A broken gate:

           

   The gate is broken and  wide open. Those within have wandered out, and have become lost. There is no leader, and if there is one, they are blind.  Nature puts us to shame. There is a oneness to the birds of the air, as they fly in unison, patterns in the sky that show a cohesion, a turn right and they all turn as if one. Bees, work seemingly as one, diverse in jobs to be accomplished, but with singular vision. On the plains of Africa, Wildebeasts thunder beating the ground, as they migrate on their way to new and fresh feeding  grounded.  We are not so. We are a splintered, individualistic people.  Helpless.....A good leader rises up we follow, another rises up not so good, we follow, an horrendous one rises up and some follow, gain power and wreak havoc on those without.  Again the gate is broken open wide, and we have streamed out all over the lands on our own, making our own way.
     We have not the abundant life we so desperately seek on a daily basis.  Instead we have malice, anger, hatred of one another and most of all ....pride that prohibits us from repentance, brokenness, and that leads to a sorrow that will release the balm to heal....Christ.......you see, he had it all, and he shared it in super abundance while here on our Earth.  We do what we do not want to do, and do not do what we want...."Romans."  The voice crying in the wilderness, cries out today still in many Churches across this nation, yet there is a streaming out of those broken gates as well.  As leaders lose the singular vision, of Christ, in search of the many things instead to satisfy the itchy ears of congregations wanting something new every week.  I have been in it and have eaten its fruit.  The lasting power of Christ is this....never taking our  eyes off of him who led many to eternal life with the promises and action proven effectual throughout countless generations.....because he was the only perfect leader who could.  Leading us out of our destructive and  lonely nature.   He is and has been our helper, if we can follow even in the divisive times we live in.  The abundant life may not be what you think it is. But it is this..........We resist our own selves......the conflictions within that war, and we realize it is a daily process that leads to  a more perfect future.  And while here on this Earth, the Kingdom of God has indeed come.....We must apprehend it, our salvation is not being slave to this world or our selves or even to authorities evil in our time.  Surely we can make proper judgement on who to follow......Peace.

Trajectory

Trajectory: The complete path something follows as a function of  position , momentum and time. Three dimensional mechanics as opposed to quantum mechanics.
     So we here on earth follow those rules, historically, physically, and prophetically  as a function of future time.  We are not static. We are on a course and like it or not, this course is laid out by God...
     Now, over the past year I have listened to many theories, proposed by other, Christians that in some way want to understand where we are going, how we are going and where we end up.  From Calvinist thought, to openness, where we can have influence with God where the future is somewhat known and somewhat unknown.  Calvinism promotes pre-destination those those chosen,and  those not chosen and so forth.  But however we choose to interpret theology, I know with certainty, God is the ultimate last word. 
     If we now can look back on the written word (I'll call it the Bible), you may think differently, we can see the trajectory of history thorough God's eyes and his plan.  The prophets saw many years into the future events to come nations rising and falling, famines, droughts, and wars culminating with invasions and conquered lands, mostly revolving  around Israel but involving nations used by God for judgements.
     We are in the time of the "Gentiles", we have been brought into the dispensation of grace, what was only known at one time to the Jews. Knowledge of God.  We now know too. There can be no excuse not to know how or what God requires. Paul preached that we traded images of the created, animals, stones, trees, and the like and willfully chose them over the un-created God who was certainly known by his works in creation, the heavens, and the beauties of our own Earth. 
 So what I am,getting to is the fact that we are close to times end, because our trajectory is closing in on events in our time of foretold  before we were here. We are passengers on a rocket in time reaching destination or coordinates pre set.  We may have leeway and influence through prayer,to offset some things, but not the  great plan of God.  Jesus asked, " if it is possible, let this cup pass from me."  Even the Son of God, wanted to alter the coming events and horrific judgement that was to be laid on him.  He  chose out of love for us. As Savior.  And as ultimately knowing the outcome  he continued on his trajectory...."Zechariah......In one day  I will remove the sin of the nation's..." 
     So if we can look into the word of God, and see love waxing  cold, nations against one another, famine, floods, brother against brother, we either heed the warnings, or pass it off as nonsense,   You  Choose, what rocket will you be riding on?
   

Have you forgotten?

