Wednesday's Wonder #14

Tuesday with Jesus #14

Yeshua said to him, "If you are serious about reaching the goal, go and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!"
-- Matthew

Yeshua said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you into fishers for men!"

Yeshua, looking at him, felt love for him and said to him, "You're missing one thing. Go, sell whatever you own, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!"
-- Mark

On hearing this Yeshua said to him, "There is one thing you still lack. Sell whatever you have, distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!"
-- Luke

Yeshua said to him, "If I want him to stay on until I come, what is it to you? You, follow me!"
-- John

Monday's Madness #14

By now just about everyone has seen or heard about this story:

"A man plotting revenge against his ex-wife dressed up like Santa, went to his former in-laws' Christmas Eve party, shot at partygoers and destroyed his former in-laws' house with a homemade device that sprayed flammable liquid, slaughtering at least nine people before killing himself hours later. Bruce Pardo, 45, saw his marriage fall apart this year when his wife discovered he had abandoned a brain-damaged son years earlier but continued to claim the boy as a tax write-off, the L.A. Times reported."

So how do we process this insanity - and it's insanity on so many levels.

Do we blame God for not being there to prevent these wrongs?

Do we thank God that the man finally took himself out of our world?

Do we call on the sovereignty of God as ordaining these tragedies for His glory from before time began?

Do we just throw our hands up in the air and wonder, "what's this world coming to?" [Though we know it's coming to no good.]

Or ...

Do we actually look at ourselves as part of a broken sinful world where broken sinful people do terrible things to one another because we who are the Body of the Christ are NOT acting at all like the Christ?

Sunday's Song #14

At some point, we must all come to the end of our claims of 'innocence' --



Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by
When happily ever after fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly
But I know a place where we can go
That's still untouched by man
Well sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
O beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie
But I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
Well sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss
And let me take a long last look
Before we say good bye
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Shabath #13

Whether they are remembered on the 27th, 28th or 29th, they are now at rest having been the very first to suffer death because of Jesus of Nazareth, Messiah, Priest, King, and Lord.

Meanwhile, when Herod realized that the Magi had tricked him, he was furious and gave orders to kill all the boys in and around Beit-Lechem who were two years old or less, calculating from the time the Magi had told him. In this way were fulfilled the words spoken through the prophet Yirmeyahu, "A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and lamenting loudly. It was Rachel sobbing for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no longer alive."
-- Matthew

Hunger and Thirst Day

A Merry and Blessed Nativity Day - 2009

Wednesday's Wonder #13

Tuesday with Jesus #13

Let's see ...

December 23rd, hmmmm ...

or let's just say 2 days before his birth ...

so, spending this Tuesday with Jesus as he is about to enter the world as a completely helpless and defenseless baby ...

what goes through a babe's mind at that time -- maybe nothing -- I surely don't remember

but what would you say to such a one as would be your savior --- as the two people who actually were that this penultimate day before birth --

what did Mary think about this child conceived of the Holy Spirit because she found favor with God -- but the whole town knew she hadn't been married when she got pregnant -- an unwed teenage mother -- the town gossips were busy

what did Joseph think as he approached Bethlehem ad looked for a place to stay that would give his wife and the child he was told about a safe place to be born -- a child he was told would "save his people from their sins" -- he married her anyway -- now the town gossiped about him, too

now ... in the days before he is born, his family must get ready for birth shrouded in shame, happening in homelessness, about to be visited by fear, violence, and flight ... a birth that will change their lives forever

and this Jesus, to be born in a day or two, helpless and defenseless but loved ... will grow up to die helpless and defenseless on an execution stake -- abandoned by almost everyone, defended by a thief being executed with him, ...

trusting God completely -- at both ends of his life

Monday's Madness #13

From ABC-13 News:

MACCLESFIELD, N.C. (AP) -- An autopsy report shows a 13-year-old boy left tied to a tree for 18 hours in June died of dehydration and heat stroke.

WRAL-TV reports that Tyler McMillan's autopsy shows his body temperature was 105.6 degrees when he was taken to the hospital. Tests showed a pattern of dehydration.

Authorities say Tyler McMillan's parents found him unresponsive on June 12 after he had been tied to a tree overnight as punishment. His father, Brice McMillan, and stepmother, Sandra McMillan, have been charged with murder and felony child abuse.

The autopsy also found Tyler had insect bites on his arms and legs, bruises on his buttocks and legs that may have been caused by a rod-like instrument and marks on his wrists and ankles consistent with plastic ties.

