Men's Manly Bible Study...
Jesus is getting at our reliance on Him. He wants us to rely on Him more deeply.
Hebrews 10:32 and following...
How does the Reality of the Kingdom, and our hope of the Resurrection affect our interaction with the created realm? Having confidence in the promise of That Day (1 John 3:2), we set our hearts on the "things above" (Col.3:1ff) (ff means "and following").
We are anchored in Christ, seated in the heavenlies! One day we will be revealed. Check out Romans 8:18ff. This is the stuff we're supposed to really think about life, when the bills are due and there's no money, or our wives are mad about something we don't sympathize with, or our kids are dumb teenagers...
so the way we handle and are affected by this created world is "seasoned" by this hope. Look in 1 Corinthian 7:29-31... We are liberated from the cares of this created order, no matter how gnarly it gets.
but our hearts are also awakened to see the signs and hints of God everywhere! We can more fully enjoy Him, now that we have received his spirit, and the hints he has embedded in creation stoke our hope! So we get stoked and refreshed by the Gospel all the time!
Some thoughts.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday Night October 14, 2009
This was a prayer night, but instead of prayer, I got us into a teaching about a bunch of stuff. The anchor scriptures that crossed the plate were:
John 14:1-6
2 Corinthians 5:1-11
1 Corinthians 15: 35-58
1 Peter 3:1 and following (ff)
1 Cor. 7:1-9
1 peter 3:15
John 14:1-6
2 Corinthians 5:1-11
1 Corinthians 15: 35-58
1 Peter 3:1 and following (ff)
1 Cor. 7:1-9
1 peter 3:15
Welcome!!!
After a year or so off from regular blogging, I have started up this blog as a tool to speed my friends here in study of the Bible passages that get brought up in our meetings. For years, I have encouraged everyone to write down the Scripture references, but frankly, that gets done on a kind of "seldom" basis... so I'm going to do my best to provide those Scripture lists here, as well as break down what we discuss, a little more...
Massive Blessings in Christ.
Massive Blessings in Christ.
Friday, May 8, 2009
April...
All I'm saying is that there is always a LOT going on... Here in Northside, especially. I'm typing this out with the 45 seconds I have before I drop Seth at School. Every day is a whirlwind.
Around here, I've been hammering away in the work of getting to the practice of obedience to the Gospel. We are dealing with the natural block between belief and reliance, and the distinction between the old life and the new life... it gets tricky when the old life is religious, and the new life is outside those bounds...
On to the day!
Around here, I've been hammering away in the work of getting to the practice of obedience to the Gospel. We are dealing with the natural block between belief and reliance, and the distinction between the old life and the new life... it gets tricky when the old life is religious, and the new life is outside those bounds...
On to the day!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Judging
yesterday at our weekly meeting, we discussed Jesus' teachings in Matt. 7 and Luke 6, where he says, "Do not judge..."
we also looked at the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, as well as the beginning of Romans 2.
There was a word about bitterness, along the lines of Hebrews 12.
So we are on a bit of a journey to get free in regard to this measuring people ungenerously. An ungenerous measure. That's the problem. Why? Because we tend to limit the degree to which we will believe that we are truly loved by Father. I'm sure of it. Dare to believe that He loves you. That you are precious and beloved, and that he is going to take care of all of the layers and levels of "it" that you've got. Let fear give way to love in the Great Displacement of the soul.
we also looked at the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, as well as the beginning of Romans 2.
There was a word about bitterness, along the lines of Hebrews 12.
So we are on a bit of a journey to get free in regard to this measuring people ungenerously. An ungenerous measure. That's the problem. Why? Because we tend to limit the degree to which we will believe that we are truly loved by Father. I'm sure of it. Dare to believe that He loves you. That you are precious and beloved, and that he is going to take care of all of the layers and levels of "it" that you've got. Let fear give way to love in the Great Displacement of the soul.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Old Lew goes to Washington
The best view of DC is inside the botanical gardens. Go go green stuff!
-- Post From My iPhone
-- Post From My iPhone
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
with all that is going on around me, it has been virtually impossible for me to blog. it's all just too personal, real, fast-paced, and important to try to distill it into some "post".
i think raising a fish from the dead kind of summed it up. Jesus is real. life around here is filled with His stuff, daily...
some folks are between jobs. babies are getting borned. Danielmatt and Xtine had their little one just a little while back. got a text last night that David and Sarah's is a boy.
one of the best things of all around here is how folks have matured over the last 5 to 9 years... when we go away, there is a serious strength in the body... i love not being needed...
along those lines, i have been spending waaaaay more time "outside", with my skateboard company, Fickle Boards.
i don't even want to talk about how much i experience Jesus "out there" and how that reflects on so much of what has called itself "church"'s attitude toward outsiders...
i think raising a fish from the dead kind of summed it up. Jesus is real. life around here is filled with His stuff, daily...
some folks are between jobs. babies are getting borned. Danielmatt and Xtine had their little one just a little while back. got a text last night that David and Sarah's is a boy.
one of the best things of all around here is how folks have matured over the last 5 to 9 years... when we go away, there is a serious strength in the body... i love not being needed...
along those lines, i have been spending waaaaay more time "outside", with my skateboard company, Fickle Boards.
i don't even want to talk about how much i experience Jesus "out there" and how that reflects on so much of what has called itself "church"'s attitude toward outsiders...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Not a replacement.
