteaniously, give all you possess out of love for Jesus.
Miriam (Mary) gave out of joy for her brother's new life.
Miriam (Mary) gave out of sacrifice for her love of Jesus.
Love Jesus extravagantly!
See what He is doing!
Respond accordingly!
You will be blessed for it .....
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Such Fun!
Just in from a hard days hunt of metal detecting!
With a friend I have been hunting a 1904 home site, a park from the 1920's and a park from the 1960's. Of course, it was between bouts of rain but very fun!
I have a loose 6mm YAG (yttrium-aluminum garnet) stone, and a sterling silver mounted white sapphire about 7mm in size.
The sapphire, much more beautiful in life, I could not get to sit at the right angle as the loose stone was! So, it came out rather grey! Neither are diamonds but my first jewelry finds and on the first hunt in several years!
I think my cousin is going to be jealous ..... again. :)
Very happy day for a painfully heavy heart ...
With a friend I have been hunting a 1904 home site, a park from the 1920's and a park from the 1960's. Of course, it was between bouts of rain but very fun!
I have a loose 6mm YAG (yttrium-aluminum garnet) stone, and a sterling silver mounted white sapphire about 7mm in size.The sapphire, much more beautiful in life, I could not get to sit at the right angle as the loose stone was! So, it came out rather grey! Neither are diamonds but my first jewelry finds and on the first hunt in several years!
I think my cousin is going to be jealous ..... again. :)
Very happy day for a painfully heavy heart ...
Monday, May 27, 2013
19
I know I shared this many years ago, but YouTube removed the original version from their site last year and Paul Hardcastle posted a different version this year, long but not better.
So, the original version of 19, while it can remain alive on the internet....
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x905cs_nineteen-19-paul-hardcastle-1985-cl_music#.UaPCtkrGBTs
They are a little slow loading so be patient.
So, the original version of 19, while it can remain alive on the internet....
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x905cs_nineteen-19-paul-hardcastle-1985-cl_music#.UaPCtkrGBTs
They are a little slow loading so be patient.
Friday, May 24, 2013
John 8:1-11
John 8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Here we have the story of the Pharisees attempting to trap Jesus. A woman, caught in adultery, is brought before him. What will he do? No matter the outcome, Jesus was going down, it was a lose - lose situation the Pharisees were sure.
And yet, this passage is nowhere to be found in the oldest copies of John and yes, a copy of John is the oldest copy of any new testament text we have a copy of! So, the oldest copy of John, a fairly complete text, is missing this passage. I wonder why. Hmmmmm.
Who are the actors:
Jesus
Pharisees
Woman caught in the act of adultery
What is the situation?
Jesus is expected to condemn the woman
Pharisees obviously setting up Jesus
Woman whom has to be mighty embarassed
What happens?
Jesus challenges anyone to stone her
Pharisees, probably armed with stones, leave
Woman is told to sin no more
What is the message?
Jesus outsmarted the Pharisees, forgives sin but demands no justice
Pharisees are hard-hearted and scheming
Woman saved from certain death, forgiven
What could the purpose of this insert be?
Jesus can forgive sin
Jesus can over-ride demands for justice
Jesus is smarter than those whom oppose him
Pharisees/Judaism rejects Jesus
Pharisees seek to entrap Jesus by an un-Scriptural situation
Pharisees are ready to mete out justice
Pharisees are aware of their own sin
Pharisees are divided between the older and younger generations
Woman is sinful
Woman is to be held accountable, not man
Woman submits to Jesus
Woman is forgiven by Jesus
Woman, we assume, leaves to sin no more
So, Jesus is shown as the hero in this passage - as the Jewish hierarchy oppose him. So, there is a religious and political reference here. The Pharisees and by extension, the Jews are hard-hearted, legalistic only to their own advantage, stone throwers (murderers if you prefer).
Jesus' forgiveness of this woman's sin allows us, by extension as Christians, to know that our own adulteries are forgiven - both physically and spiritually. It is mighty tough to go through a post-Christian life without sin! It is good to know you are forgiven without compromising your Christian status. But, is that really true? (a topic for another time)
Whatever could be the point of a second to forth century insert into the book of John? Especially a story in which the Jewish leaders break their own laws in order to frame Jesus, are out maneuvered by him and the woman ends up forgiven?
Obviously, not to show the Jewish mind in its best light, not to show the Jew in the best religious light, not show the Jew is forgiven as all whom turn to Jesus are. Certainly, to show the Jew as a Law breaker, a schemer, judgmental, etc.
Was this a propaganda piece? Something to justify hunting of the Jew in Christian held lands?
But, the big thing to learn from this passage is what is forgotten: Jewish laws were not observed, Jesus did not rebuke the Pharisees for this, the woman is not given justice, nor is God's law. Remember that Jesus was buried by Jewish followers, one of them- Nicodemus is a Pharisee who is at the top of his field - think Billy Graham or other favorite Bible teacher. Not only is he a member of the Sanhedrin, he is the most renowned Bible teacher of his day. Think on that one! He became unclean because of his love for Jesus, barred from temple, no offerings possible, an outcast for at least a week from the whole of his life!
That is the real story of the Christian and the Jew - we are one and same, children of faith - a faith which man was not able to keep and so God sent the offering to pay the price for the Abrahamic Covenant. And so Jesus became that completion to both the Jew and the Gentile. No matter how you want to cut the story, salvation is offered for all whom will listen to God's quiet voice.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Religion Continued
This is part of a response to yesterday's post .....
Religion is big business. It is important to hide the ease at which one may find their salvation through Jesus as the Savior. It is important to make it complex to understand, to use words no one uses any longer, to hide the simplicity of the Gospel message. The leaders expect man's praise for their credentials, using this as the basis from which to present "deep" meaning and mysteries to their followers.
In reality all these leaders are doing is marketing themselves; they have focus groups and opinion polls to help them know what people want to talk about; they master the "current event" and stay on top of their game by focusing on what the gossip circles have to say.
They love to write books to about how to posture and market yourself successfully in your ministry, just like them, and be popular. How to build a bigger ministry; what the best approach to music is; how to weave tradition and new traditions together to create a framework which your demographic audience can appreciate and therefore will attend your services and not others. And then, there are those whom weave in pieces from other religions, especially eastern mysticism, to create something new so as to draw the seeker in and into the enemy's territory.
Our religious leader wants authority, establishes a hierarchy from which they rule over the predefined majority of their followers. Always siding with the majority will allow them the longest "run" for the business model they have worked to.
This is Satan and how he works, this is not of God, nor of His leadership. God does not need any of this in order for His Church to be established and to be successful! This religion of government, has nothing to do with God, however it does have to do with Mystery Babylon.....
Of course, equally there are the apologetic approaches:
Yesterday's post was philosophical, not practical.
There is nothing wrong with Bible Schools, nor the accumulation of knowledge.
You paint pastors in a lose-lose situation.
What is true of today was not true of the millennial Rabbi.
Judaism and Christianity are the same, the Jew must become a Christian!
So, you get the idea.
I have to admit that being able to clearly define a problem, which has bothered me for years, is far from knowing how to change the course of apostasy. It is like watching a train derailment. Yeah, you can see how and why it is happening, but once it has begun - how the heck do you stop it?!?!?!?!?
Really, I would like ideas on that one. I would like my pastor to recognize that he has drifted into enemy territory, probably unknowingly. I would like to see this church return to God's leadership and not under pragmatism. I would like to see a whole lot less of pragmatism, period, in the Christian church!
Religion is big business. It is important to hide the ease at which one may find their salvation through Jesus as the Savior. It is important to make it complex to understand, to use words no one uses any longer, to hide the simplicity of the Gospel message. The leaders expect man's praise for their credentials, using this as the basis from which to present "deep" meaning and mysteries to their followers.
In reality all these leaders are doing is marketing themselves; they have focus groups and opinion polls to help them know what people want to talk about; they master the "current event" and stay on top of their game by focusing on what the gossip circles have to say.
They love to write books to about how to posture and market yourself successfully in your ministry, just like them, and be popular. How to build a bigger ministry; what the best approach to music is; how to weave tradition and new traditions together to create a framework which your demographic audience can appreciate and therefore will attend your services and not others. And then, there are those whom weave in pieces from other religions, especially eastern mysticism, to create something new so as to draw the seeker in and into the enemy's territory.
Our religious leader wants authority, establishes a hierarchy from which they rule over the predefined majority of their followers. Always siding with the majority will allow them the longest "run" for the business model they have worked to.
This is Satan and how he works, this is not of God, nor of His leadership. God does not need any of this in order for His Church to be established and to be successful! This religion of government, has nothing to do with God, however it does have to do with Mystery Babylon.....
Of course, equally there are the apologetic approaches:
Yesterday's post was philosophical, not practical.
There is nothing wrong with Bible Schools, nor the accumulation of knowledge.
You paint pastors in a lose-lose situation.
What is true of today was not true of the millennial Rabbi.
Judaism and Christianity are the same, the Jew must become a Christian!
