It isn’t just in religion; this need to control by interpretation is present.
Media seems to want to do that as well. Media, especially news media, is supposed to inform, not interpret. I watched the State of Union address and was basically pleased and encouraged by the Presidents speech. I did not necessarily agree with all of it, by overall I thought it was stirring, encouraging, and thought provoking. Then the commentators came on and dissected it, tearing it apart, and I ended up angry and frustrated with all of it. And then the “other side” had to give their input to “keep things equal”, something in my opinion is totally unnecessary in this instance. I made a mental note to myself; next time turn off TV quickly after the speech is over.
I especially was moved by what the President said at the conclusion of his speech. Actually, I think just that alone should have been all that he said.
When we keep our eyes on ‘the mission’, whatever the mission might be, we will succeed. Keeping our eyes and mind on everybody that is around us will keep our focus off of the objective. Team work is essential in winning or being victorious in any endeavor that requires more than one person. That is what we have lost in this world, in this country, and in the church. It seems like everyone, individuals, and countries, are only looking out for themselves.
I believe strongly in individualism and in doing all that I can to be a strong, healthy, and whole individual. Being a strong, healthy, and whole individual makes me able to be a strong, healthy, and whole team player, and therefore create a strong team, that will create a strong church, country, and world.
When an individual is on a team and given a mission to accomplish, the mission becomes the focus, not each of the individuals. Quarterbacks do not win games and field goal kickers don’t lose games. Teams win or lose.
As Christians our mission is to know what the will of God is, and to be good stewards of the earth and of one another, this includes our families, our churches, our communities, our country, and our world. I honestly believe that if we take God at his word, as he speaks to us as a primary source, not second hand, pre-chewed or pre-digested by others, we can overcome the obstacles and together as a team make our lives, our churches, our communities, our countries, and our world a better place.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
TRUTH VS DECEPTION
I just can’t get away from my ‘roots & fruits’ theme. I thought I was done and ready to move on to the next project, but apparently not. I have been concentrating on the soil; breaking it up, preparing it, cultivating it. This led to a concentration on Spiritual Practice & Discipline. But now the seed is asking for some attention. It isn’t only the soil; it’s also the seed that brings forth the fruit that is crucial.
Attention is once again on GMO & GEOs; genetically modified and genetically engineered organisms. This time it’s not the “hippy” organic farmers that are concerned. Now the Catholic Church is taking note of what is happening to our food supply. (I remember years ago when taking an organic gardening class being introduced to this concept and recognizing companies doing this as tools of Satan. Perhaps I was right.)
Genetically modified and engineered seed corrupts the fruit of a plant. Once again conformity and power are the primary issues. We get fruit that looks like fruit but is not the real deal; the nutrients are missing, the taste is missing, and now it is polluted with pesticides, making it harmful so all people and deadly for some. The seed is made so that it cannot regenerate so it must be replaced each crop planting; and it is patented so that it is controlled by a few rather than available to all.
Is this not similar to what is happening to the seed, which is the Word of God? Is it not being genetically modified and engineered; is it not being controlled? Will that not affect its ability to nourish us? Will that not affect those who pollinate, who make disciples? I say yes and I want to spend more time researching this.
This was the original sin, listening to the tempter’s deception. “Did God actually say…” and the deception continues on today. The seed of God’s Word, the Truth, must not be humanly manipulated, modified, or engineered and must be as God spoke it into being. But does controlling do that? Does making it rational and therefore believable do that? Does cutting it apart to examine it do that?
God’s Word is clear, fresh, and simple to understand. The Spirit will instruct, interpret, and lead each and every individual into the Truth.
Attention is once again on GMO & GEOs; genetically modified and genetically engineered organisms. This time it’s not the “hippy” organic farmers that are concerned. Now the Catholic Church is taking note of what is happening to our food supply. (I remember years ago when taking an organic gardening class being introduced to this concept and recognizing companies doing this as tools of Satan. Perhaps I was right.)
Genetically modified and engineered seed corrupts the fruit of a plant. Once again conformity and power are the primary issues. We get fruit that looks like fruit but is not the real deal; the nutrients are missing, the taste is missing, and now it is polluted with pesticides, making it harmful so all people and deadly for some. The seed is made so that it cannot regenerate so it must be replaced each crop planting; and it is patented so that it is controlled by a few rather than available to all.