So, usually Psalm 13 is the primary source for justifying the physical [and all too often extreme] punishement of children. While no one [I hope] would say that the abuse perpetrated against the 13-year-old in the story above is justified, I have to ask: Does Psalm 13 really say that and justify any kind of physical child abuse?

The Hebrew word used in the Psalm [and 191 times in the Hebrew Scriptures] is šēḇeṭ. A masculine noun meaning a rod, a scepter, and a tribe. As a rod, it represents [among other things] a common tool used as a shepherd's staff.

Does a shepherd beat his sheep with his staff? I don't think so.

I would guess that a shepherd would apply his staff to his sheep to bring then back into the flock after wandering off -- firmly for sure -- but also not a beating of any kind.

I think it's called discipline [you know: 'training'] -- kinda related to disciple-ing -- making disciples, training them, you know: "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded" -- just like he said at the end of Matthew.

Sunday's Song #13

No I ain't had nothing to drink
I knew thats probably what you'd think
If I dropped by this time of night
Remember way back when
I promised you I'd drop in
At one of those meetings down at the Y

Well, they started talkin bout steps you take
Mistakes you make
The hearts you break
And the price you pay
I almost walked away

You could hear a pin drop
When this old man
Stood up and said I'm gonna' say it again
Like I do every week
For those who don't know me

It's the simple things in life
Like the kids at home and a loving wife
That you miss the most, when you lose control
And everything you love starts to disappear
The devil takes your hand and says no fear
Have another shot, just one more beer
Yah, I've been there, that's why I'm here

This ole boy stood up in the aisle
Said he'd been living a life of denial
And he cried as he talked about wasted years
I couldn't believe what I heard
It was my life word for word
And all of the sudden it was clear

It's the simple things in life
Like the kids at home and a loving wife
That you miss the most, when you lose control
And everything you love starts to disappear
The devil takes your hand and says no fear
Have another shot, just one more beer
Yah, I've been there, that's why I'm here

I know for us it may be too late
But it would mean the world to me
If you were there when I stand to say
It's the simple things in life
Like the kids at home and a loving wife
That you miss the most, when you lose control
And everything you love starts to disappear
The devil takes your hand and says no fear
Have another shot, just one more beer
Yah, I've been there, that's why I'm here
Oh, I've been there, that's why I'm here

Shabath #12

Hunger and Thirst Day #12

And the lyrics -- slightly edited to reflect a certain man's reality:

Here we are
What is left of a husband and a wife four good kids
Who have a way of gettin on with their lives
I'm not old but I'm getting a whole lot older every day
It's too late to keep from goin' crazy
I got to get away

The reasons that I can't stay don't have a thing to do with being in love
And I understand that lovin a man shouldn't have to be this rough
You ain't the only one who feels like this world left you far behind
I don't know why you gotta be angry all the time

Our kids are strong the spittin images of when we were young
I hope someday they can see past what we had become
I remember every time I said I'd never leave
But what I can't live with is memories of the way we used to be

The reasons that I can't stay don't have a thing to do with being in love
And I understand that lovin a man shouldn't have to be this rough
You ain't the only one who feels like this world left you far behind
I don't know why I gotta be angry all the time

Just ten years have came and went since I walked out of your door
I never quite made it back to the one I was before
And God it hurts me to think of you
For the light in your eyes was gone sometimes
I don't know why this old world can't leave well enough alone

The reasons that I can't stay don't have a thing to do with being in love
And I understand that lovin a man shouldn't have to be this rough
You ain't the only one who feels like this world left you far behind
I don't know why we gotta be angry all the time

So, ... I post this mostly as a confession.

Wednesday's Wonder #12

Tuesday with Jesus #12

Jesus was passing through Jericho. A man named Zacchaeus was there. He was the director of tax collectors, and he was rich. He tried to see who Jesus was. But Zacchaeus was a small man, and he couldn't see Jesus because of the crowd. So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a fig tree to see Jesus, who was coming that way. When Jesus came to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down! I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus came down and was glad to welcome Jesus into his home. But the people who saw this began to express disapproval. They said, "He went to be the guest of a sinner." Later, at dinner, Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Lord, ... "

--- Luke

[BTW: fill in your own words at the ellipsis in "Lord, ... "]

Monday's Madness #12

Madness Avoidance

Be careful, ... very, very very careful!



You have been warned!

Sunday's Song #12

Shabath #11

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them [Leviticus 19]. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested,

Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.