The fish lay upside-down in his bowl for two days, wiggling a fin now and then. I prayed over him each day, and God has restored him.
Today he ate. It amazed me how much I cared about this little life. I never even named him. Now I call him Lazarus.
-- Post From My iPhone
Today he ate. It amazed me how much I cared about this little life. I never even named him. Now I call him Lazarus.
-- Post From My iPhone
Monday, February 9, 2009
miss you guys
lew misses not onlz the american kezboard, but zou guzs too... we are going to go get our rental car soon and then weäre off to belgium to see judzäs sister... i am hoping mz lizards and mz turtle and snake are well, and iäm worried about all of zou, too. i hope y
that is, all of zou jesus people in northside. love one another. donät fight. wait and pray. always tell the truth. do what is right, even if you have to slow down a lot. your plans are probablz not godäs plans, and if zou stick to them too inflexiblz, somethign will get broken, starting with the weak people around zou.
zou are not an island. zour decisions affect manz others, so be holz and bz that
there is no shame in being imperfect, adn even evil. the shame is in being too afraid to let it be known among similar saints. be open about zour failures, fears, adn the things zou know zou shouldnt want, but do.
zou maz find buried inm those things a seed of life that zou didn#ät recogniye.
be good to each other adn dont boss each other around. everzojne should be working hard.
share groceries and bills.
help each other dailz.
no mother shouild lack a babzsitter for her sanitz.
no man should be unloved bz his wife.
no woman should be afraid that her husband is too foolish to listen to Godlz counsel. no man should be too proud or ashamed to admit he is clueless and afraid.
things should be done together.
meals especiallz
take advantage of time when we are gone to prove that zou are disciples, not of
and be good to each other.
this is what makes singing so good.
that is, all of zou jesus people in northside. love one another. donät fight. wait and pray. always tell the truth. do what is right, even if you have to slow down a lot. your plans are probablz not godäs plans, and if zou stick to them too inflexiblz, somethign will get broken, starting with the weak people around zou.
zou are not an island. zour decisions affect manz others, so be holz and bz that
there is no shame in being imperfect, adn even evil. the shame is in being too afraid to let it be known among similar saints. be open about zour failures, fears, adn the things zou know zou shouldnt want, but do.
zou maz find buried inm those things a seed of life that zou didn#ät recogniye.
be good to each other adn dont boss each other around. everzojne should be working hard.
share groceries and bills.
help each other dailz.
no mother shouild lack a babzsitter for her sanitz.
no man should be unloved bz his wife.
no woman should be afraid that her husband is too foolish to listen to Godlz counsel. no man should be too proud or ashamed to admit he is clueless and afraid.
things should be done together.
meals especiallz
take advantage of time when we are gone to prove that zou are disciples, not of
and be good to each other.
this is what makes singing so good.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tithing, Jubilee, Sabbath Years...
We have all been here before, if we've been around for a while. Needs come up and I mention the basket, and then there's a question about tithing, and before we know it, my phone is blowing up with all kinds of WONDERFUL, AMAZING, GREAT, INTELLIGENT, BEAUTIFUL DISCOVERIES!!!
I
Love
the
way
you
people
learn
from
Jesus.
I love that you call me up and say, "Hey, what's the deal with the Jubilee..." or the sabbath year cycles, or gleaning, or alms, or all that... I love that we discover together that the Mosaic law of the tithe is a THING that we can look at and discover and understand and examine...
i love that you aren't powerless to evaluate what you hear, anymore. I love that you know that you can understand things, because you trust in Him and in His word. I love that you will save me from stumbling one day, if I need it!
I love the idea that someday I'll be knocked down, but good. There I'll be, with my hopes shattered and my mind riven by black despair. And there you will all be, armed with the Word--even the words that I've said myself so many times--ready to teach me what I taught you and what we are all being taught!
I love that I need you people, and that I have no strength or authority on my own--that my strength and authority derive, not from my perfect alignment with God's Word (hah!), but from His perfect Love for me, who is Jesus Christ the Friend of Sinners! And that perfect Love, who is Jesus, is in you who are becoming wise and strong all around me.
I am watching a forest of people growing on all sides, and what was once a barren plain, destroyed by war and fire, is now host to all kinds of richness and life, yet wild and untamed...
...where the wild things are!
I
Love
the
way
you
people
learn
from
Jesus.
I love that you call me up and say, "Hey, what's the deal with the Jubilee..." or the sabbath year cycles, or gleaning, or alms, or all that... I love that we discover together that the Mosaic law of the tithe is a THING that we can look at and discover and understand and examine...
i love that you aren't powerless to evaluate what you hear, anymore. I love that you know that you can understand things, because you trust in Him and in His word. I love that you will save me from stumbling one day, if I need it!
I love the idea that someday I'll be knocked down, but good. There I'll be, with my hopes shattered and my mind riven by black despair. And there you will all be, armed with the Word--even the words that I've said myself so many times--ready to teach me what I taught you and what we are all being taught!
I love that I need you people, and that I have no strength or authority on my own--that my strength and authority derive, not from my perfect alignment with God's Word (hah!), but from His perfect Love for me, who is Jesus Christ the Friend of Sinners! And that perfect Love, who is Jesus, is in you who are becoming wise and strong all around me.
I am watching a forest of people growing on all sides, and what was once a barren plain, destroyed by war and fire, is now host to all kinds of richness and life, yet wild and untamed...