So, you get the idea.
I have to admit that being able to clearly define a problem, which has bothered me for years, is far from knowing how to change the course of apostasy. It is like watching a train derailment. Yeah, you can see how and why it is happening, but once it has begun - how the heck do you stop it?!?!?!?!?
Really, I would like ideas on that one. I would like my pastor to recognize that he has drifted into enemy territory, probably unknowingly. I would like to see this church return to God's leadership and not under pragmatism. I would like to see a whole lot less of pragmatism, period, in the Christian church!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Contrast of The Way vs Religion
Here in the 21st century we have so badly slaughtered the definition of Christianity that I had to be creative with my title. Christianity today has become religion, so I have opted for the original term used to define Christians: The Way.
God had a plan: set apart a people, descendents of one man, to be The witness to the world of whom He is. They created a religion, forgot about Him, and became no better than the Gentiles whom surrounded them in the world. So, God, using the symbolism of a grape vine, grafted in the Gentile peoples, on to His original vine, to let them grow - for an allotted period of time. I imagine for them to become apostate as well. Welcome to the 21st century "Christian" church.
The apostasy, which has corrupted the body of our faith is no different than the same apostasy which corrupted the Jew. So, I have gone with the idea of Man's Religion, rather than saying Christianity or 21st Century, etc. What was once true of the Jew is now true of today's "Christian". Hope you enjoy the following table:
So, I think you can now see what it is I have been working through in my mind for quite sometime - man's insistence of doing things his way, always triumphs in the short term over God and His desires for us. I have tried to make this as flexible as possible to show both the failure of the Jew as well as the Christian alike in the area of faith, because there actually is only one faith - belief in God, or by default in yourself. No two ways about it. And I think you can see how what I condemn as the Western Church or American Theology, etc is solidly in the right hand corner. Sure, there are lots of reasons and excuses, but each one moves the would be believer further and further away from the God they set out to know.
What is an honest person to do? Well, you are not going to run out and find a real Christian church to join, but you might start to really live your faith and through example perhaps impact your Church and its pastor to come back to God. No, it will not be through nagging or political fighting within the Church, it will only be through your personal leadership and example to all of those around you that you will make a difference.
I dare say that should you believe you have a God-ly assembly you have found, Satan will be banging them for all they are worth. He does not need an honest church or an honest believer to deal with, he needs the church neutralized and quieted so that his plans may proceed.
We are the victors.
We each possess what is required to overcome Satan.
We each are neutralized through pragmatism to not recognize our victory.
And the Christian Church, local and worldwide shows this.
God had a plan: set apart a people, descendents of one man, to be The witness to the world of whom He is. They created a religion, forgot about Him, and became no better than the Gentiles whom surrounded them in the world. So, God, using the symbolism of a grape vine, grafted in the Gentile peoples, on to His original vine, to let them grow - for an allotted period of time. I imagine for them to become apostate as well. Welcome to the 21st century "Christian" church.
The apostasy, which has corrupted the body of our faith is no different than the same apostasy which corrupted the Jew. So, I have gone with the idea of Man's Religion, rather than saying Christianity or 21st Century, etc. What was once true of the Jew is now true of today's "Christian". Hope you enjoy the following table:
The Way
|
Man’s Religion
|
Qualified by Scripture:
|
Qualified by man’s credentials.
Approved of by:
Follows tradition to gain respect of man.
|
Qualified by Serving
|
Qualified by “good” teaching
|
Teaches Scripture
|
Teaches denomination or religious traditions
|
Agreement amongst leadership
|
Exercises veto power
|
All men participate in leadership
|
Meetings held for others to attend
|
Transparent to all
|
Dichotomy of public vs private life
|
Accessible to all
|
Community vetted for meetings
|
Responsible to God and congregation
|
Responsible to eldership hierarchy or no one
|
Disciples and motivates followers in Scripture
|
Wields power over others
|
Humility and meekness
|
Seeks approval of man
|
Seeks the kingdom of God
|
Seeks support ($$$) to finance vision
|
Makes disciples
|
Increases membership size
Makes “friends” outside of ministry for support
|
Lifts up truth
|
Lifts up tradition
|
Offers freedom from sin
|
Offers solution to cope with sin
|
Identity is in God
|
Identity is in denomination or institution
|
All are created for God’s purpose
|
We are better than “them”
|
Glories in the Kingdom of God
|
Seeks large buildings and gatherings
|
Leads by God’s spirit
|
Majority rule in leadership
|
Waits on God
|
Exercises pragmatism
|
So, I think you can now see what it is I have been working through in my mind for quite sometime - man's insistence of doing things his way, always triumphs in the short term over God and His desires for us. I have tried to make this as flexible as possible to show both the failure of the Jew as well as the Christian alike in the area of faith, because there actually is only one faith - belief in God, or by default in yourself. No two ways about it. And I think you can see how what I condemn as the Western Church or American Theology, etc is solidly in the right hand corner. Sure, there are lots of reasons and excuses, but each one moves the would be believer further and further away from the God they set out to know.
What is an honest person to do? Well, you are not going to run out and find a real Christian church to join, but you might start to really live your faith and through example perhaps impact your Church and its pastor to come back to God. No, it will not be through nagging or political fighting within the Church, it will only be through your personal leadership and example to all of those around you that you will make a difference.
I dare say that should you believe you have a God-ly assembly you have found, Satan will be banging them for all they are worth. He does not need an honest church or an honest believer to deal with, he needs the church neutralized and quieted so that his plans may proceed.
We are the victors.
We each possess what is required to overcome Satan.
We each are neutralized through pragmatism to not recognize our victory.
And the Christian Church, local and worldwide shows this.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Cult of Self
Sunday's sermon was odd. I know what the pastor was driving towards, but I am not so sure that he got there. Which takes me back a few months ago and to running into Pink Hair Girl at an antique show.
I never told you the entirety of our conversation because at the time I did not know how to deal with something she had said. Now mind you, her and her husband are as dear to me as my own children, so keep that in mind.
So, I had commented that I had not seen her or her husband at church in quite a long while and wondered if they had moved. See, Kris can be non threatening when asking a question. They had moved but that was not why they no longer came to church, it is because of the pastor.
Now, I had already had my January run in with the pastor by then and the thought had crossed my mind, oh maybe 10,000 times to just walk away from this church and go to Argentina. But, then if I did, I would only be proving all of the gossips correct - which they are not but I just know everyone is waiting for Kris to prove the gossip right. So, I stand in innocence, which I am sure grates on more than a few people here. So, I wondered, had she or her husband transgressed the gossip hot line as well?
Her reply is what I have thought about, without a response until yesterday, "No, we just feel that the pastor, in his pursuit of a doctorate, has left correct teaching behind." Yeah, how to respond to that one? You know I condemn the western church and its theology system it has created to support heresy. But that was not her point, his education was. It was getting in the way of his presentation of the truth to her.
Interesting.
Now mind you, I think as the pastor has gained more and more knowledge, his doctrine has come more in line with mine as time progresses. However, he is still sold out to western culture and theology, plus he remains overly impressed with the idea of being the next Rick Warren - Lord help us! We really do not need another one of those!
And I can live with that because it does not get in the way of his having some good points, usually.
But, Sunday did show me the problem, PHG and her husband saw a year ago and left over: he has become impressed with himself. No, you can not point to any one statement and say "See!, there is the problem.". But, I could see, without being critical of him in the least, that it has become a problem for him publicly now. I offered to tell him back in September, what separated him from God - with no evidence at all, but he did not want to know and even stopped talking to me at that point. And, no I have the evidence of what I "knew" last fall. Sigh.
And my mind has thought on this for months. Even last week I told my niece that I was working through this, because it needed to make sense but just did not quite yet. Today, it came together. My mind for one brief instant cleared and I could see the basis of the problem and the contrasting correction to it! But, if I tell you here, this will become a tome! So, look for something more interesting tomorrow.
I never told you the entirety of our conversation because at the time I did not know how to deal with something she had said. Now mind you, her and her husband are as dear to me as my own children, so keep that in mind.
So, I had commented that I had not seen her or her husband at church in quite a long while and wondered if they had moved. See, Kris can be non threatening when asking a question. They had moved but that was not why they no longer came to church, it is because of the pastor.
Now, I had already had my January run in with the pastor by then and the thought had crossed my mind, oh maybe 10,000 times to just walk away from this church and go to Argentina. But, then if I did, I would only be proving all of the gossips correct - which they are not but I just know everyone is waiting for Kris to prove the gossip right. So, I stand in innocence, which I am sure grates on more than a few people here. So, I wondered, had she or her husband transgressed the gossip hot line as well?
Her reply is what I have thought about, without a response until yesterday, "No, we just feel that the pastor, in his pursuit of a doctorate, has left correct teaching behind." Yeah, how to respond to that one? You know I condemn the western church and its theology system it has created to support heresy. But that was not her point, his education was. It was getting in the way of his presentation of the truth to her.
Interesting.