Jesus said to them,

Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture:

I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.

For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus,

Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?

(They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) And he answered,

If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.

Then he said to the man,

Hold out your hand.

So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!

--- Matthew

Hunger and Thirst Day #11

St. Augustine: from a Christmas sermon:

And so, whatever else there is to be said regarding these hidden treasures among God’s mysteries, this is for others who are more diligent and more worthy than we, to bring out. At all events, we have spoken on this subject to the best of our ability, as the Lord assisted us and inspired us, and as the limitations of time permitted us. If there be anyone among you who has a profounder grasp of this, let him knock at the door of Him from whom we, too, receive what we are able to grasp, what we are able to say. But this do keep in mind before all else – you must not lose your composure over matters in Sacred Scripture which you do not yet understand; and when you do understand them, you must not feel conceit. What you do not understand, threat with reverence and be patient; and what you do understand cherish and keep. (s. 51.35)

Wednesday's Wonder #11

Tuesday with Jesus #11

From KansasBob:

Pride is not an option for a believer.. and neither is humility. We can either clothe ourselves with humility or find God humbling us.. and the latter often resembles humiliation. So what does humility look like? Maybe it looks like love? How about this definition?

Humility is patient, humility is kind and is not jealous; humility does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Humility never fails.

Read the whole post here.

Monday's Madness #11

Clearly qualifying for today's madness, this is actually from NEXT Monday's edition, already published, and just so wrong. The opening above the by-line is: "Opponents of gay marriage often cite Scripture. But what the Bible teaches about love argues for the other side."

Yeah, riiiiiiiiiiiight!!

Okay, so check these links out:

http://www.robgagnon.net/NewsweekMillerHomosexResp.htm

http://insightscoop.typepad.com/2004/2008/12/newsweeks-weak-arguments-against-real-marriage-for-gay-marriage.html

http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/mlowery_homosexuality1_jun07.asp

http://insightscoop.typepad.com/2004/2008/12/a-little-bit-more-on-thatthingin-newsweek.html

Bock's Blog

Frank Turk at Teampyro

Sunday's Song #11

Shabath #10

Hunger and Thirst Day #10

Lord, may I hunger and thirst for this wisdom in every day of life that you give me.

The 92 year old, petite, well-poised lady was fully dressed each morning by 8 a.m., with her hair fashionably coiffed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind. Today was a big day in her life, the day she was moving to a nursing home, for her husband of nearly 70 years had recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home,she smiled sweetly when told her room was finally ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, a male nurse provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated emphatically. The male nurse replied "But Mrs. Jones, you haven't even seen it yet."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged...it's how I arrange my mind. I've already decided to love it...It's a decision I make each morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with parts of my body that no longer work or I can get out of bed and be thankful to God for the ones that do. Each day is a gift from the Lord, and as long as my eyes are open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I have storied away just for a day like this in my life."

Old age you see is like a bank account...you withdraw from it what you've put in. So my advice to you during this holiday season would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories now. You'll need them later.

-- HT: BW3

Wednesday's Wonder #10

Tuesday with Jesus #10

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea."
--- Matthew

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could lay His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him. But Jesus said, "Let the children come to Me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." And He placed His hands on their heads and blessed them before He left.

--- Matthew

Oh, Mark tells the same story this way:

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him. When Jesus saw what was happening, He was angry with His disciples. He said to them, "Let the children come to Me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." Then He took the children in His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them.

And Luke's version agrees:

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering Him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to Me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

"The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David." But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" "Yes," Jesus replied. "Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say,

'You have taught children and infants to give You praise.'"

--- Matthew

Monday's Madness #10

The Ethics of American Youth - 2008
[Summary from the Josephson Institute]
Survey of teens reveals entrenched habits of dishonesty — stealing, lying, and cheating rates climb to alarming rates
Josephson Institute's 2008 Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth is based on a survey of nearly 30,000 students in high schools across the U.S. The results paint a troubling picture of our future politicians and parents, cops and corporate executives, and journalists and generals.
STEALING. In bad news for business, more than one in three boys (35 percent) and one-fourth of the girls (26 percent) — a total of 30 percent overall — admitted stealing from a store within the past year. In 2006 the overall theft rate was 28 percent (32 percent males, 23 percent females).