Is this not similar to what is happening to the seed, which is the Word of God? Is it not being genetically modified and engineered; is it not being controlled? Will that not affect its ability to nourish us? Will that not affect those who pollinate, who make disciples? I say yes and I want to spend more time researching this.
This was the original sin, listening to the tempter’s deception. “Did God actually say…” and the deception continues on today. The seed of God’s Word, the Truth, must not be humanly manipulated, modified, or engineered and must be as God spoke it into being. But does controlling do that? Does making it rational and therefore believable do that? Does cutting it apart to examine it do that?
God’s Word is clear, fresh, and simple to understand. The Spirit will instruct, interpret, and lead each and every individual into the Truth.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
GOD'S FINAL WORD
I see a lot of discussion from God in the Old Testament. He speaks to Moses in great detail about the Law and how to build the temple and giving directions about proper worship. He speaks a lot to the prophets on how to correct the wrongs the people are doing and how to make them right. He is very direct and very detailed about what he wants done.
It’s a little different in the New Testament. There are only two times that are recorded that God, the Father speaks. One is when Jesus is baptized recorded in Matthew 3:17, “and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’ ” The second is at the transfiguration of Jesus recorded in Matthew 17:5, “and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Throughout the rest of the Gospels Jesus speaks. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). “‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body" (John 2:19-21). “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him…The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he" (John 4:23-26).
I tend to pay close attention to final words. It appears that Jesus was God’s first Word, “In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1), but Jesus is God’s final word as well. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; LISTEN TO HIM.”
It’s a little different in the New Testament. There are only two times that are recorded that God, the Father speaks. One is when Jesus is baptized recorded in Matthew 3:17, “and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’ ” The second is at the transfiguration of Jesus recorded in Matthew 17:5, “and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Throughout the rest of the Gospels Jesus speaks. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). “‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body" (John 2:19-21). “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him…The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he" (John 4:23-26).
I tend to pay close attention to final words. It appears that Jesus was God’s first Word, “In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1), but Jesus is God’s final word as well. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; LISTEN TO HIM.”
Sunday, January 8, 2012
THE GOD WHO DECONSTRUCTS & RECONSTRUCTS
Jesus deals a lot with transformation: water to wine (John 2), the temple (John 2, Revelation 21:22), the Law and Prophets (Matthew 5:17), worship
(John 4:21-26), and life (John 3:1-16). It isn’t external. It’s internal and it is a definite change. The Christian life begins with repentance; a change in governance, a change in direction, and a change in action. It is not that the outer forms are wrong; they simply are no longer necessary because they have been fulfilled and transformed. Where does the seed go once it becomes the plant? Where do the sperm and egg go once they become the child? They are the containers of life. But they become transformed and no longer necessary. And yet, how much of our dissention and division is based on these outer forms that are no longer necessary? How much energy goes into proving this and disproving that? The form is no longer essential.
My faith is based on the God whose “thoughts are not my thoughts, and ways are not my ways; they are much higher (Isaiah 55:8,9).” God is Spirit and I worship him in Spirit. Jesus is Truth and I worship God in Spirit and Truth
(John 4:23-26). The forms are not good or bad; just unnecessary. It is by the fruit that people will know the seed that was planted within me. I am what I am and because of what I am, I do what I do.
Deconstruction seems to be the thing to do these days. Tear everything down because we don’t like the results. But, as usual, it is not a new concept. God has been doing this throughout history. He creates something simple, something organic, and humans add things to it, complicate it, and organize it. It’s that “Thanks god, I’ll take it from here” syndrome. It never works and unfortunately we never learn the lesson. We “forsake the fountain of loving waters and hew out cisterns for ourselves, cisterns that hold no water (Jeremiah 2)”. We continue to build houses for God and our spiritual lives even though we have been told that “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1).”
God will continue to deconstruct until I learn to simply be still and die to my way of doing things. In that act of dying the transformation will come and with it the resurrection of who I truly am; and in that am-ness I will do what I am meant to do. Deconstruction isn’t bad if it empties one so there is a total reliance upon God. If all that’s offered after the deconstruction is self construction or construction using new thoughts and understandings of different human beings, then those will eventually have to be deconstructed, again and again. God warns us not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil that results in separation from him. God invites us of eat from the tree of life and live forever with him. The choice is ours to make. I choose the tree of life.