Now mind you, I think as the pastor has gained more and more knowledge, his doctrine has come more in line with mine as time progresses. However, he is still sold out to western culture and theology, plus he remains overly impressed with the idea of being the next Rick Warren - Lord help us! We really do not need another one of those!
And I can live with that because it does not get in the way of his having some good points, usually.
But, Sunday did show me the problem, PHG and her husband saw a year ago and left over: he has become impressed with himself. No, you can not point to any one statement and say "See!, there is the problem.". But, I could see, without being critical of him in the least, that it has become a problem for him publicly now. I offered to tell him back in September, what separated him from God - with no evidence at all, but he did not want to know and even stopped talking to me at that point. And, no I have the evidence of what I "knew" last fall. Sigh.
And my mind has thought on this for months. Even last week I told my niece that I was working through this, because it needed to make sense but just did not quite yet. Today, it came together. My mind for one brief instant cleared and I could see the basis of the problem and the contrasting correction to it! But, if I tell you here, this will become a tome! So, look for something more interesting tomorrow.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Star Trek - Into Darkness
Friday was a fairly horrible day, just incredible pain throughout my body. Afternoon came along and I felt well enough to go pick up some crab legs for dinner. Everything was falling into place time wise and then my son called.
"Hey, pops, wanna go to a movie?"
Okay, that is pretty close a first time for any of the children! So, wondering what was really up, I agreed. And in walked my oldest daughter with her two kids - and they got to enjoy my cooking while I went to the movie with son.
So, first off, the trailers do not do the movie any justice. The movie does the Star Trek saga no justice, in fact it muddies the waters a bit.
However, this is a first rate film and just as you have to keep reminding yourself that "Left Behind" has nothing to do with the Bible, "Into Darkness" has nothing to do with Star Trek outside of it being created by part of the franchise, with characters of similar names and spaceships with familiar numbers on them!
I saw the 3-D version and outside of the effect being used to its fullest effect during a scene while traversing a debris field, it is wasted on this movie, as it is in most movies. However, if you could see this is in IMAX if just might be an awesome movie - apart from the debris field! I will be doing this hopefully today.
The movie on first take was well done, compares poorly with other Star Trek offerings, however just as a stand alone film is well worth seeing.
Teen friendly, other than twice scenes of females in underwear, however modest and of course completely unneccessary. Lots of explosions to keep the demographic audience happy and some memories for those of us whom remember the original series. (Of course I lived in Europe in an age of no TV so I only saw reruns when we moved to the States.)
Probably an owner as well, but let us face it, not much will ever come close to "The Wrath of Khan"....
"Hey, pops, wanna go to a movie?"
Okay, that is pretty close a first time for any of the children! So, wondering what was really up, I agreed. And in walked my oldest daughter with her two kids - and they got to enjoy my cooking while I went to the movie with son.
So, first off, the trailers do not do the movie any justice. The movie does the Star Trek saga no justice, in fact it muddies the waters a bit.
However, this is a first rate film and just as you have to keep reminding yourself that "Left Behind" has nothing to do with the Bible, "Into Darkness" has nothing to do with Star Trek outside of it being created by part of the franchise, with characters of similar names and spaceships with familiar numbers on them!
I saw the 3-D version and outside of the effect being used to its fullest effect during a scene while traversing a debris field, it is wasted on this movie, as it is in most movies. However, if you could see this is in IMAX if just might be an awesome movie - apart from the debris field! I will be doing this hopefully today.
The movie on first take was well done, compares poorly with other Star Trek offerings, however just as a stand alone film is well worth seeing.
Teen friendly, other than twice scenes of females in underwear, however modest and of course completely unneccessary. Lots of explosions to keep the demographic audience happy and some memories for those of us whom remember the original series. (Of course I lived in Europe in an age of no TV so I only saw reruns when we moved to the States.)
Probably an owner as well, but let us face it, not much will ever come close to "The Wrath of Khan"....
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thirteen Cents
My mind is a blank this morning. I had almost no sleep what-so-ever last night, too much leg pain, too much stress, too hot, too cold, then I had to be ready for a grandkids drop off at 5:30 am. Yawn! And I did not write ahead this week on this blog. So .....
I was flipping through the statistics charts which Blogger generates for blog owners. What country origins my readers are from (USA 1, Russia 2, Germany 3, then the other 15 countries I have single digit readers from), what path was used to reach my blog, what keywords were used which led to my blog, what posts people are reading, etc. Sort of mind numbing but it allows me to keep a pulse on what is of interest to people. (Which is often the strangeous of things!)
And then there are the robots whom are downloading my blog. Every week I have the same five downloading my posts, indexing them and then storing them for their readership. One of them is fun because it tells you what you are worth.
I think what it does is look at your average daily number of readers (695!) and then do some factoring for number of posts and number of comments. This then reflects your value for the blog, sort of what you ought to sell for I think.
Well, Google comes in at $20,000,000 and I am worth $ .13. Yeah, a whole thirteen cents! Yup, not going to get rich if I ever want to sell. LOL!
Just thought you might enjoy the humor of the day...
As you are reading this, depending upon where in the world you are; I am either gettring ready to take my niece out for a birthday lunch or am at lunch with her. Such fun! I love birthday lunches.
See you all back there tomorrow!
I was flipping through the statistics charts which Blogger generates for blog owners. What country origins my readers are from (USA 1, Russia 2, Germany 3, then the other 15 countries I have single digit readers from), what path was used to reach my blog, what keywords were used which led to my blog, what posts people are reading, etc. Sort of mind numbing but it allows me to keep a pulse on what is of interest to people. (Which is often the strangeous of things!)
And then there are the robots whom are downloading my blog. Every week I have the same five downloading my posts, indexing them and then storing them for their readership. One of them is fun because it tells you what you are worth.
I think what it does is look at your average daily number of readers (695!) and then do some factoring for number of posts and number of comments. This then reflects your value for the blog, sort of what you ought to sell for I think.
Well, Google comes in at $20,000,000 and I am worth $ .13. Yeah, a whole thirteen cents! Yup, not going to get rich if I ever want to sell. LOL!
Just thought you might enjoy the humor of the day...
As you are reading this, depending upon where in the world you are; I am either gettring ready to take my niece out for a birthday lunch or am at lunch with her. Such fun! I love birthday lunches.
See you all back there tomorrow!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Your Greatness
Ever met someone whom you can just tell is going to make a mark on the world? Or met someone whom told you they were going to? Yeah, there are plenty alive today, in this narcissistic world, whom believe they are someone and are going to make their mark - or at least accumulate wealth enough to prove they are someone, or higher and higher degrees, or licenses, or certificates, or whatever to prove they are better than others, better than you ..... Yet, so very few ever are. They want their acclaim, they want your worship, they want all that is not theirs in the first place.
If you want to be great ... then consider being like John, the Baptist.
John 3:22-28
End the jealousies in your life.
In verse 26, John had the chance to be jealous, Jesus, his cousin was honing in on his ministry! John had been calling on the faithful to repent and await the coming Savior of their faith. John understood that HUMILITY is the biblical antidote for jealousy.!
Take what God gives you as a gift.
John allows that should Jesus be doing as he is doing, then it is only because God has also gifted and called his cousin to the same ministry! His vision was at seeing what God is accomplishing, not worrying about his paycheck. God will reward him, if God desires. God can also replace him, re-enforce him or even kill him. He was willing to live his life at God's pleasure not his own.
When you can understand that all you have is not given to you, to fulfill you, but are gifts from God, given to you for a purpose - His purpose. Then:
It keeps you from becoming proud of yourself, because you realize that anything you are able to do, any good that comes from your effort, is really of God's doing and to His glory.
You are not threatened when someone else begins to receive recognition, even when it is of your own work! God knows and will reward the both of you according to His will.
You can be at peace if God sees fit to remove those gifts or abilities. Remember, all is His, not yours.
Deny any reports of your own greatness!
Many wondered at whom John really was. Two men had never died: Enoch and Elijah. Elijah was expected to precede the arrival of the Savior. But, John denied he was Elijah.
However, John was willing to be the least, or the servant, of his younger cousin, Jesus.
Your greatness is only determined by how you serve Jesus...
So, where do you start? By turning it all over to God. Your emotions, your gifts, your talents, all that you possess, understand the concept of stewardship does not mean rewarding yourself. Give your anger, frustrations, resentment and unforgiveness to God.
And then, be willing to be used by Him.
If you want to be great ... then consider being like John, the Baptist.
John 3:22-28
End the jealousies in your life.
In verse 26, John had the chance to be jealous, Jesus, his cousin was honing in on his ministry! John had been calling on the faithful to repent and await the coming Savior of their faith. John understood that HUMILITY is the biblical antidote for jealousy.!
Take what God gives you as a gift.
John allows that should Jesus be doing as he is doing, then it is only because God has also gifted and called his cousin to the same ministry! His vision was at seeing what God is accomplishing, not worrying about his paycheck. God will reward him, if God desires. God can also replace him, re-enforce him or even kill him. He was willing to live his life at God's pleasure not his own.