* Students who attend private secular and religious schools were less likely to steal, but still the theft rate among non-religious independent school students was more than one in five (21 percent) while 19 percent who attend religious schools also admitted stealing something from a store in the past year.
* Honors students (21 percent), student leaders (24 percent), and students involved in youth activities like the YMCA and school service clubs (27 percent) were less likely to steal, but still more than one in five committed theft.
* Twenty-three percent said they stole something from a parent or other relative (the same as 2006) and 20 percent confessed they stole something from a friend. Boys were nearly twice as likely to steal from a friend as girls (26 percent to 14 percent).

LYING. More than two of five (42 percent) said that they sometimes lie to save money. Again, the male-female difference was significant: 49 percent of the males, 36 percent of the females. In 2006, 39 percent said they lied to save money (47 percent males, 31 percent females).

* Thirty-nine percent of students in private religious schools admitted to lying as did 35 percent of the students attending private non-religious schools.
* More than eight in ten students (83 percent) from public schools and religious private schools confessed they lied to a parent about something significant. Students attending non-religious independent schools were somewhat less likely to lie to parents (78 percent).

CHEATING. Cheating in school continues to be rampant and it’s getting worse. A substantial majority (64 percent) cheated on a test during the past year (38 percent did so two or more times), up from 60 percent and 35 percent, respectively, in 2006. There were no gender differences on the issue of cheating on exams.

* Students attending non-religious independent schools reported the lowest cheating rate (47 percent) while 63 percent of students from religious schools cheated.
* Responses about cheating show some geographic disparity: Seventy percent of the students residing in the southeastern U.S. admitted to cheating, compared to 64 percent in the west, 63 percent in the northeast, and 59 percent in the midwest.
* More than one in three (36 percent) said they used the Internet to plagiarize an assignment. In 2006 the figure was 33 percent.

Worse than it appears? [And this is the madness part.]
As bad as these numbers are, it appears they understate the level of dishonesty exhibited by America’s youth. More than one in four (26 percent) confessed they lied on at least one or two questions on the survey. Experts agree that dishonesty on surveys usually is an attempt to conceal misconduct.
Despite these high levels of dishonesty, the respondents have a high self-image when it comes to ethics. A whopping 93 percent said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character and 77 percent said that when it comes to doing what is right, "I am better than most people I know."

Sunday's Song #10

Shabath #9

Then a shoot will come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from its roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of advice and power, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. He will gladly bear the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear. He will judge the poor justly. He will make fair decisions for the humble people on earth. He will strike the earth with a rod from his mouth. He will kill the wicked with the breath from his lips. Justice will be the belt around his waist. Faithfulness will be the belt around his hips. Wolves will live with lambs. Leopards will lie down with goats. Calves, young lions, and year-old lambs will be together, and little children will lead them. Cows and bears will eat together. Their young will lie down together. Lions will eat straw like oxen. Infants will play near cobras' holes. Toddlers will put their hands into vipers' nests. They will not hurt or destroy anyone anywhere on my holy mountain. The world will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD like water covering the sea. At that time the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people to gather around. The nations will come to him. His resting place will be glorious.
--- Isaiah

Hunger and Thirst Day #9

A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth!
Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before Him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the LORD is God!
He made us, and we are His.
We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving;
Go into His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
And His faithfulness continues to each generation.

--- Psalms, 100

Wednesday's Wonder #9

Tuesday with Jesus #9

Reinhold reminds us [with great thanks to Dallas Willard]:

Becoming "Christians" in order to get to heaven without becoming Disciples can be really dangerous - who says that Heaven is a kind of transcendent "nice, air-conditioned luxury hotel with unlimited room service and spectacular amenities for eternity"?

If God is a consuming Fire, Heaven could be hotter than hell; how can anyone survive Heaven, if he / she has not been a disciple here - which means a learner how to live in the Kingdom-among-us-now ?

How happy would some fearful, bitter, lust-ridden or hate-filled "Christians" be if they would be forced to live forever in the unrestrained fullness of the reality of God, not protected by the merciful time-space continuum we live in now?

"There is a widespread notion that just passing through death transforms human character", writes Willard (The Divine Conspiracy, p.331). "Discipleship is not needed. Just believe enough to "just make it".... But what if death only forever fixes us as the kind of person we are at death? What would one do in heaven with a debauched character or a hate-filled heart?"

The fires in Heaven may be hotter than those in the other place.

Wow - and again: that's why we are told to make disciples and not "Christians".