...where the wild things are!
somehing about scriptures
You guys know what? You seriously need to bring those pens and papers and list those scriptures on Sundays. If you don't do that, ask Lauren for her list! She is the official scribe, now. Thanks and hats off, Lauren! ...and tell Sam we all said "Hi"! haha, just kidding. but seriously, "Hi, Sam."
oh and also, hey, when I put a post up here with all those scriptures, it's fun to get the Biblegateway going, but it's better for your head to open up a paper bible and flip to them and annotate the cross-referencing and to do all that stuff, like note-cards and journaling andall that old-school paper stuff.
and by saying "...it's better for your head..." I mean "Hey, make me a happy older brother dude and get your danged Bibles out and pour over this stuff!" In a minute you'll be wise and snappy!
...snappy?
snappy. hmmmm. maybe that coffee was TOO good.
wise and snappy. what next?
oh and also, hey, when I put a post up here with all those scriptures, it's fun to get the Biblegateway going, but it's better for your head to open up a paper bible and flip to them and annotate the cross-referencing and to do all that stuff, like note-cards and journaling andall that old-school paper stuff.
and by saying "...it's better for your head..." I mean "Hey, make me a happy older brother dude and get your danged Bibles out and pour over this stuff!" In a minute you'll be wise and snappy!
...snappy?
snappy. hmmmm. maybe that coffee was TOO good.
wise and snappy. what next?
something i said
Last Sunday morning was pretty typical in a lot of ways... mostly kids and babies everywhere... making and eating a meal... catching up with folks... you know, church.
and then i bust out the guitar, and JP has his guitar, and David has his guitar... and there are a couple djembe drums, and a couple of plastic toys that make silly noises and you wonder how the kids always find them and bring them out on Sundays while we're trying to get serious... i love that. God saves us from self-seriousness, with children!
We actually have one toy at our house that has this "stop and go, stop and go, off to school where the big kids go..." song in it... to the "barney" tune... what delightful medicine for the soul. "...with a beep beep honk honk all around the town. Stop and go and round and round..." can you dig it?
anyway, we make and eat, we sing a lot. for like an hour. just unarranged songs that we'll request, or teach... i've been bringing up some old/new songs lately... and then we "shift gears" into a time of sharing from the Life, who is Jesus.
During that time on Sundays, it is typical for several people to share scriptures, insights, revelations, dreams even, and for old sinner Lew to open his mouth to teach. Lew doesn't always teach, because he prefers the Holy Spirit minister through the church to the church, but it is often expedient that he teach... presently it is expedient that he refrain from referring to himself in the third person.
As for that teaching, it is almost never something I have "Prepared" in the classic modern seminarian style. It is a sharing "from the Life, who is Jesus." It doesn't matter what kind of week I have had, because Jesus is always the same, although I enjoy life more when i've had a week of living temperately and with self-denial and sacrifice. (or radical shredding on my skateboard with my sons!) I think i had a week like that in '03, maybe. But I was also really proud that week... (I get the shred on much more regularly)
During that time of sharing this week, we had a slight contention arise around my effort to equip us to discern leadership's faithfulness in the light of scripture. I urged all of you, and always will, to test the fruit of your leaders! Examine their way of life, as you walk with them. Ask the tough questions and do it all in the light of Scripture, the gentleness of humility, and in undying loyalty to Christ.
when this is done in the humility of wisdom (James), and the gentleness of the Lord's nearness (PHil 4), it will cause that kind of division (mat.10) which is an effect of the presence of Jesus, in truth. By "...in truth", I am attempting to make a distinction between the presence of Jesus that is proclaimed by some man in front of a room, who by merit of his salary and office is "in charge", yet the real Jesus, who is described in Scripture, would have this guy out!
I would like to make a distinction between That presence of Jesus and the REAL/IN TRUTH (John 4--spirit and truth) presence of the ACTUAL JESUS, who is authoritatively and reliably described in the Scripture! So when I say to you that a certain degree or quantity of division is the natural outworking of the presence of Jesus, look at Mat. 10 or 1 Cor 11:18-19.
Think about it. Look at Galatians, where Paul opposes Peter. Listen to Paul telling Timothy and Titus to command certain ones not to teach certain things! Listen to Jude calling out false prophets! Now turn back to Matthew 6 and hear Jesus! Get to 7 and hear Him telling you to beware of false prophets, and toknow them by their fruit.
As I was pressing this home, I said something to the effect of, "If you examine what I am teaching, and it isn't faithful to Scripture to some significant extent, and I won't listen to you or those to whom I am accountable--RUN AWAY!!!"
...and i mean that. i stand by that! As our experience of church fills daily with such pleasant things as shared life in parenting and daily table, we have to stay on our guard against false teaching that would lead us to "groupthink". And the "leader" is just the guy to start making that happen! So I urge all of you to examine the things I teach--that are all on audio recordings that are available to you--and really test and see for yourselves whether or not these things are as I am asserting.
This is especially easy for me to say, because I am one among brothers, here. A good number of you have been with me for 3 to 5 years and have not only proven the outcome of my doctrine (which is not mine at all), but have become adept students of the Master, who is the Word--the author of the Bible. Between David, JP, Chris, and Britt here in Northside, I don't have a chance to get far on the wrong track. With Mike Rea in orbit around us as an elder to me, you guys have someone to talk to when I get wacky.