When you can understand that all you have is not given to you, to fulfill you, but are gifts from God, given to you for a purpose - His purpose. Then:
It keeps you from becoming proud of yourself, because you realize that anything you are able to do, any good that comes from your effort, is really of God's doing and to His glory.
You are not threatened when someone else begins to receive recognition, even when it is of your own work! God knows and will reward the both of you according to His will.
You can be at peace if God sees fit to remove those gifts or abilities. Remember, all is His, not yours.
Deny any reports of your own greatness!
Many wondered at whom John really was. Two men had never died: Enoch and Elijah. Elijah was expected to precede the arrival of the Savior. But, John denied he was Elijah.
However, John was willing to be the least, or the servant, of his younger cousin, Jesus.
Your greatness is only determined by how you serve Jesus...
So, where do you start? By turning it all over to God. Your emotions, your gifts, your talents, all that you possess, understand the concept of stewardship does not mean rewarding yourself. Give your anger, frustrations, resentment and unforgiveness to God.
And then, be willing to be used by Him.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Puppet of the Fates
So much, for now almost two years, has been completely out of my control. Like anyone, I like to be in control or at least have the appearance of control. No this is not a post on "oh woe is me".
Talking with my niece, I was led to tell her about Jenna, a young girl I knew back when I was adopting for the first time. Her parents were long time friends, her greatest joy was that she was going to have new friends from Northern Russia. She was putting together a plan to welcome them to the 'real world'. It was very cute, but was not to be.
One day, I took the boys from the high school group out for a day of paint balling in the woods. The guys, all of whom had worked hard on preparing my home for sale, had a great time. But getting home was a real difficulty. Traffic was backed up all over the place for 20 miles! Eventually, I was to get home and find that I had a message from Jenna's father, she had been hit by a car. The traffic back up was because they had shut down the roadways so that a helicopter could be brought in. She died about one in the morning.
At the memorial service, over 950 came. No they were not there because of whom her father or mother was, they are just normal people. Nor because of whom her grandparents are, pretty normal types as well. There was something very special about that nine year old girl - she was a Christian and lived a very active Christian witness. Adult after adult stood and told at how she had either led them in salvation, or had challenged them to correct their walk! Even my own adopted sister Cherie, was one those to come to salvation because of this little girl's straightforward witness.
And I meditated on this.
A Christian of only four years, by the time of her death, and look at the impact she had made!
And I thought on Larry my friend of years past, whom was miraculously healed early in my faith, he was murdered two weeks later. And yet, that miracle was what it took for him to believe and do what was right - even if it led to his own death.
And I thought through the years. What does longevity of life mean, if only it is to 'lengthen' life, but to no purpose for God? Does God actually care whether we live four years or forty years after our salvation? Or is our life based not on longevity but on accomplishment? Maybe it is a combination of both? I wondered.
And this artificial extension of my life .... I have no fear of death for I have tried to be faithful my entire life to what I am told. Admittedly, I never expected to have lived this long after December 2011, so I have had to work through what do you do when all goes south, what do you do when nothing goes right, what do you do while you are waiting, what do you do when opportunity does not match expectation? And I have tried to find those answers to those issues and then share them in this blog - the short of it: you keep doing what you were told is right.
And no matter the circumstance, you just keep trucking, following the last set of orders, doing what it takes to remain faithful.
I guess I am writing this mostly because I no longer know what tomorrow holds. It is with faith alone I face a surgeon again shortly. Live or die, is of no consequence, for His work will continue, His goals will be met, with or without me. And that is totally awesome.
:)
Talking with my niece, I was led to tell her about Jenna, a young girl I knew back when I was adopting for the first time. Her parents were long time friends, her greatest joy was that she was going to have new friends from Northern Russia. She was putting together a plan to welcome them to the 'real world'. It was very cute, but was not to be.
One day, I took the boys from the high school group out for a day of paint balling in the woods. The guys, all of whom had worked hard on preparing my home for sale, had a great time. But getting home was a real difficulty. Traffic was backed up all over the place for 20 miles! Eventually, I was to get home and find that I had a message from Jenna's father, she had been hit by a car. The traffic back up was because they had shut down the roadways so that a helicopter could be brought in. She died about one in the morning.
At the memorial service, over 950 came. No they were not there because of whom her father or mother was, they are just normal people. Nor because of whom her grandparents are, pretty normal types as well. There was something very special about that nine year old girl - she was a Christian and lived a very active Christian witness. Adult after adult stood and told at how she had either led them in salvation, or had challenged them to correct their walk! Even my own adopted sister Cherie, was one those to come to salvation because of this little girl's straightforward witness.
And I meditated on this.
A Christian of only four years, by the time of her death, and look at the impact she had made!
And I thought on Larry my friend of years past, whom was miraculously healed early in my faith, he was murdered two weeks later. And yet, that miracle was what it took for him to believe and do what was right - even if it led to his own death.
And I thought through the years. What does longevity of life mean, if only it is to 'lengthen' life, but to no purpose for God? Does God actually care whether we live four years or forty years after our salvation? Or is our life based not on longevity but on accomplishment? Maybe it is a combination of both? I wondered.
And this artificial extension of my life .... I have no fear of death for I have tried to be faithful my entire life to what I am told. Admittedly, I never expected to have lived this long after December 2011, so I have had to work through what do you do when all goes south, what do you do when nothing goes right, what do you do while you are waiting, what do you do when opportunity does not match expectation? And I have tried to find those answers to those issues and then share them in this blog - the short of it: you keep doing what you were told is right.
And no matter the circumstance, you just keep trucking, following the last set of orders, doing what it takes to remain faithful.
I guess I am writing this mostly because I no longer know what tomorrow holds. It is with faith alone I face a surgeon again shortly. Live or die, is of no consequence, for His work will continue, His goals will be met, with or without me. And that is totally awesome.
:)
Monday, May 13, 2013
Iron Man III
A great many told me that this sequel, number 3, is nowhere near as good as the original. Being a cynic, I have to find out for myself. 'D' grade sci-fi is just too fun pass up!
So, with friend in tow, we descended upon the local theater and watched the latest Iron Man offering.
First up are the trailers and I see a new Thor is coming out. I hope it is as good as the original, I liked it a great deal.
Now for Iron Man.
Hmmmm. I like Paltrow, but not so much in this one. Sort of a Pod Pepper appears in this movie. The need to masculate the femme fatale is never appreciated. Imagine Ingrid Bergman physically beating up the Nazi's in Casablanca! No, just the wrong message to what is supposed to bear a romantic quality.
Robert Downey Jr was, well, himself. I like the guy because I understand him and appreciate the battle he fights. And he is a great actor after all. And I think that the trailers really misrepresented the film and how it plays out. He did well, given what the screen writers gave him.
The plot was quite good and the usage of Ben Kingsley was very good, I have to admit I never saw the trickery coming, I had guessed that the Manchurian was in league with the doofus, but really?!?!?!?! So that part played out quite well. Up to the discovery of whom the Manchurian really is, it is a great film. It falls apart after that because it is solid explosions and CGI for the rest of the film.
Oh well, such is the pain of not being a part of the demographic audience ..... age minus IQ, I guess.
Yes, it is an owner of a film and a good film at that. But, only about 75% great picture and then 25% loser.
Big bag of popcorn needed!
So, with friend in tow, we descended upon the local theater and watched the latest Iron Man offering.
First up are the trailers and I see a new Thor is coming out. I hope it is as good as the original, I liked it a great deal.
Now for Iron Man.
Hmmmm. I like Paltrow, but not so much in this one. Sort of a Pod Pepper appears in this movie. The need to masculate the femme fatale is never appreciated. Imagine Ingrid Bergman physically beating up the Nazi's in Casablanca! No, just the wrong message to what is supposed to bear a romantic quality.
Robert Downey Jr was, well, himself. I like the guy because I understand him and appreciate the battle he fights. And he is a great actor after all. And I think that the trailers really misrepresented the film and how it plays out. He did well, given what the screen writers gave him.
The plot was quite good and the usage of Ben Kingsley was very good, I have to admit I never saw the trickery coming, I had guessed that the Manchurian was in league with the doofus, but really?!?!?!?! So that part played out quite well. Up to the discovery of whom the Manchurian really is, it is a great film. It falls apart after that because it is solid explosions and CGI for the rest of the film.
Oh well, such is the pain of not being a part of the demographic audience ..... age minus IQ, I guess.
Yes, it is an owner of a film and a good film at that. But, only about 75% great picture and then 25% loser.
Big bag of popcorn needed!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Slow Times
My life seems to be remarkably slow this week, well what can you expect? I got platinum in my heart these days! So, sort of like a catalytic converter on American cars, only in cars it is known to start fires and corrupt fuel efficiency, whereas in me I get to just putter along. I so want to run my metal detector over my chest and see what it reads!
My first post operative doctor's visit went well, he wants me back next week for another stress test. Yeah, just show me an IV needle and that ought to just about do it! Then he is chomping at the bit for getting me in to the Swedish hospital for the real work at restoring my heart.