Monday's Madness #9

Am I the only one who finds this plot line madness? From the ABC website for the recaps of the show's episodes:
"interns practicing insert[ing] IVs on each other;"
"craves 'flowing blood.';"
"she spies mysterious scratches on Lexie's arm, Cristina suspects that she's a secret 'cutter,' not realizing that the cuts come from Lexie practicing techniques with the other interns."
"[Sadie] takes off her shirt, and cuts herself on the shoulder;"
"Cristina discovers the underground intern surgery ring and orders them to shut it down. 'Do not practice on yourself,' she says. 'That is insane.'" [DUH!!!!]
"Sadie joins the interns, who've just given Cristina's 'Number Two' intern an epidural. 'I'm impressed. Deth was so wrong about you,' she tells Lexie, adding, 'She thinks your a priss.' Stung by the criticism, Lexie suggests that they take out the sedated intern's appendix. Sadie says they can 'be in and out of an O.R. before anyone notices.' The intern objects to being operated on, so Sadie volunteers.
"Lexie has second thoughts as she's about to make the first incision on Sadie. ... [sooooooo,] Sadie, who's under a local anesthetic, makes the first incision herself."
"This is the one thing in the last few months that wasn't about getting you to notice me."

And the resulting consequences?

1. "everyone here is on probation"
2. "sneeze, and you're done"
3. loss of respect

OK, I'm sorry but I just don't find those compelling consequences at all. What has happened is a bunch of highly educated [they're supposed to be doctors] characters have elevated CUTTING and other forms of self injury to a legitimate means of seeking knowledge. Gee. maybe read 1 Kings 18 and see how effective "cutting for a higher purpose" is.

Cutting is a serious issue in the lives of many young people -- young women especially. It must not be elevated in any way and given any sort of legitimacy. "Cutting for knowledge," as the characters in Grey's Anatomy were doing, is still a sign of serious issues. The 'Sadie' character, who cut herself deeply twice, should become recognized for much deeper wounds that contribute to her cutting. The writers ought to treat this very seriously and take the opportunity to address cutting seriously and appropriately in future episodes.

If they don't, we must still recognize such problems when they raise their problematic heads and raise our voices and pens and wallets against any justification of such things.

Sunday's Song #9

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seams like I've lost my way


I go running to your mountain
Where you mercy sets me free


You are my strong tower
A shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I see


In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunders all I hear
You speak softly to my soul


Now I'm running to your mountain
Where you mercy sets me free


You are my strong tower
A shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I see
And Your face is all I see
Yeah... Your face is all I see


I go running to your mountain
Where you mercy sets me free

You are my strong tower
A shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting king
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
(Your name is true and holy)
You are my strong tower
A shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting king
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And your face is all I see

Shabath #8

"The death of Jesus of Nazareth as the king of the Jews, the bearer of Israel’s destiny, the fulfillment of God’s promises to his people of old, is either the most stupid, senseless waste and misunderstanding the world has ever seen, or it is the fulcrum around which world history turns. Christianity is based on the belief that it was and is the latter."

-- (N.T. Wright, Simply Christian (San Francisco, CA: Harper San Francisco, 2006), p.111.)

Hunger and Thirst Day #8

Are you one of these?

"The people in my church, for the most part, are perfectly ordinary Americans like you and me. They believe in the simple old-fashioned traditions—Christmas, Easter, the slow and deliberate takeover of more and more county school boards to get the political power necessary to ban evolution from textbooks statewide. That sort of thing.

We oppose gay marriage as an abomination against the laws of God and America, we're against gun control, and we fervently and unwaveringly believe that the Jews, Muslims, and all on earth who are not born-again Pentecostalists are possessed by Satan and should be treated as such.

When it comes down to it, all we want is to see every single member of the human race convert to our religion or else be condemned by a jealous and wrathful God to suffer an eternity of agony and torture in the Lake of Fire!"

You have been warned. Resistance -- ha!!!!! futile!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, that's from The Onion.

Wednesday's Wonder #8 - Anniversary Wonder

[actually, now it's been 11 score and 12 years since 1776 and 7 score and 5 years since these words were first spoken, but they are still appropriate today:]

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

--- Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863, on the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Tuesday with Jesus #8

Michael Spencer asks, "Do you trust the abbreviated Jesus?" And he goes on:

I’m getting the feeling that we’re talking about a kind of “mini-Jesus.” A diluted, declawed, demoted savior who is a symbolic representation for a kind of anemic, watered-down, unBiblical, culturally acceptable Jesus.

I get the feeling that if you move beyond the standard biographical paragraph, you’re going to discover that the Jesus you’re hearing about has considerably less to say than Jesus as we meet him in the Gospels.