Yes, it wouldn't be hard to confront me for bad doctrine, if I started a line of teaching that was contrary to Scripture or any of the solid traditions of the church, or any sound judgment of Spirit-filled men, or contrary to the Spirit's guidance in the church... and all of them must be attested to by the whole Body of Scripture, not just wack snippeting.
But!
if what I am teaching you, in regard to your relationship to the Old Covenant laws of Moses and their use and abuse...
...if what I am so confidently asserting during these times of teaching IS orthodox, and in line with the traditions of our elders...
If my doctrine truly is of Christ, and not just to please men, then you should recognize that I have stepped out of the picture, and you are no longer dealing with me, but with the subject of that doctrine, Himself--Jesus Christ! And how you are pleased or perplexed by Him, and your response to that perplexity or pleasure, are a matter, not of opinion-sharing or discussion, but of worship!
This is why the Bible says,
1 Peter 2
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,[a] 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
See that "...if indeed..." there? That is there because there are many hearers of the word who have not tasted grace! This may be you! Or maybe they knew the grace of Father's love in Christ, but left that path for the path of perfoming for men's approval. This is why Paul said in 2 Cor. 11:3
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy... Go read it!
I myself feel that jealousy keenly, in a house surrounded by people who lean in for anything that might better clarify their sense for God's grace...
"if indeed" in that Peter passage shows us that, as Hebrews 3 says, it is possible to miss the grace of God, even while we attend the meetings of the church! Go on and read Hebrews 4 and you'll see clearly that this is talking about that very thing I'm saying--that it is far too possible for you to miss God's Grace, folks.
This is why we are so committed to meet.
This is why we sing and pray and share life.
This is why we take pains to remind and admonish one another to always trust and forgive and pray and never give up!
This! That it is possible to fade off of grace.
Now, someone might say, "he is able to keep me" and I say, Great! Just only make sure you occupy yourself with what the clear teaching of the Word says! Because if He's going to keep you, He'll be keeping you in that! Your proclamation of His "ability" is proper, except if it is a cover for laziness! Get serious, and get helpful to each other!
Maturity in Christ is described in the end of Hebrews 5 as an ability to distinguish between good and evil. I'm not making any plans to fall off the Jesus wagon, but if I did, I am sure that you all can tell, and would be bold to call me back. What say you?
One of the things I love the most about Sundays, is that there is a "completeness" to what is taught, because several believers are sharing from their walk with Jesus, at a time... I don't think words can describe how much Jesus loves us all and how much I love you guys. I wrote this because I think you need to sharpen your game--all of you. You live in a perverse generation. Get your heads on straight and put all of your hope in Jesus! Don't live for TGIF or your favorite show to be on! Stop learning how to think from TV. Stop! Open the Scriptures. Paul told Timothy that they can make you wise. Get wise!
and then i bust out the guitar, and JP has his guitar, and David has his guitar... and there are a couple djembe drums, and a couple of plastic toys that make silly noises and you wonder how the kids always find them and bring them out on Sundays while we're trying to get serious... i love that. God saves us from self-seriousness, with children!
We actually have one toy at our house that has this "stop and go, stop and go, off to school where the big kids go..." song in it... to the "barney" tune... what delightful medicine for the soul. "...with a beep beep honk honk all around the town. Stop and go and round and round..." can you dig it?
anyway, we make and eat, we sing a lot. for like an hour. just unarranged songs that we'll request, or teach... i've been bringing up some old/new songs lately... and then we "shift gears" into a time of sharing from the Life, who is Jesus.
During that time on Sundays, it is typical for several people to share scriptures, insights, revelations, dreams even, and for old sinner Lew to open his mouth to teach. Lew doesn't always teach, because he prefers the Holy Spirit minister through the church to the church, but it is often expedient that he teach... presently it is expedient that he refrain from referring to himself in the third person.
As for that teaching, it is almost never something I have "Prepared" in the classic modern seminarian style. It is a sharing "from the Life, who is Jesus." It doesn't matter what kind of week I have had, because Jesus is always the same, although I enjoy life more when i've had a week of living temperately and with self-denial and sacrifice. (or radical shredding on my skateboard with my sons!) I think i had a week like that in '03, maybe. But I was also really proud that week... (I get the shred on much more regularly)
During that time of sharing this week, we had a slight contention arise around my effort to equip us to discern leadership's faithfulness in the light of scripture. I urged all of you, and always will, to test the fruit of your leaders! Examine their way of life, as you walk with them. Ask the tough questions and do it all in the light of Scripture, the gentleness of humility, and in undying loyalty to Christ.
when this is done in the humility of wisdom (James), and the gentleness of the Lord's nearness (PHil 4), it will cause that kind of division (mat.10) which is an effect of the presence of Jesus, in truth. By "...in truth", I am attempting to make a distinction between the presence of Jesus that is proclaimed by some man in front of a room, who by merit of his salary and office is "in charge", yet the real Jesus, who is described in Scripture, would have this guy out!
I would like to make a distinction between That presence of Jesus and the REAL/IN TRUTH (John 4--spirit and truth) presence of the ACTUAL JESUS, who is authoritatively and reliably described in the Scripture! So when I say to you that a certain degree or quantity of division is the natural outworking of the presence of Jesus, look at Mat. 10 or 1 Cor 11:18-19.