I remember last thursday laying there in the operating room and thinking, "Yeah, this just had to happen - after I was made human .... And, it may well be that I would not have survived without feelings. Feelings bring hope. There is not much hope when your arteries are clogging and you have virtually no cholesterol to speak of. There is no real long term solution.
I have been up and walking quite a bit this week, trying to do two miles a day or so. So far the only real stress was surprisingly getting my haircut of all things! Yeah that one should have been stress neutral at the most! And what should have been the most - set my heart at peace. Go figure, this body and God's ways, I may never understand them.
As usual for this week, I can not sit for long without exhaustion, so if you are praying for my healing, please continue. If you are praying for my destruction, well that would make you my daughter, whom ought to talk with me. If you do not pray at all, you might want to consider this quaint practice - it does change things, often our own perspective.
ciao!
My first post operative doctor's visit went well, he wants me back next week for another stress test. Yeah, just show me an IV needle and that ought to just about do it! Then he is chomping at the bit for getting me in to the Swedish hospital for the real work at restoring my heart.
I remember last thursday laying there in the operating room and thinking, "Yeah, this just had to happen - after I was made human .... And, it may well be that I would not have survived without feelings. Feelings bring hope. There is not much hope when your arteries are clogging and you have virtually no cholesterol to speak of. There is no real long term solution.
I have been up and walking quite a bit this week, trying to do two miles a day or so. So far the only real stress was surprisingly getting my haircut of all things! Yeah that one should have been stress neutral at the most! And what should have been the most - set my heart at peace. Go figure, this body and God's ways, I may never understand them.
As usual for this week, I can not sit for long without exhaustion, so if you are praying for my healing, please continue. If you are praying for my destruction, well that would make you my daughter, whom ought to talk with me. If you do not pray at all, you might want to consider this quaint practice - it does change things, often our own perspective.
ciao!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Now What?
Thoughts on John 21:1-14 ...
What is right, when you don't know what to do?
We are called to do what is right. Now we are trapped in a circular argument, we are told to do but we do not know what to do!
Well, we know we are to have JOY, to be a BLESSING, to HELP, to FORGIVE, to LOVE ...
Yeah, so, what am I supposed to be doing!
Do what you know until further instructions arrive!
So, it is the end of the line for Jesus. Captured, sentenced, executed - game over. It was a fun three years thought the disciples as they went their own way.
Their present was over! There was no good to be found by hanging around Jerusalem! So they left. And took up where they had left off three years earlier - they went back to fishing.
It was what they knew. It was what they still had left
And one must wonder about their conversations as they walked back home, as they set out to fish again, but no luck was to be with them that night...
Do what He says, to find success where you are.
Make no mistake, they knew how to fish, it had been their living but today they were without success.
And some guy from shore hollers and asks if they are successful! Sure just grind in the salt in the wound just a little deeper please!
But, they did do as told and cast their net on the other side and found success!
Jesus uses questions to help us find answers...
Don't miss a meal with Jesus!
Peter figures this one out real quick like and throws himself into the water and heads to shore.
Of course, Jesus has made a fire. He just had to for Peter. Remember, the last time we know Peter had seen Jesus was across the charcoal fire back in Jerusalem, after lying to save his own skin concerning Jesus. Oh yeah, I think Peter is catching the mental picture here!
But, they have a meal together, a restoration of fellowship between them.
And a time for reassignment...
So, as I have painful learned across 19 months, when you do not know what to do, sit back and keep on doing what you were doing because if you wait upon Him, He will let you know what to do when the timing is right. And expect instruction from sources you would not have thought. I find much wisdom from my niece (but don't tell her that!).
What is right, when you don't know what to do?
We are called to do what is right. Now we are trapped in a circular argument, we are told to do but we do not know what to do!
Well, we know we are to have JOY, to be a BLESSING, to HELP, to FORGIVE, to LOVE ...
Yeah, so, what am I supposed to be doing!
Do what you know until further instructions arrive!
So, it is the end of the line for Jesus. Captured, sentenced, executed - game over. It was a fun three years thought the disciples as they went their own way.
Their present was over! There was no good to be found by hanging around Jerusalem! So they left. And took up where they had left off three years earlier - they went back to fishing.
It was what they knew. It was what they still had left
And one must wonder about their conversations as they walked back home, as they set out to fish again, but no luck was to be with them that night...
Do what He says, to find success where you are.
Make no mistake, they knew how to fish, it had been their living but today they were without success.
And some guy from shore hollers and asks if they are successful! Sure just grind in the salt in the wound just a little deeper please!
But, they did do as told and cast their net on the other side and found success!
Jesus uses questions to help us find answers...
Don't miss a meal with Jesus!
Peter figures this one out real quick like and throws himself into the water and heads to shore.
Of course, Jesus has made a fire. He just had to for Peter. Remember, the last time we know Peter had seen Jesus was across the charcoal fire back in Jerusalem, after lying to save his own skin concerning Jesus. Oh yeah, I think Peter is catching the mental picture here!
But, they have a meal together, a restoration of fellowship between them.
And a time for reassignment...
So, as I have painful learned across 19 months, when you do not know what to do, sit back and keep on doing what you were doing because if you wait upon Him, He will let you know what to do when the timing is right. And expect instruction from sources you would not have thought. I find much wisdom from my niece (but don't tell her that!).
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Avoiding Pilate's Plight
Thoughts on John 18:33 through 19:16
Sometimes I feel sorry for people in the Bible, you know they did not wake up that day and say, "Gosh, I really would like to be manipulated today into making some poor choices..." In this instance, Pilate being manipulated into condemning Jesus, when he did not even want to be involved in the entire affair...
Focus on the right kingdom
We have two kingdom's set before us we can serve: man's or God's. The one you bow to is the one you serve!
Pilate was considered a brutal ruler and political climber. In this passage he held absolute power over Jesus and was only answerable to Caesar! He needed to control and force peace over Judea, it would take only one mis-step on his part to lose all he had attained.
Pilate never really had a choice here, because God is in control and Pilate was the unknowing puppet.
Accept absolute truth.
When confronted by Pilate, Jesus confirms Pilate's sarcasm. Though Pilate finds Jesus to be innocent, but he does not actually believe that there is truth outside of his truth! His fear defines his truth - there is none apart from him. Truth is found in the moment. So Jesus is turned over to the crowd. He will prove he is Caesar's friend and a worthy ruler!
However, truth is universal, no unique to us. We are all subject to the truth as a unit of measure. God/Jesus defines truth.
Take responsibility for your decisions.
Pilate washes his hands of this entire matter, but in doing so, he chose death for Jesus turning him over to the gathered crowd.
Yeah, Pilate did not wake up and say, "Gosh I really want to be manipulated today!", and yet he was so owned by the Jews in this instance! They wanted blood and he let them have it.
We have a direct correlation in our lives. We have allowed for the creation and control of a cultural system in which all is tolerated - except Christianity. It is really that simple - your lack of standing in place and up for God, has allowed a culture to evolve in which God is discounted by the masses, God is no longer understood by those whom would claim to know Him, and the only unhappy about this are the "radicals".
Maybe it is time for you to consider being a bit radical, you know, stand up to your school boards, make the fight public, do your fighting on your knees, God can turn this nation and culture around, if you are willing to stand up in His name, for His values, for His glory and not our own.....
Sometimes I feel sorry for people in the Bible, you know they did not wake up that day and say, "Gosh, I really would like to be manipulated today into making some poor choices..." In this instance, Pilate being manipulated into condemning Jesus, when he did not even want to be involved in the entire affair...
Focus on the right kingdom
We have two kingdom's set before us we can serve: man's or God's. The one you bow to is the one you serve!
Pilate was considered a brutal ruler and political climber. In this passage he held absolute power over Jesus and was only answerable to Caesar! He needed to control and force peace over Judea, it would take only one mis-step on his part to lose all he had attained.
Pilate never really had a choice here, because God is in control and Pilate was the unknowing puppet.
Accept absolute truth.
When confronted by Pilate, Jesus confirms Pilate's sarcasm. Though Pilate finds Jesus to be innocent, but he does not actually believe that there is truth outside of his truth! His fear defines his truth - there is none apart from him. Truth is found in the moment. So Jesus is turned over to the crowd. He will prove he is Caesar's friend and a worthy ruler!
However, truth is universal, no unique to us. We are all subject to the truth as a unit of measure. God/Jesus defines truth.
Take responsibility for your decisions.
Pilate washes his hands of this entire matter, but in doing so, he chose death for Jesus turning him over to the gathered crowd.
Yeah, Pilate did not wake up and say, "Gosh I really want to be manipulated today!", and yet he was so owned by the Jews in this instance! They wanted blood and he let them have it.
We have a direct correlation in our lives. We have allowed for the creation and control of a cultural system in which all is tolerated - except Christianity. It is really that simple - your lack of standing in place and up for God, has allowed a culture to evolve in which God is discounted by the masses, God is no longer understood by those whom would claim to know Him, and the only unhappy about this are the "radicals".