  How many of us have forgotten what life is about? Is it just a career, money, striving?  Is it doing something that as the saying goes " do your own thing" to make you happy?  Well how about considering beauty, in the natural world, hearing the birds sing early in the morning, seeing clouds rest gently on mountainside, listening to a rolling brook as evergreen trees sway in   the cool breeze. These are the things that tie us to creation,that  make us part of the natural order.  Vegetable gardening, feeling and smelling earthen dirt that permeates the nostrils.  Realizing that things do come to an end.  We have forgotten the reality of life's ending, by saturating ourselves with constant voice, technology ever at our grasp, ever intruding upon the moments we should regard more carefully. When was the last time you looked skyward, to gaze upon the perfect symmetry of two ducks flying together. The flock of geese in perfect v  flight in harmony with one another. We are not so.  We are fiercely independent. But sadly tied to societal norms, that ebb away at our deep  need for the spiritual and natural rhythms of life.  What we have gained in technology and connectedness in  social media is superficial in comparison to the depth we really need to experience.  Perhaps we need the  Thoreau's and , Emmerson's , to visit upon us with their social perspectives.  Perhaps dis-engaging from all the terror, political shenanigans and bad news will help drive us in a better direction.  Choose life, and all it's abundance that is still free. It can be found, even in the daily moments we must steal, within the framework of our lives.  Peace.

The disobedience of our time;

                                                                     .


         We have run our course.  Time is no longer a benevolent force standing apart from us but rather some kind of encroaching force to be reckoned with.  We see daily and up close, the results of our disobedience to the one we have ignored.  God.  We have become our own masters and heeded none but ourselves and our own inclinations. What we have left behind is some sense of connectedness to be taught how to live and abide in a world with physical and spiritual laws we constantly ignore.
     Case in point, we face a tremendous hurdle in battling the forces of nature unleashed in hurricanes, fires, floods, and drought.  We are unable to combat these forces effectively and save not only  property but lives as well. Tragedy unfolds daily.
   
     This America we live in is co-opted by our own selves. In an effort to live democratically, we have many voices to listen too. An impossible task.  Not everyone is satisfied and most of the time power and politics win over common sense.  Our state of being is self-Reliance, independent thinking, ingrained from an educational system early on.  We have used our natural resources to the point of abuse.  And ignored our obligations to renew that which we use.  It is incumbent upon us to step back, and rethink our future.  God, says " I will destroy those who destroy the Earth."
    Our connectedness to our very survival ,"Earth" is in rebellion.  To us.  To be stewards of what we have is to first, realize where it comes from, and second be of a thankful nature and bless the giver of life's resources.
     We are a wasteful society dependant upon the structures that came before us, but not chained to it, capable of change.  We first must put priority on what is the sacred, honor that which comes not from us, but from the one who is ultimately in control, and that is by revelation, alone. Jesus. In the Gospels, Jesus proves divinity in quieting the storm on the sea of Galilee. And again, by the bounty of fish, caught by his word, and command to drop the nets again, and pull in a haul of fish, nearly sinking the boat.  Our God has a plan, and it ultimately will come into view with or without our help. If he needs to humble us while doing so, he will, and he will use that which we cannot overcome.
     When calamity happens, such as the  horrific toppling of the Twin Towers, and most recently Notre Dame, and floods and famine, the most common response, is "We will rebuild."  This, without  a sense of profound inward reaching out to the one who could provide a divine guidance in the midst of our human  activity and ask, should we rebuild? Spend the billions on concrete and steel or should we redirect it to a better cause? Build shelters, feed the poor, increase the healthcare funding, renew our vigilance to the way we use our resources?
     If Jesus, truly is who he said he was,  ( And I believe he is) then we all would be of a different mind and humble ourselves, to a God, which knows our shortcomings more than we do.  If we have progressed to the point of contaminating the only world we live in, both spiritually and naturally, we have much to concern ourselves with.
    This being resurrection day, renewal, is the word, bringing forth life and restoration of that which was dead.  Peace.
   
   

Differences

     "All people do not want to be on the same road." This is a quote by a man , Barry Lopez, who wrote a book called Horizon. Mainly it concerns his observations about our interactions on the environment  over the last three decades.  But I find this quote to be instructive of  other things. 
     Hegemony, is defined as leadership, dominance, dominion, and supremacy, and lastly, authority.  Now here is where I am going with this.  In Christianity, we are admonished to be of one mind and one accord. Why?  Because in Christ, there can be only one truth. But as we all mostly know, we have diverged, and have gone on many different roads.  As the quote above highlights.  In Christ, we have become something we were never  before. United in belief that one died for all .  How that is represented is key.  Not only for individuals but corporately as the Church.  If we are all "divergent" in key and basic beliefs then we are diluted and weakened.  Christianity is only as strong as we embrace those precepts that Christ himself proclaimed, not only of himself, but of the Kingdom of God he preached. It has been evident  to me for decades, that Churches in general hold to the basics, but differ greatly on the presentation and the power of the Gospel. And this in turn, creates many roads to God.  Wide is the gate that leads to destruction, narrow is the way, that leads to life, few, therefore find it. I marvel at times, how it comes to us, this revelation of the Gospel of good news, in the midst of so many roads that offer something other than  truth.  Pilate asked Jesus, "what is truth?." 
     Truth, plain and simple is Jesus, manifest in flesh and blood, modeled for us as perfect, without sin and made sin for us, so that we may live.....better than we were before... with power by the Holy Spirit and overcomers, destined to rule with "hegemony" in a new Kingdom. Peace.