Think about it. Look at Galatians, where Paul opposes Peter. Listen to Paul telling Timothy and Titus to command certain ones not to teach certain things! Listen to Jude calling out false prophets! Now turn back to Matthew 6 and hear Jesus! Get to 7 and hear Him telling you to beware of false prophets, and toknow them by their fruit.
As I was pressing this home, I said something to the effect of, "If you examine what I am teaching, and it isn't faithful to Scripture to some significant extent, and I won't listen to you or those to whom I am accountable--RUN AWAY!!!"
...and i mean that. i stand by that! As our experience of church fills daily with such pleasant things as shared life in parenting and daily table, we have to stay on our guard against false teaching that would lead us to "groupthink". And the "leader" is just the guy to start making that happen! So I urge all of you to examine the things I teach--that are all on audio recordings that are available to you--and really test and see for yourselves whether or not these things are as I am asserting.
This is especially easy for me to say, because I am one among brothers, here. A good number of you have been with me for 3 to 5 years and have not only proven the outcome of my doctrine (which is not mine at all), but have become adept students of the Master, who is the Word--the author of the Bible. Between David, JP, Chris, and Britt here in Northside, I don't have a chance to get far on the wrong track. With Mike Rea in orbit around us as an elder to me, you guys have someone to talk to when I get wacky.
Yes, it wouldn't be hard to confront me for bad doctrine, if I started a line of teaching that was contrary to Scripture or any of the solid traditions of the church, or any sound judgment of Spirit-filled men, or contrary to the Spirit's guidance in the church... and all of them must be attested to by the whole Body of Scripture, not just wack snippeting.
But!
if what I am teaching you, in regard to your relationship to the Old Covenant laws of Moses and their use and abuse...
...if what I am so confidently asserting during these times of teaching IS orthodox, and in line with the traditions of our elders...
If my doctrine truly is of Christ, and not just to please men, then you should recognize that I have stepped out of the picture, and you are no longer dealing with me, but with the subject of that doctrine, Himself--Jesus Christ! And how you are pleased or perplexed by Him, and your response to that perplexity or pleasure, are a matter, not of opinion-sharing or discussion, but of worship!
This is why the Bible says,
1 Peter 2
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,[a] 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
See that "...if indeed..." there? That is there because there are many hearers of the word who have not tasted grace! This may be you! Or maybe they knew the grace of Father's love in Christ, but left that path for the path of perfoming for men's approval. This is why Paul said in 2 Cor. 11:3
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy... Go read it!
I myself feel that jealousy keenly, in a house surrounded by people who lean in for anything that might better clarify their sense for God's grace...
"if indeed" in that Peter passage shows us that, as Hebrews 3 says, it is possible to miss the grace of God, even while we attend the meetings of the church! Go on and read Hebrews 4 and you'll see clearly that this is talking about that very thing I'm saying--that it is far too possible for you to miss God's Grace, folks.
This is why we are so committed to meet.
This is why we sing and pray and share life.
This is why we take pains to remind and admonish one another to always trust and forgive and pray and never give up!
This! That it is possible to fade off of grace.
Now, someone might say, "he is able to keep me" and I say, Great! Just only make sure you occupy yourself with what the clear teaching of the Word says! Because if He's going to keep you, He'll be keeping you in that! Your proclamation of His "ability" is proper, except if it is a cover for laziness! Get serious, and get helpful to each other!
Maturity in Christ is described in the end of Hebrews 5 as an ability to distinguish between good and evil. I'm not making any plans to fall off the Jesus wagon, but if I did, I am sure that you all can tell, and would be bold to call me back. What say you?
One of the things I love the most about Sundays, is that there is a "completeness" to what is taught, because several believers are sharing from their walk with Jesus, at a time... I don't think words can describe how much Jesus loves us all and how much I love you guys. I wrote this because I think you need to sharpen your game--all of you. You live in a perverse generation. Get your heads on straight and put all of your hope in Jesus! Don't live for TGIF or your favorite show to be on! Stop learning how to think from TV. Stop! Open the Scriptures. Paul told Timothy that they can make you wise. Get wise!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
For posterity
This video "fell out of" my blog last year. I wanted to post it again, and hopefully the internet won't eat it again...
This along the lines of Jeremiah's Judah, per our studies here...
This along the lines of Jeremiah's Judah, per our studies here...
From Isaiah
GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me--
The very thing you've been unwilling to do.
You've said, "Nothing doing! We'll rush off on horseback!'
It amazes me to read this. Just amazes me. That even from the Old Times, God has been communicating to us that what He is after is our reliance on Him, our TRUST.
The image of His hearers rushing off to find help from Egyptian Horse-markets, against Northern invaders... man, how much easier it would be to declare a fast and call on the LORD and let Him come and defeat the enemies! Look at King Asa, and how later in life he chose to work out his own way, even though he had experienced God's deliverance.
This is because there is something fundamentally offensive to human pride, and fundamentally tiring to our flesh, in the "...work of God...to believe in the One He sent." (John 6:29)
His yoke is easy
His burden is light
but we still prefer to choose our own yokes
yokes that kill us
and drag us down
to the yoke He has provided us so freely...
...then there are those who have never heard, never understood the "yoke" of Jesus. They remain in the dark because of the false, lying way that what has called itself "church" has presented Jesus. God have mercy on us for this...
has this solemn counsel:
"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me--
The very thing you've been unwilling to do.