(John 4:21-26), and life (John 3:1-16). It isn’t external. It’s internal and it is a definite change. The Christian life begins with repentance; a change in governance, a change in direction, and a change in action. It is not that the outer forms are wrong; they simply are no longer necessary because they have been fulfilled and transformed. Where does the seed go once it becomes the plant? Where do the sperm and egg go once they become the child? They are the containers of life. But they become transformed and no longer necessary. And yet, how much of our dissention and division is based on these outer forms that are no longer necessary? How much energy goes into proving this and disproving that? The form is no longer essential.
My faith is based on the God whose “thoughts are not my thoughts, and ways are not my ways; they are much higher (Isaiah 55:8,9).” God is Spirit and I worship him in Spirit. Jesus is Truth and I worship God in Spirit and Truth
(John 4:23-26). The forms are not good or bad; just unnecessary. It is by the fruit that people will know the seed that was planted within me. I am what I am and because of what I am, I do what I do.
Deconstruction seems to be the thing to do these days. Tear everything down because we don’t like the results. But, as usual, it is not a new concept. God has been doing this throughout history. He creates something simple, something organic, and humans add things to it, complicate it, and organize it. It’s that “Thanks god, I’ll take it from here” syndrome. It never works and unfortunately we never learn the lesson. We “forsake the fountain of loving waters and hew out cisterns for ourselves, cisterns that hold no water (Jeremiah 2)”. We continue to build houses for God and our spiritual lives even though we have been told that “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1).”
God will continue to deconstruct until I learn to simply be still and die to my way of doing things. In that act of dying the transformation will come and with it the resurrection of who I truly am; and in that am-ness I will do what I am meant to do. Deconstruction isn’t bad if it empties one so there is a total reliance upon God. If all that’s offered after the deconstruction is self construction or construction using new thoughts and understandings of different human beings, then those will eventually have to be deconstructed, again and again. God warns us not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil that results in separation from him. God invites us of eat from the tree of life and live forever with him. The choice is ours to make. I choose the tree of life.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4
“The true light, which enlightens everyone…” John 1:9
How do I know God? It is through the enlightenment of the Spirit. Life meets life and there the recognition comes. There is a preparation, a knowing of the promise, and a watching and waiting for its fulfillment.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord (Luke 1:6). Mary was a woman who found favor with God and she knew the workings of God and the promise to come (Luke 1:30, 51-55). Simeon was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25). Anna was a widow who spent day and night in the temple worshipping and fasting (Luke 2:36-38). John the Baptist recognized Jesus while both were still in the womb (Luke 1:42) and then again as he baptized him (John 1:31-34).
The seed comes to a cultivated soul and begins to take root and grow. Our soul is enlightened with life and filled with light. It is inside work. It is eating from the tree of life, not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. My knowing God is not dependent upon the wisdom of men. It depends upon the revelation of God to my heart, mind, and soul. God became man and dwelt among us. Those enlightened by the true light received him, believed in him became children of God, not of blood, not of the will of flesh, not by the will of man. That right is given by God and by God alone. It comes to those who are waiting and watching and preparing.
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
“The true light, which enlightens everyone…” John 1:9
How do I know God? It is through the enlightenment of the Spirit. Life meets life and there the recognition comes. There is a preparation, a knowing of the promise, and a watching and waiting for its fulfillment.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord (Luke 1:6). Mary was a woman who found favor with God and she knew the workings of God and the promise to come (Luke 1:30, 51-55). Simeon was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25). Anna was a widow who spent day and night in the temple worshipping and fasting (Luke 2:36-38). John the Baptist recognized Jesus while both were still in the womb (Luke 1:42) and then again as he baptized him (John 1:31-34).
The seed comes to a cultivated soul and begins to take root and grow. Our soul is enlightened with life and filled with light. It is inside work. It is eating from the tree of life, not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. My knowing God is not dependent upon the wisdom of men. It depends upon the revelation of God to my heart, mind, and soul. God became man and dwelt among us. Those enlightened by the true light received him, believed in him became children of God, not of blood, not of the will of flesh, not by the will of man. That right is given by God and by God alone. It comes to those who are waiting and watching and preparing.
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
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