Maybe it is time for you to consider being a bit radical, you know, stand up to your school boards, make the fight public, do your fighting on your knees, God can turn this nation and culture around, if you are willing to stand up in His name, for His values, for His glory and not our own.....
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Passing On Forgiveness
So you have a heart attack, your heart is completely unstable, your body has been invaded by dozens of needles, you are stressed to the max - and then you get visitors.
Dutchman and I were talking. I strapped to a table for now 40 hours at this point, he stressed over something he did not want to say but apparently felt compelled to. It was about my father in law. I mentioned his death last August. Just let dead horses lay, really! And though I would not post this, I think I will because perhaps someone out there needs to understand forgiveness as well.
For those whom do not know, I had a civil marriage, which was to have been followed by a religious ceremony several months later. Yeah, two kids knowing they should tie the knot but wanting to do it right and wait for the real ceremony to take place. So, civil was in August, religious was to be on Valentines Day the following year. Only father in law found out, as he worked for the government, and exploded while I was in Mexico on a month long trip. I came back in mid-September to address a problem in his church (at the youth's request) and swung by my best friend Don's apartment, used his hidden key to get in to drop my bags, and instead found my would be bride and him heavily engaged.
I quietly left.
Back home I found I had a letter from her dated a week after I had left for Mexico, telling me that her father had annulled the marriage so she saw no reason not to explore my list of friends she liked..... Yeah, sure glad I found out before I got that letter! Of course, her and I had a $220 phone call that afternoon! I lost a great many friends that fall. Even Dutchman, the only one to apologize, fell to her seductive powers. And as for me, my relationship with Udie had been completely above board. Silly me, it seems! But, I was not that kind of person in any event and I never would have thought it of any of my friends!
And here Dutchman, paced in my room, in ICU, as he worked his way through telling something he had never said before, from a conversation with my father in law many years earlier, part of the apology he never passed along. Now at the time of my disaster with that family, their youngest daughter was head over heels for a guy named Kurt. It really did not take discernment to know what a POC the guy was, but the family had known him most of his life, really loved him and his family - and I was the intruder. Yeah, I was smart enough to never saying anything in front of them concerning this creature from the underworld. But, said demon, understood extremely well that I knew whom and what he really was. And years later, my in-laws were to discover exactly how miserable a creep he was as well.
And Dutchman was conflicted. Make no mistake he loves his wife but he remembers too well his relationship with my wife. It almost killed him to tell me of how the father in law had told him of his own distress at how wrong he and his wife had been about me and Kurt. They had trusted Kurt, they did not trust me. They saw no future in computers but Kurt wanted to be a dentist, so they could understand that he had his feet on the ground. Yet, Kurt went on to poison their daughter, after two children, and live "the life" afterwards. Yeah, he abandoned the children, my in-laws got to raise them. Because there was no "proof", no charges were ever filed, but in their town, everyone knows he tried to kill his wife. She continues to live as a vegetable, at least I think she is still alive. And then in contrast, there was the German, whom did okay with his career in computers, adopted for four older Russian orphans, continued working with youth for forty years now, etc. Though they could never accept the idea of "that woman" being in my life, aka Gaelic Girl.
My father in law was proud of me! But he was conflicted and therefore concerned over his own Christianity. If he had been so wrong about me, and then Kurt, what else was he wrong about? Should he have institutionalized his wife, as he had considered early on in their marriage? (It is a long, horrible story, but she murdered her brother in law, though could not be charged because there never was "proof" she had done it. Though, she had confessed to me, many years later how she actually had!) And Dutchman had never told me any of this. Had he of, I would have flown to be with my father in law, to tell him it was all alright, to pray with him, to let him know I have always loved him!
And so Dutchman, embarrassed and hurting, continued to pace as he spilled his guts over Udie and the words of my father in law. I think it hurt him to know that it was me and not him, the family finally understood their daughter was to have been with. He was still hurting from her abandonment of him as she continued on her quest to "know" all of my friends. Sigh. He was wanting to know he was forgiven by me, because obviously, he can not forgive himself - even forty years later ...
Though my heart rate is now something like 180 and the alarms are sounding from the nurse's station, I almost had to laugh. I forgave him even while he was still with my wife four decades earlier! She was dead to me, the woman I had loved was obviously dead and did not exist any longer, I learned that during my very expensive long distance phone call! Sure, there is a body with the name of Udie attached to it, but it is not the woman I knew. And that is what really hurt, no one saw the woman I knew, no actually loved that woman I loved, no one understood her real death, she was just meat in a culture addicted to meat. Her modelling career fell apart, her life withered and died, and one day in 1983 God told me she finally understood this all and to call for an ambulance in her town, she was committing suicide. No, she still thinks it a miracle a paramedic kicked in her door, because no one possibly could have known. She does not understand the power of the Holy Spirit.
And so my almost life long friend, came to his peace in this matter, at the cost of a few thousand heart beats of mine. He came by last night to visit again, to comment that perhaps GG really does like me, though it would be a hard sell to prove. But, I was still exhausted and he did not stay long. So I am hoping he is at peace on this issue. He is my best friend these days, one of the few remaining from the old days. I hope he has truly come to forgive himself.
So, this post is not so much about what happened to me but the need for those involved to forgive themselves. A lesson Dutchman is just now learning, a lesson my father in law never understood, a lesson his entire family would do well to learn, actually one most humans should as well.
What was it I wrote to my daughter last fall, following her betrayal of me?
"The quality of forgiveness, is the quantity by which you have been forgiven ..."
For some it is learning to forgive those whom harm you, for my daughter learning to forgive God for her life, for others learning to forgive themselves.
Forgiveness is needed in this world, Pass It On ...
Dutchman and I were talking. I strapped to a table for now 40 hours at this point, he stressed over something he did not want to say but apparently felt compelled to. It was about my father in law. I mentioned his death last August. Just let dead horses lay, really! And though I would not post this, I think I will because perhaps someone out there needs to understand forgiveness as well.
For those whom do not know, I had a civil marriage, which was to have been followed by a religious ceremony several months later. Yeah, two kids knowing they should tie the knot but wanting to do it right and wait for the real ceremony to take place. So, civil was in August, religious was to be on Valentines Day the following year. Only father in law found out, as he worked for the government, and exploded while I was in Mexico on a month long trip. I came back in mid-September to address a problem in his church (at the youth's request) and swung by my best friend Don's apartment, used his hidden key to get in to drop my bags, and instead found my would be bride and him heavily engaged.
I quietly left.
Back home I found I had a letter from her dated a week after I had left for Mexico, telling me that her father had annulled the marriage so she saw no reason not to explore my list of friends she liked..... Yeah, sure glad I found out before I got that letter! Of course, her and I had a $220 phone call that afternoon! I lost a great many friends that fall. Even Dutchman, the only one to apologize, fell to her seductive powers. And as for me, my relationship with Udie had been completely above board. Silly me, it seems! But, I was not that kind of person in any event and I never would have thought it of any of my friends!
And here Dutchman, paced in my room, in ICU, as he worked his way through telling something he had never said before, from a conversation with my father in law many years earlier, part of the apology he never passed along. Now at the time of my disaster with that family, their youngest daughter was head over heels for a guy named Kurt. It really did not take discernment to know what a POC the guy was, but the family had known him most of his life, really loved him and his family - and I was the intruder. Yeah, I was smart enough to never saying anything in front of them concerning this creature from the underworld. But, said demon, understood extremely well that I knew whom and what he really was. And years later, my in-laws were to discover exactly how miserable a creep he was as well.
And Dutchman was conflicted. Make no mistake he loves his wife but he remembers too well his relationship with my wife. It almost killed him to tell me of how the father in law had told him of his own distress at how wrong he and his wife had been about me and Kurt. They had trusted Kurt, they did not trust me. They saw no future in computers but Kurt wanted to be a dentist, so they could understand that he had his feet on the ground. Yet, Kurt went on to poison their daughter, after two children, and live "the life" afterwards. Yeah, he abandoned the children, my in-laws got to raise them. Because there was no "proof", no charges were ever filed, but in their town, everyone knows he tried to kill his wife. She continues to live as a vegetable, at least I think she is still alive. And then in contrast, there was the German, whom did okay with his career in computers, adopted for four older Russian orphans, continued working with youth for forty years now, etc. Though they could never accept the idea of "that woman" being in my life, aka Gaelic Girl.
My father in law was proud of me! But he was conflicted and therefore concerned over his own Christianity. If he had been so wrong about me, and then Kurt, what else was he wrong about? Should he have institutionalized his wife, as he had considered early on in their marriage? (It is a long, horrible story, but she murdered her brother in law, though could not be charged because there never was "proof" she had done it. Though, she had confessed to me, many years later how she actually had!) And Dutchman had never told me any of this. Had he of, I would have flown to be with my father in law, to tell him it was all alright, to pray with him, to let him know I have always loved him!