You've said, "Nothing doing! We'll rush off on horseback!'
It amazes me to read this. Just amazes me. That even from the Old Times, God has been communicating to us that what He is after is our reliance on Him, our TRUST.
The image of His hearers rushing off to find help from Egyptian Horse-markets, against Northern invaders... man, how much easier it would be to declare a fast and call on the LORD and let Him come and defeat the enemies! Look at King Asa, and how later in life he chose to work out his own way, even though he had experienced God's deliverance.
This is because there is something fundamentally offensive to human pride, and fundamentally tiring to our flesh, in the "...work of God...to believe in the One He sent." (John 6:29)
His yoke is easy
His burden is light
but we still prefer to choose our own yokes
yokes that kill us
and drag us down
to the yoke He has provided us so freely...
...then there are those who have never heard, never understood the "yoke" of Jesus. They remain in the dark because of the false, lying way that what has called itself "church" has presented Jesus. God have mercy on us for this...
reading the law of moses
when we read the law of moses, we are reading the compulsory prescriptions that Moses gave during the wilderness travel. These prescriptions/commandments were given under the full authority of God, so they carried amazing authority...
those of us who have put all of our trust in Jesus, who have partaken of the covenant of the cross--who are now adopted children, not just cowering slaves--we are not bound by the letter of these commandments.
go read all of Hebrews. Here is one scripture that pinpoints it for you. The Authoritative claim of the Mosaic/Levitical/Old Testament Law has been superceded by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who writes God's heart on ours... God's mind on ours...
So now, when we read what was commanded to them, we can look forward to that righteousness' MANFESTATION in us as a fruit of the Spirit of God who indwells us!
What? What's that? Oh. okay, let me say it this way: God had moses boss them around and hedge them in with rules. The rules were good. The people were bad. It didn't work.
So God has found a way to put His own goodness in people, commandments or no. It is by Forgiving us and coming to walk with us in a way that Scripture describes again and again...
This is the mystery that once was hidden! That Christ is with you, even IN you, working and speaking and teaching and forming that fruit in you which is from His very presence...
This is why 1 Cor. 6 calls our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit and calls us to flee prostitues and sexual sins of passion.
The whole thing has changed. That which God was commanding into their ears, He is now speaking into our hearts... and as we give ourselves more deeply to Jesus, we find that He is really, truly THERE. He causes us to manifest the righteousness of God as an "accident" of His presence.
...as a consequence of His presence.
He displaces our sin.
He displaces our evil, self-and other-destructive desires.
He can literally change our hearts...
and our lives follow suit.
Now, here's the problem:
...lots of people actually prefer the commandment-way. It is so much less dependent on the ACTUAL working of the INVISIBLE Christ. It takes so much less risk, and when it seems to be working out, it provides us with that good, lucky righteous feeling. Pride. Pride. Pride. Pride.
The Lion's share of people prefer to carve oranges out of a tree to being an orange tree. we prefer to bring to God baskets of injection-molded fruit with realistic fragrance implants, to the actual dirty work of being rooted in Christ and waiting on Him, trusting that He will bring fruit in season.
We prefer to build UP, not dig down and lay foundation. matt 7? big storm? beachfronnt properties? yeah. hmm...
Well, as we are reading in the Law of Moses, just remember the promise that drips from the words of Jesus as he said in Matt. 5
"you have heard that it was said [insert moses here], but I (Jesus) tell you [insert something waaaay deeper and more impossible here]..."
...How is that dripping with promise? Because the impossibility of the true spiritual life that Jesus describes, coupled with His obvious willingness to take us up as His kids, shows the total universality of this opportunity...
That is:
if NONE of us can make it on our own effort, by Laws and rules,
then ANY OR ALL of us can be received by the One who relates to us in MERCY!
This makes Righteousness a matter of Mercy and Love of the Redeeming Creator toward us. When we do right from the work of the Spirit within us, we are filled with Joy. We even find ourselves laying down our lives for one another, to our surprise. We had ourselves pegged as a bunch of real ninnies, and here comes fruit from God to show How faithful He is!
Ps. 23 says he leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake--it's all about HIM.
John 14 says the path is a man with a name: Jesus.
So just love jesus while you breathe today. just breathe prayer that he change you and thank him for his mercy, and trust that He will do it. Relax about yourself and become gentle as you stop being so surprised at your failures. Delight in the fact that the Lord of Glory has loved you, and proven that love in the amazing atonement of the cross. Commit your life to that work of that One and stop worrying about what you can never control.
in a minute we'll all be with him. all that is unfinished will be made more than whole.
those of us who have put all of our trust in Jesus, who have partaken of the covenant of the cross--who are now adopted children, not just cowering slaves--we are not bound by the letter of these commandments.
go read all of Hebrews. Here is one scripture that pinpoints it for you. The Authoritative claim of the Mosaic/Levitical/Old Testament Law has been superceded by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who writes God's heart on ours... God's mind on ours...
So now, when we read what was commanded to them, we can look forward to that righteousness' MANFESTATION in us as a fruit of the Spirit of God who indwells us!
What? What's that? Oh. okay, let me say it this way: God had moses boss them around and hedge them in with rules. The rules were good. The people were bad. It didn't work.
So God has found a way to put His own goodness in people, commandments or no. It is by Forgiving us and coming to walk with us in a way that Scripture describes again and again...