You’re going to discover that he has little or nothing to do with most of the Bible, especially the Old Testament and the more demanding parts of the new.

You’re going to discover that there’s a remarkable resemblance between the abbreviated Jesus and the current version of political correctness. (Isn’t it unusual how Jesus takes an interest in whatever happens to be the current rage on CNNMSNBCCBSSUSATODAY?

I’m not sure this abbreviated Jesus believes in hell.He seems considerably more flexible on sexual matters than one would believe reading the Bible.Living together before marriage? The abbreviated Jesus seems to have not issued a statement on that one.

I actually think the abbreviated Jesus doesn’t like to be bothered with issues of morality, character or behavior. He’s mostly interested in larger political and cultural issues, or your experience at your local church, or how you’re doing in your relationships.

...

The abbreviated Jesus can convincingly seem like the real Jesus, until you look and listen closely. Then it appears that he’s lost his laptop, his luggage and his cell phone. So for right now, he’s reading it all off the teleprompter.The abbreviated Jesus doesn’t vary much from the script.

In fact- and this is what really got my attention- the abbreviated Jesus would only get crucified if there were some terrible mix-up.

The abbreviated Jesus is Jesus without the Biblical context, Jesus without church history, Jesus without Jesus theology, Jesus without costly discipleship, Jesus without offensive teaching or mysterious parables. The abbreviated Jesus is so easily explained, so comprehensible and user-friendly that anyone can follow him, even without instructions.

In millions of cases, the abbreviated Jesus is Jesus without the church. He’s Jesus who lets you pick your friends, pick your community and pick your comfortable seat. He’s OK with whatever your plans are for the weekend. He’s not making demands on your time. (He’s a major spokesperson for unplugging the fourth commandment.) He’s not making any demands on your money that don’t follow your emotions.

...

Aside from abortion and gay marriage, the abbreviated Jesus is pretty happy in America. There’s so much for his friends to do and enjoy!

At this point Michael says, "I don't trust the abbreviated Jesus."

And I don't either.

If you say you are following Jesus and it's NOT costing you YOUR life, better take a closer look and who - or WHAT - you are following.

The path that Jesus trod led to death on a cross BEFORE the reusrrection.

Monday's Madness #8

Thanks to The Onion for this cogent assessment of the country's financial situation.


In The Know: Should The Government Stop Dumping Money Into A Giant Hole?

Sunday's Song #8

CONTRADICTIONS ABOUND!!!!!!!!!!

Numbers 13 and 12 on the current CMT chart. Could there be two more opposite notions?

#13



#12

Shabath #7

On the Journey Towards Claiming the Sabbath
written by DOUG WIEBE
Like many other overanxious first-time parents, I used to go into my son's room at night to make sure he was still breathing. Now I go in because I know he's resting. I want (and need) to welcome him into my life not only when he's awake and busy but also when he's asleep.

Perhaps the way a child sleeps after a day full of discovery is similar to the way God rested after he finished creating the world. Perhaps the love, gratitude and awe we feel when we watch our sleeping children is similar to the way God wants us to be aware of his presence during our times of quiet.

Imagine that the hours of our Sabbath day of rest are no longer numbers on a clock but pillars supporting a beautiful temple. Sleeping in perfect peace in the centre of this temple is the Creator of the universe. Our Sabbath invitation is to enter into this "temple of time" and to simply rest with God, who on this day has nothing but time.

I don't know the details of how this happens for any one of us. What I do know is that there was a marked contrast between my experience of my son during the work of toilet training and my experience of him when I watched him sleeping in my arms or in his crib. I need both experiences, and so does my son. The same goes for our relationship with God. May God continue to show us how to enter into the Sabbath temple of time to learn more and more how to rest with, and in, God.

Hunger and Thirst Day #7

And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." ...
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
--- Exodus

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
--- Deuteronomy

Wednesday's Wonder #7

Tuesday with Jesus #7 -- Veterans' Day 2008

Let them in, Peter
For they are very tired
Give them couches where the angels sleep
And light those fires
Let them wake whole again
To brand new dawns
Fired by the sun
Not war-times bloody guns
May their peace be deep
Remember where the broken bodies lie
God knows how young they were
To have to die

You know God knows how young they were
To have to die

Give them things they like
Let them make some noise
Give dance hall bands not golden harps
To these our boys
Let them love Peter
For they've had no time
They should have bird songs and trees
And hills to climb
The taste of summer
And a ripened pear
And girls as sweet as meadow wind
And flowing hair
And tell them how they are missed
But say not to fear
It's gonna be all right
With us down here