And so Dutchman, embarrassed and hurting, continued to pace as he spilled his guts over Udie and the words of my father in law. I think it hurt him to know that it was me and not him, the family finally understood their daughter was to have been with. He was still hurting from her abandonment of him as she continued on her quest to "know" all of my friends. Sigh. He was wanting to know he was forgiven by me, because obviously, he can not forgive himself - even forty years later ...
Though my heart rate is now something like 180 and the alarms are sounding from the nurse's station, I almost had to laugh. I forgave him even while he was still with my wife four decades earlier! She was dead to me, the woman I had loved was obviously dead and did not exist any longer, I learned that during my very expensive long distance phone call! Sure, there is a body with the name of Udie attached to it, but it is not the woman I knew. And that is what really hurt, no one saw the woman I knew, no actually loved that woman I loved, no one understood her real death, she was just meat in a culture addicted to meat. Her modelling career fell apart, her life withered and died, and one day in 1983 God told me she finally understood this all and to call for an ambulance in her town, she was committing suicide. No, she still thinks it a miracle a paramedic kicked in her door, because no one possibly could have known. She does not understand the power of the Holy Spirit.
And so my almost life long friend, came to his peace in this matter, at the cost of a few thousand heart beats of mine. He came by last night to visit again, to comment that perhaps GG really does like me, though it would be a hard sell to prove. But, I was still exhausted and he did not stay long. So I am hoping he is at peace on this issue. He is my best friend these days, one of the few remaining from the old days. I hope he has truly come to forgive himself.
So, this post is not so much about what happened to me but the need for those involved to forgive themselves. A lesson Dutchman is just now learning, a lesson my father in law never understood, a lesson his entire family would do well to learn, actually one most humans should as well.
What was it I wrote to my daughter last fall, following her betrayal of me?
"The quality of forgiveness, is the quantity by which you have been forgiven ..."
For some it is learning to forgive those whom harm you, for my daughter learning to forgive God for her life, for others learning to forgive themselves.
Forgiveness is needed in this world, Pass It On ...
Monday, May 6, 2013
Life, Interupted
As if an unknown prophesy, Wednesday I had written Thursday's post. I was happy, I was at peace, I was satisfied with life once again. How many can say that? Yet, I felt awful!
Thursday, I was up at 4:30 am to drive to my eldest daughter's to pick up the grand kids for the day. We dropped eldest off at her job and I took the kids to IHOP for breakfast. They were spinning little tops, which always makes me laugh! We were no sooner in the door than a man rushed up to me and grabbed my hand and began pumping it. I was drawing a blank until he spoke.
It was brother Timothy's step-father! Now what are the odds of that one! Seems he and one of his friends are in town for some sort of meeting. And I was happy. He is one of those men whom I may see only once a decade but when I do it is like we are long lost friends. He also is only one of two men in my life whom always ask me how I am doing spiritually. It always throws me for a loop because, well, no one in this culture actually cares about virtual strangers. It was good to see him.
Then I had to go to physical therapy for my knee, but it whooped me! I still was not feeling right and was unable to perform as well as I should have been able to.
I brought the kids back to my place, called youngest daughter to come and watch the kids while I went to see my cardiologist. Yeah, I really was not feeling well at all! I just wanted to ask him some questions, but before I could even say hi, he had me on an EKG machine and told me I looked like death warmed over. Gotta love his attention to detail.
Within minutes I was rushed to the emergency room, where they were unable to stabilize my heart. So I was sent to a special room where needles rule and I had an angiogram!
So, the short of it was three blocked arteries in my heart. I opted for the stint insertion approach, versus his preference for splitting my rib cage. Of course, if I am involved, then it must get hosed up. What he thought would be under one hour to do the three repairs turned into a three an a half hour ordeal to just deal with the largest artery. Guess, I have strangely curved arteries.
With only one done, he quit and decided that Swedish in Seattle would have to address the other two.
By Saturday night, Swedish had decided not to the stint route with the other two and wanted to wait and see how I do with just the largest of the arteries now open. I am thinking that what is not being said is that I with get my ribs spread at sometime in the future. sigh.
So, go to your cardiologist to ask a question and get strapped to a table for 60 hours! gees!
But, it is good to be home now and I do feel a world better, albeit, exhausted and extremely sore!
And yes as I lay in the ICU I thought on Thursday's post and how true it really was / is. I am still completely at peace with God and within myself. Not exactly sure what all is up with this but we will see....
Thursday, I was up at 4:30 am to drive to my eldest daughter's to pick up the grand kids for the day. We dropped eldest off at her job and I took the kids to IHOP for breakfast. They were spinning little tops, which always makes me laugh! We were no sooner in the door than a man rushed up to me and grabbed my hand and began pumping it. I was drawing a blank until he spoke.
It was brother Timothy's step-father! Now what are the odds of that one! Seems he and one of his friends are in town for some sort of meeting. And I was happy. He is one of those men whom I may see only once a decade but when I do it is like we are long lost friends. He also is only one of two men in my life whom always ask me how I am doing spiritually. It always throws me for a loop because, well, no one in this culture actually cares about virtual strangers. It was good to see him.
Then I had to go to physical therapy for my knee, but it whooped me! I still was not feeling right and was unable to perform as well as I should have been able to.
I brought the kids back to my place, called youngest daughter to come and watch the kids while I went to see my cardiologist. Yeah, I really was not feeling well at all! I just wanted to ask him some questions, but before I could even say hi, he had me on an EKG machine and told me I looked like death warmed over. Gotta love his attention to detail.
Within minutes I was rushed to the emergency room, where they were unable to stabilize my heart. So I was sent to a special room where needles rule and I had an angiogram!
So, the short of it was three blocked arteries in my heart. I opted for the stint insertion approach, versus his preference for splitting my rib cage. Of course, if I am involved, then it must get hosed up. What he thought would be under one hour to do the three repairs turned into a three an a half hour ordeal to just deal with the largest artery. Guess, I have strangely curved arteries.
With only one done, he quit and decided that Swedish in Seattle would have to address the other two.
By Saturday night, Swedish had decided not to the stint route with the other two and wanted to wait and see how I do with just the largest of the arteries now open. I am thinking that what is not being said is that I with get my ribs spread at sometime in the future. sigh.
So, go to your cardiologist to ask a question and get strapped to a table for 60 hours! gees!
But, it is good to be home now and I do feel a world better, albeit, exhausted and extremely sore!
And yes as I lay in the ICU I thought on Thursday's post and how true it really was / is. I am still completely at peace with God and within myself. Not exactly sure what all is up with this but we will see....
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Life
So things have gotten a little complicated for me since last Friday, seven minor heart attacks. Sigh ..... Then add on all sorts of blood pressure problems and i am not a happy camper this week!
Monday I managed to do some bus travel and as I returned home, a typical Seattleite poser got on the bus. Pick up a bicycling magazine, turn to the ads, find the weirdest, most expensive biking outfit in there - and this guy was wearing it. I almost did burst out laughing. Late twenty-something, probably close to $3,000 in his riding clothing alone and shoes. He was an advertisement for gross consumption to behold.
Two stops later, an obviously mentally handicapped guy about my age gets on and sits opposite bike boy. They stare at each other. About 20 minutes later the one my age says, "My shoe came untied." The voice of an eight year old.
Instantly, bike boy is at the guys feet, double knotting his shoes so they will not come undone! And I thought to myself, "Wow!" The typical poser around here would have been just as likely to untie his other one!
So a second week of incredible, very untypical, Seattle behavior, witnessed by me! Yup, mankind, at least around here is starting to have a future, thanks to the twenty somethings!
On the Blog-landia side of things, so I managed to shake off the weird emails and the FaceBook stalker, only to then have this account locked in a hack attack on Monday. Odd timing. Odder still was that the person had a good grasp of my data so as to try passwords, only HINT: the one you were looking for was my grandmother's name, which actually no one outside of Switzerland knows. So, whom ever you are (like I don't know, since only maybe three people knew that much about me and two of them I am sure were not behind this.....) I changed it again ... now all you have to guess is a Spanish variant word, spelled phonetically in Swiss. Good luck, madam hacker.
I had a good talk with my friend today. Concerns about my heart, etc. It is so nice to have someone whom actually cares, with no expectation that there is anything I can return - because there isn't. And I talked of death, at how I was ready to die July 12, 2012 because I had somehow failed my daughter and Gaelic Girl, but had no clue what it was I could have done! And each of those heart attacks after that one, "Okay, God, I get the message! I am ready for punishment but at least tell me my crime!" Only, He demonstrated that I had done good, I had done exactly as needed and was rewarded - the creation of this new Kris, I am not exactly completely comfortable with as yet.
And now with the return of these attacks, I am at complete peace; I have now seen the completion of being human and should I die, cool, I am completely at peace in a good way. Yeah, this sounds odd I know, but I expected many more years but this pain burning deep within, sort of dampens that expectation.