This is the mystery that once was hidden! That Christ is with you, even IN you, working and speaking and teaching and forming that fruit in you which is from His very presence...
This is why 1 Cor. 6 calls our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit and calls us to flee prostitues and sexual sins of passion.
The whole thing has changed. That which God was commanding into their ears, He is now speaking into our hearts... and as we give ourselves more deeply to Jesus, we find that He is really, truly THERE. He causes us to manifest the righteousness of God as an "accident" of His presence.
...as a consequence of His presence.
He displaces our sin.
He displaces our evil, self-and other-destructive desires.
He can literally change our hearts...
and our lives follow suit.
Now, here's the problem:
...lots of people actually prefer the commandment-way. It is so much less dependent on the ACTUAL working of the INVISIBLE Christ. It takes so much less risk, and when it seems to be working out, it provides us with that good, lucky righteous feeling. Pride. Pride. Pride. Pride.
The Lion's share of people prefer to carve oranges out of a tree to being an orange tree. we prefer to bring to God baskets of injection-molded fruit with realistic fragrance implants, to the actual dirty work of being rooted in Christ and waiting on Him, trusting that He will bring fruit in season.
We prefer to build UP, not dig down and lay foundation. matt 7? big storm? beachfronnt properties? yeah. hmm...
Well, as we are reading in the Law of Moses, just remember the promise that drips from the words of Jesus as he said in Matt. 5
"you have heard that it was said [insert moses here], but I (Jesus) tell you [insert something waaaay deeper and more impossible here]..."
...How is that dripping with promise? Because the impossibility of the true spiritual life that Jesus describes, coupled with His obvious willingness to take us up as His kids, shows the total universality of this opportunity...
That is:
if NONE of us can make it on our own effort, by Laws and rules,
then ANY OR ALL of us can be received by the One who relates to us in MERCY!
This makes Righteousness a matter of Mercy and Love of the Redeeming Creator toward us. When we do right from the work of the Spirit within us, we are filled with Joy. We even find ourselves laying down our lives for one another, to our surprise. We had ourselves pegged as a bunch of real ninnies, and here comes fruit from God to show How faithful He is!
Ps. 23 says he leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake--it's all about HIM.
John 14 says the path is a man with a name: Jesus.
So just love jesus while you breathe today. just breathe prayer that he change you and thank him for his mercy, and trust that He will do it. Relax about yourself and become gentle as you stop being so surprised at your failures. Delight in the fact that the Lord of Glory has loved you, and proven that love in the amazing atonement of the cross. Commit your life to that work of that One and stop worrying about what you can never control.
in a minute we'll all be with him. all that is unfinished will be made more than whole.
Moses' Law on Fighting: Ex. 21:18-19
Here is a video we watch around here when we want to have a laugh at the whole fighting thing... soooo much american time and money go into martial arts lessons... soooo much american attention goes into becoming powerful...
I found this passage on fighting fascinating. As a person who has taught martial arts, and having a black belt and a bunch of experiences, I am very comforted and stabilized by the thought that if I ever injured someone in some situation, I might be held to nursing that one back to health!
Here it is: if you hurt someone in a fight, you'll have to provide for their thorough healing...
I have often said, "before you break someone's nose, or face, THINK and consider that God made that nose by hand." You don't go destroying God's handiwork for the sake of pride or a credit card you could have cancelled... And if you ever needed to put yourself in harm's way for someone else, you better not be brutal.
Yes, we are like sheep to be slaughtered. That is the way of the Master, Jesus. We can prefer Him to the world.
So for all of you who are tempted to accrue to yourself worldly power and confidence through the physical prowess of martial arts, get ready to pay for recuperation.
I like reading the law of Moses.
I found this passage on fighting fascinating. As a person who has taught martial arts, and having a black belt and a bunch of experiences, I am very comforted and stabilized by the thought that if I ever injured someone in some situation, I might be held to nursing that one back to health!
Here it is: if you hurt someone in a fight, you'll have to provide for their thorough healing...
I have often said, "before you break someone's nose, or face, THINK and consider that God made that nose by hand." You don't go destroying God's handiwork for the sake of pride or a credit card you could have cancelled... And if you ever needed to put yourself in harm's way for someone else, you better not be brutal.
Yes, we are like sheep to be slaughtered. That is the way of the Master, Jesus. We can prefer Him to the world.
So for all of you who are tempted to accrue to yourself worldly power and confidence through the physical prowess of martial arts, get ready to pay for recuperation.
I like reading the law of Moses.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Lots of stuff...as usual
Life is absolutely full... there is a constant flow of joy and crisis... Folks need new jobs, new places to live... folks are getting married, having first babies, having second and third babies... folks are meeting their new midwife and getting ready for babies...
We are looking at having at least 15 kids and only around 17 adults... we are thinking about what it means to be the family of God... we are wondering where the old people are? We are all under 40, banded together under the Grace of God, awaiting the coming of Jesus, walking out childlike faith with stumbling love...
angels don't know what to make of such a motley, beloved crew...
We are looking at having at least 15 kids and only around 17 adults... we are thinking about what it means to be the family of God... we are wondering where the old people are? We are all under 40, banded together under the Grace of God, awaiting the coming of Jesus, walking out childlike faith with stumbling love...
angels don't know what to make of such a motley, beloved crew...