Let them in, Peter
For they are very tired
Give them couches where the angels sleep
And light those fires
Let them wake whole again
To brand new dawns
Fired by the sun
Not war-times bloody guns
May their peace be deep
Remember where the broken bodies lie
God knows how young they were
To have to die

You know God knows how young they were
To have to die

And tell them how they are missed
But say not to fear
It's gonna be all right
With us down here

It's gonna be all right
With us down here

Monday's Madness #7

Jared, over at Gospel Driven Church, has this to contribute to help us see the madness and, MAYBE, do something to increase sanity, to wit: [note: Jared's link to Ed Stetzer's observation is critical to his thought]

"I must confess that I think churches talk more than they help. They brand themselves as caring for their communities through catchy slogans, yet they seem to talk more than they act. It kind of reminds me of that Brady Bunch episode in which Peter rescues a little girl from a falling shelf in Driscoll's Toy Store. The newspaper wrote about it and the TV station came out. And, you guessed it, the middle Brady son became obsessed with telling his heroic tale and couldn't stop talking about himself to his friends and family. It's no wonder no one wanted to be around the "hero." Self-congratulation is obnoxious and tiring. Likewise, I believe the world is growing tired of churches that occasionally helped the poor, took up an offering, or went on a mission trip and can't stop talking about those occasional experiences. People today find it odd that the Church founded by a Savior who came healing the sick and caring for the poor is now only marginally involved in His mission."

Also check out Jared's comments on another related madness, "There is Only One Messiah and America Isn't His Kingdom."

Go and do what Jesus did -- it's called following him.

Sunday's Song #7

Things are shaping up to be pretty odd
Little deaths in musical beds
So it seems I'm someone I've never met

You will only hear these elegant crimes
Fall on your ears from criminal dimes
They spill unfound from a pretty mouth

And everybody gets there, everybody gets there
And everybody gets their way
I never said I missed her when everybody kissed her
Now I'm the only one to blame

Things have changed for me, and that's okay
I feel the same, I'm on my way, and I say
Things have changed for me, and that's okay

I want to go where everyone goes
I want to know what everyone knows
I want to go where everyone feels the same

I never said I'd leave the city
I never said I'd leave this town
A falling out we won't tiptoe about

When everybody gets there, everybody gets there
And everybody gets their way
I never said I missed her when everybody kissed her
Now I'm the only one to blame

Things have changed for me, and that's okay
I feel the same, I'm on my way, and I say
Things have changed for me, and that's okay
I feel the same, and I say

Things have changed for me, and that's okay
(Well, things have changed for me
Come on every body, let's dance and sing)
I feel the same, and I say
(I'm singing it all night long
So come on everybody and join the party)
Things have changed for me, and that's okay
(Well, things have changed for me
Come on every body, let's dance and sing)
I feel the same, and I say
(I'm singing it all night long
So come on everybody and join the party)

Things have changed for me, and that's okay
I'm on my way, and I say

Things have changed for me

Shabath #6

You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
-- Deuteronomy

Hunger and Thirst Day #6

He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
--- Luke

So what do we do with this?

The Kingdom of God slips in the back door when you’re not looking. You turn around and it’s not there. It’s always in that place where your eyes don’t go. Always eluding your definition, analysis, and explanation.

The Kingdom of God is that imperceptible something that produces evident and clear fruit. Though it’s tiny, it is the seed of great healing and redemption. From this overlooked seed comes great fruit and great change.

The Kingdom of God does not have a flag, border, capitol, zipcode, or budget. You cannot legislate the Kingdom. You cannot take a census of the Kingdom. You cannot politicize the Kingdom. You can try but I think you’ll find that when you get there you’re not “there” anymore.

The Kingdom of God is like a handful of sand. It may rest on your hand but grasping causes it to slip between your fingers. Seek it and you might get lost. Nail it down and you’ll have a board and nail but no kingdom.

--- Thanks to Joshua Hearne at the Eclectic Christian blog.

Wednesday's Wonder #6

Tuesday with Jesus #6

WWJD?

"After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone." --- Matthew, and see Mark also.

Regardless of your opinion of the outcome of today's election in the United States, going off someplace quiet and private to pray is a good thing to do. It's probably a good thing to do every day.

Monday's Madness #6

This is the last day before the 2008 Elections here in the USA.