My friend wants me to go back in for the last test I refused last fall. I am not comfortable with it, but then again with whatever is going to happen to healthcare next year, perhaps this year is the better time to get it done in. sigh. I really hate needles!
I was on grand kid patrol for the whole of Wednesday and Thursday, yesterday was picnics, duck feeding and running in the park. Today? perhaps some time by the salt water and looking for shells. Back home I plan on doing a small garden the kids can help me with. Much calmer for them than yesterday and hopefully fewer "incidents".
It has been a very good week. Not to often a peaceful and content Kris is encountered.....
Monday I managed to do some bus travel and as I returned home, a typical Seattleite poser got on the bus. Pick up a bicycling magazine, turn to the ads, find the weirdest, most expensive biking outfit in there - and this guy was wearing it. I almost did burst out laughing. Late twenty-something, probably close to $3,000 in his riding clothing alone and shoes. He was an advertisement for gross consumption to behold.
Two stops later, an obviously mentally handicapped guy about my age gets on and sits opposite bike boy. They stare at each other. About 20 minutes later the one my age says, "My shoe came untied." The voice of an eight year old.
Instantly, bike boy is at the guys feet, double knotting his shoes so they will not come undone! And I thought to myself, "Wow!" The typical poser around here would have been just as likely to untie his other one!
So a second week of incredible, very untypical, Seattle behavior, witnessed by me! Yup, mankind, at least around here is starting to have a future, thanks to the twenty somethings!
On the Blog-landia side of things, so I managed to shake off the weird emails and the FaceBook stalker, only to then have this account locked in a hack attack on Monday. Odd timing. Odder still was that the person had a good grasp of my data so as to try passwords, only HINT: the one you were looking for was my grandmother's name, which actually no one outside of Switzerland knows. So, whom ever you are (like I don't know, since only maybe three people knew that much about me and two of them I am sure were not behind this.....) I changed it again ... now all you have to guess is a Spanish variant word, spelled phonetically in Swiss. Good luck, madam hacker.
I had a good talk with my friend today. Concerns about my heart, etc. It is so nice to have someone whom actually cares, with no expectation that there is anything I can return - because there isn't. And I talked of death, at how I was ready to die July 12, 2012 because I had somehow failed my daughter and Gaelic Girl, but had no clue what it was I could have done! And each of those heart attacks after that one, "Okay, God, I get the message! I am ready for punishment but at least tell me my crime!" Only, He demonstrated that I had done good, I had done exactly as needed and was rewarded - the creation of this new Kris, I am not exactly completely comfortable with as yet.
And now with the return of these attacks, I am at complete peace; I have now seen the completion of being human and should I die, cool, I am completely at peace in a good way. Yeah, this sounds odd I know, but I expected many more years but this pain burning deep within, sort of dampens that expectation.
My friend wants me to go back in for the last test I refused last fall. I am not comfortable with it, but then again with whatever is going to happen to healthcare next year, perhaps this year is the better time to get it done in. sigh. I really hate needles!
I was on grand kid patrol for the whole of Wednesday and Thursday, yesterday was picnics, duck feeding and running in the park. Today? perhaps some time by the salt water and looking for shells. Back home I plan on doing a small garden the kids can help me with. Much calmer for them than yesterday and hopefully fewer "incidents".
It has been a very good week. Not to often a peaceful and content Kris is encountered.....
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
So, Now What?
Yesterday, I mentioned one of my favorite people in the Bible, because she is such an enigma, Miriam, aka Mary of Magdalene. The Roman Catholics have created quite a tradition around her, none of it Scriptural, but don't let that spoil a good story! But, it is the Biblical Mary that interests me, not the fables of man.....
Now our setting for today's thoughts:
John 20:11-18
"You are loved"
Mary Magdalene was amongst the last at the cross.
She was amongst the first at the grave the next day.
She was the first witness to a risen Jesus!
And think about Jesus' first words to her! Wow! She knew before His death, what His role was, she alone realized whom He was. She bore a faith completely lacking in the rest of the Disciples.
She had HOPE.
In the presence of death, in the face of death staring at her, she had an eternal hope!
Because of Jesus' conquest of death all followers have the knowledge we can avoid eternal death.
And we know that death brings no comfort.
We know that there is no return from death.
Yet Jesus came back! So Mary was given the understanding that there is still hope, even in death!
Faith is personal.
"Don't cling to me", perhaps she had grabbed him as if to never let Him go, or to stay close but he had to leave.
Could she have wanted him as an idol? Perhaps to remember the event by? To remember the past?
Whatever the reason, she had to let go in order to embrace the future.
She became part of Jesus' mission.
She ran to tell the disciples.
And her tale fades away in real history.....
So, what lessons are there to be found in her encounter with Jesus?
Well, certainly, He is calling.
Jesus wants you to respond.
Mary chose to serve Him in life and one must suspect she did as well in His death. She was certainly very special to him, because she was the one He appeared to first.
In like manner, our service is to Him in His death and resurrection.
Your changed life is what points others to Him. That is actually all you have, so when you are caught up in the Western Church and its experiential approach to Christianity, you are serving yourself and not Him. For each of us, whom would call ourselves mature, we must constantly be evaluating where we stand, why we stand and how we stand in faith before God. If it is for or about us, our friends, or the Church, then welcome to the Western Church, because that is not Christianity.
Mary understood He had given her a gift far greater than she could ever repay. I imagine she went on to become quite a witness for him..... And the questioning mind would ask, "What ever became of Mary?"
One tradition has her ending up living France with Jesus' child. (Give me a break!)
One tradition has her living out her life in a cave. (Forgetting that the Romans sacked all of ancient Israel.)
Another I do wonder about:
Now John was given charge of Mary, the mother of Jesus, by Jesus while he hung on the cross. Mary and Mary were well acquainted, at least enough that the two of them (and others) went to the pre-dawn grave to wrap spices over Jesus' corpse. So, what if John had married Mary? There are several traditional tales of this. And we do know that John was married when he was in Ephesus and that Mary lived outside of Ephesus. So, was Mary of Magdalene still a part of the group or even John's wife? History is silent..... But, then I am a romantic.
Now our setting for today's thoughts:
- Jesus has been crucified
- He is plopped in freshly cut cave so as to not ruin the Sabbath
- There is an earthquake
- Jesus rises
- The women arrive to anoint the body
- Mary Magdalene runs to tell the Disciples
- Others yak with an angel
- Peter and John race to the cemetery to see for themselves
- Peter and John leave to tell the others
- Mary Magdalene returns
John 20:11-18
"You are loved"
Mary Magdalene was amongst the last at the cross.
She was amongst the first at the grave the next day.
She was the first witness to a risen Jesus!
And think about Jesus' first words to her! Wow! She knew before His death, what His role was, she alone realized whom He was. She bore a faith completely lacking in the rest of the Disciples.
She had HOPE.
In the presence of death, in the face of death staring at her, she had an eternal hope!
Because of Jesus' conquest of death all followers have the knowledge we can avoid eternal death.
And we know that death brings no comfort.
We know that there is no return from death.
Yet Jesus came back! So Mary was given the understanding that there is still hope, even in death!
Faith is personal.
- Evidence + Understanding = Changed Life
- Evidence + No Understanding = "You must be the gardener"
- Evidence + verse 16's understanding = "Teacher!"
"Don't cling to me", perhaps she had grabbed him as if to never let Him go, or to stay close but he had to leave.
Could she have wanted him as an idol? Perhaps to remember the event by? To remember the past?
Whatever the reason, she had to let go in order to embrace the future.
She became part of Jesus' mission.
She ran to tell the disciples.
And her tale fades away in real history.....
So, what lessons are there to be found in her encounter with Jesus?
Well, certainly, He is calling.
Jesus wants you to respond.
Mary chose to serve Him in life and one must suspect she did as well in His death. She was certainly very special to him, because she was the one He appeared to first.
In like manner, our service is to Him in His death and resurrection.
Your changed life is what points others to Him. That is actually all you have, so when you are caught up in the Western Church and its experiential approach to Christianity, you are serving yourself and not Him. For each of us, whom would call ourselves mature, we must constantly be evaluating where we stand, why we stand and how we stand in faith before God. If it is for or about us, our friends, or the Church, then welcome to the Western Church, because that is not Christianity.
Mary understood He had given her a gift far greater than she could ever repay. I imagine she went on to become quite a witness for him..... And the questioning mind would ask, "What ever became of Mary?"
One tradition has her ending up living France with Jesus' child. (Give me a break!)
One tradition has her living out her life in a cave. (Forgetting that the Romans sacked all of ancient Israel.)
Another I do wonder about:
Now John was given charge of Mary, the mother of Jesus, by Jesus while he hung on the cross. Mary and Mary were well acquainted, at least enough that the two of them (and others) went to the pre-dawn grave to wrap spices over Jesus' corpse. So, what if John had married Mary? There are several traditional tales of this. And we do know that John was married when he was in Ephesus and that Mary lived outside of Ephesus. So, was Mary of Magdalene still a part of the group or even John's wife? History is silent..... But, then I am a romantic.
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