Monday, January 12, 2009
Welcome Addilyn!!!
Congrats to Charlie and Crystal, and hearty thanks to our heavenly Father.
-- Post From My iPhone
-- Post From My iPhone
Friday, January 9, 2009
read the dang scriptures...
here's the deal today.
don't let the fact that God loves us throw you off from reading the scriptures.
What?
Yeah.
don't get lazy. Keep listening to who God is through the solid voice of the Scriptures... and live in awe of who he really is.
You see, the problem with Jesus is that He is the very image and essence of the God of Joshua and Moses, who presided over the slaughter of the ten nations and the failed ethnic cleansing of the territories of Canaan.
yep. I said that. because they were... In fact He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of whom Isaac was the nicest, Abraham was the coolest, and Jacob was the son-of-a-bitchiest. basically all of them were touched with the rat-bastard-ness of human life, and all were the man (not the Man).
Don't forget Joseph and the patriarchs, with Reuben and Judah--oh my god, these guys were the gnarliest! I mean READ about it...
It's gonna really perplex you. How is it again that God's love is the message of this book? Get in there and dig it out. Kill your tv. I am serious. If you are a christian and you're putting down serious tv time, but don't read this stuff--shut it off and get digging in the writ!
seriously, there are plenty of people who just don't do it. they go on with religious lives, but slide off the sure footing... you guys can pray that not be me...
but badk to the problem with Jesus...
you see, being the God of Joshua and Moses and abraham and the dudes kind of makes God look bad. I mean it makes him look kind of hateful and judgmental. Hmm... and does that gel with the image you're trying to absorbe about our sweet Jesus. Mmmm. Maybe there isn't a problem with Abe and Mose at all. Maybe our problem is with the possibility,nay the reality, that God is untamed and horribly dangerous.
How could you call God "horribly dangeous"? Ask the dead. Ask those who stand before him after a life of ignoring Jesus on purpose. Ask the wicked people who live their lives fat and happy for the appetites of their bellies and nethers. Ask those who oppress their neighbors and waste the welfare of the widow... hey, God is the judge, remember?
aaah. you DON'T remember, because you don't read! you don't read because you don't agree with it! You don't agree with it because you're taking the good news about Jesus and spinning it into a "god is so nice" campaign, instead of falling at the feet of the Son of Man and being amazed that such a consuming fire, holy God has loved you enough to go to the cross for you...
and the amazement of grace is extinguished as we re-imagine Jesus in softer terms... well the real Jesus, that Scripture describes with both historical accuracy and faithful authority, that real Jesus is a dangerous man, indeed.
the real Jesus is a dangerous man, indeed. That's why Psalm 2 says, "Kiss the Son, lest he become angry, and you perish in the way."
Hey, I'm serious. Believe the Scriptures! Not just read them. Allow the realities they speak of to undo you.
some salt...
don't let the fact that God loves us throw you off from reading the scriptures.
What?
Yeah.
don't get lazy. Keep listening to who God is through the solid voice of the Scriptures... and live in awe of who he really is.
You see, the problem with Jesus is that He is the very image and essence of the God of Joshua and Moses, who presided over the slaughter of the ten nations and the failed ethnic cleansing of the territories of Canaan.
yep. I said that. because they were... In fact He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of whom Isaac was the nicest, Abraham was the coolest, and Jacob was the son-of-a-bitchiest. basically all of them were touched with the rat-bastard-ness of human life, and all were the man (not the Man).
Don't forget Joseph and the patriarchs, with Reuben and Judah--oh my god, these guys were the gnarliest! I mean READ about it...
It's gonna really perplex you. How is it again that God's love is the message of this book? Get in there and dig it out. Kill your tv. I am serious. If you are a christian and you're putting down serious tv time, but don't read this stuff--shut it off and get digging in the writ!
seriously, there are plenty of people who just don't do it. they go on with religious lives, but slide off the sure footing... you guys can pray that not be me...
but badk to the problem with Jesus...
you see, being the God of Joshua and Moses and abraham and the dudes kind of makes God look bad. I mean it makes him look kind of hateful and judgmental. Hmm... and does that gel with the image you're trying to absorbe about our sweet Jesus. Mmmm. Maybe there isn't a problem with Abe and Mose at all. Maybe our problem is with the possibility,nay the reality, that God is untamed and horribly dangerous.
How could you call God "horribly dangeous"? Ask the dead. Ask those who stand before him after a life of ignoring Jesus on purpose. Ask the wicked people who live their lives fat and happy for the appetites of their bellies and nethers. Ask those who oppress their neighbors and waste the welfare of the widow... hey, God is the judge, remember?
aaah. you DON'T remember, because you don't read! you don't read because you don't agree with it! You don't agree with it because you're taking the good news about Jesus and spinning it into a "god is so nice" campaign, instead of falling at the feet of the Son of Man and being amazed that such a consuming fire, holy God has loved you enough to go to the cross for you...
and the amazement of grace is extinguished as we re-imagine Jesus in softer terms... well the real Jesus, that Scripture describes with both historical accuracy and faithful authority, that real Jesus is a dangerous man, indeed.
the real Jesus is a dangerous man, indeed. That's why Psalm 2 says, "Kiss the Son, lest he become angry, and you perish in the way."
Hey, I'm serious. Believe the Scriptures! Not just read them. Allow the realities they speak of to undo you.
some salt...
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