So, one more day of madness, [plus, maybe, a few days of law suits?] and there will be no more telephone calls from pollsters trying to predict the outcome. There will be no more adds filling the screens, air waves and internet with mud. There will no campaigning for at least a few months.

There will be endless comments by pundits about the meaning of the outcome but how many will admit that the answers to this little quiz are all TRUE and then live their lives accordingly?

Will you? Will I?

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order – (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, “Jesus Is Lord” will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

Special thanks to Wyman Richardson, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dawson, Georgia.

Sunday's Song #6

Made to Love --- TobyMac



The dream is fading, now I'm staring at the door
I know its over cause my feet have hit the cold floor
Check my reflection, I ain't feelin what I see
It's no mystery
Whatever happened to a passion I could live for
What became of the flame that made me feel more
And when did I forget that...

I was made to love you
I was made to find you
I was made just for you
Made to adore you
I was made to love
And be loved by you
You were here before me
You were waiting on me
And you said you'd keep me
Never would you leave me I was made to love
and be loved by you

The dream's alive with my eyes opened wide
Back in the ring you've got me swinging for the grand prize
I feel the haters spittin vapors on my dreams
But I still believe
I'm reachin out, reachin up, reachin over
I feel a breeze cover me called Jehovah
And daddy I'm on my way
Cause I was made to love...

I was made to love you
I was made to find you
I was made just for you
Made to adore you
I was made to love
And be loved by you
You were here before me
You were waiting on me
And you said you'd keep me

Never would you leave me I was made to love
and be loved by you

I was made to love you
I was made just for you
Made to adore you
I was made to love
And be loved by you
You were here before me
You were waiting on me
And you said you'd keep me
Never would you leave me I was made to love
and be loved by you

(nah, nah, nah, nah - nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
(nah, nah, nah, nah - nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)

Anything I would give up for you (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
Everything, I'd give it all away (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)

Anything I would give up for you (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
Everything, I'd give it all away (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)

Anything I would give up for you (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
Everything, I'd give it, I'd give it all away, Oh yeah

Cause I was made to love you (I was made to love you)
Yeah I was made to love you (I was made to find you)
Cause I was made to love you (I was made to adore you, made just for you) (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
I was made to love you (I was made to adore you, made just for you)
Cause I was made to love you (I was made to adore you, made just for you) (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
I was made to love you (I was made to adore you)

Yeah I'm loved by you
Yeah I'm loved by you (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
Yeah I' m loved by you (nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
(nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)
(nah, nah, nah, nah, nah)

Shabath #5

"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." -- St. Paul

A shabath for all saints.

Hunger and Thirst Day #5

Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, "It is finished!" Then He bowed His head and released His spirit.
--- John

But our mission is NOT finished, so why do we give up our spirit so quickly?

Wednesday's Wonder #5

Tuesday with Jesus #5

'See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.' -- John

I'm pretty sure that is a saying of Jesus that few believers [if any] actually believes.

I mean the Greek in that verse has 'mēketi' - an indeclinable adverb meaning 'no longer, no more, not hereafter' [Thayer] and 'hamartane' - a verb that is present tense, active voice, imperative mood, second person singular meaning 'to miss the mark; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong' [Thayer again]

I guess because the imperative is singular, it could have been meant only for this man [and again maybe only for the woman caught in adultery later in John, which has the same Greek construction.]

Do you think Jesus meant it just for these two? Now, we all know that most preachers say we will all continue to sin -- so did Jesus mis-speak to these two or are they exceptions? Or -- did Jesus really mean it and -- at least by inference - extend the command to each of us who actually believe him?

As usal, you get to decide for yourself.

Monday's Madness #5

USA
Politics 2008 [or not]

Complete madness:
According to Fox News:

1.Federal agents have disrupted a plot to assassinate Barack Obama and shoot or decapitate dozens of black students in Tennessee, the ATF said Monday.
In court records unsealed Monday, federal agents said they broke up plans to rob a gun store and target a predominantly African-American high school by two neo-Nazi skinheads. Agents said the skinheads did not identify the school by name. [Story here.]

2. Ghosts, goblins, gargoyles . . . and Sarah Palin hanging by a noose?
That's the latest imagery of the Republican vice presidential candidate and her running mate John McCain on display at a West Hollywood home that has been decorated for Halloween.
[Story here.]

Are the two stories about equal levels of depravity?

Are the two stories about equal levels of madness?

Yep, I think they are, but ...

you get to decide for yourself.