A DIRT ROOF CAN'T HOLD ME!

   Leav'in behind these old bones,

Aches and pains in these old bones,

Don't look for me in these old bones,

Cause I'm not there anymore,

Calcified and petrified, mummified and done fried!

Don't matter much to me,

I am where I' supposed to be,

Earthen covers are said to be,

All but certain, finality,

But there is a final proof,

That the Earth's not my covering roof!

I've gone up to the great beyond,

And leav'in these bones in the dirt,

Don't look  for me anymore...

CAUSE I'M NOT THERE!

What we know and what we do not know....

     What we know is this...Sometime in our distant past, a man came  and changed everything. Jesus of Nazareth. History records, and testimony bears witness that something momentous occurred some 2000 years ago.  What we do not fully understand is   how  the man, Jesus that was of immaculate conception, born of a virgin, was sinless, and God's Son, was also the almighty. For he had shown authority over heaven an earth itself, tamed storms, and calmed the seas, cast out Spirit's and ran afoul of human governments and resisted all who thought they had God all figured out.  He shattered all of their  conceptions totally and rewrote the book on current thinking. The first shall be last, the proud and mighty brought low and the meek exalted. The feast at the end of time, a banquet open to those that  the world would despise.  Faith was a hallmark of those trusted with the newly preached good news that life was not merely what we see and grasp on a daily basis. Our treasures were now in heavenly places, governments were rightly disposed to take their place under the Kingship of one who was brutally and shamefully executed before the most powerful empire the world had known.  The Kingdom of God had come. All through Jesus.
     Out of vision and invisible is the Kingdom that awaits, and therefore most do not lay hold of what they cannot see. Death is fear itself, manifesting a terrible hold and limiting how we live our lives. We plan, for the inevitable in ways that show our limitations. All the while  joy slips away and the daily grind before our eyes transfix us to the here and now.
    Yes we must be diligent for ourselves but we must also be there for those who do not know the truths that can be known.  When the Spirit of God unites with man (and women)  things change. And if they don't then the seed has fallen on  rocky ground.
     The heart is truly a mystery, it can be moved majestically by music, Opera, hardened by immeasurable hurt, renewed by Hope and cast away with harmful words. 
     But.....thanks be to the one that broke off the yoke and bondage and took captivity, captive.  Peace Christian.
   

Nicean Council

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Essence of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Essence of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood by God. One altogether; not by confusion of Essence; but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the catholic(universal) faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.

The most amazing thing is happening....

    What it means to me to be a Christian; Its not total Doctrinal  Theology, its not tribalism. Its  not Evangelicalism. Its not even "Church"  that is housed in a building frequented weekly by the faithful.  Its a myriad of these things and so much more. Christianity is a complex faith.  Sometimes its political, conservative, liberal, giving, and not giving, observing and being observed.  To observe the faith is to abide in Christ, always and for the lifelong pursuit in pleasing God.  Once smitten then  one begins to grasp just what it is that has gotten  placed inside of us.  For we become changed and are being changed throughout our Christian experience.  If we are not then we are stagnant, and 'must ask the question...are we doing this right? And this is not a works issue versus faith issue  but and ongoing inward looking and examining ourselves in light of The Word of God and what it proclaims about itself and those who join the dance. 
     For to be like Christ is to obey which is, it is said "better than sacrifice."  In hearing and obeying, we listen carefully daily, to what it is that the day requires of us.  Prayer is immensely important, as it stills the inward self and prepares us to be in tune with Spiritual governance that we do not readily see with our eyes or perceive with our senses. 
     Christianity prepares us for the after.  A place that Christ promised had many rooms, I.e, is a very large place.  I has to be considering the millions that have gone before and those who will come after us.  It also prepares us in this now "Kingdom" right here on Earth.  When Jesus came the Kingdom of God came close to men.  And split forevermore our understanding of the Spiritual and the Earthly.  We must be Earthbound to be able to fulfill the needs here and now, (feeding the poor, standing for justice, when our government does not, protecting the aliens, the lost, and the young and aged.  All of these types of needs were ministered to by Jesus himself for a short three years of his adult ministry.  And then the Apostles took over and so now do we, two thousand years later.  We are part of a mystery, as Paul so gracefully preached. And yet in the fullness of time, new revelation was opened to all, and not just the Israelites.  The vail was rent in half top to bottom and we have access through the Holy Spirit to the God of the Universe. 
     Christianity is Quantum.  Here and there all at the same time.  Christianity is loving, being loved, forgiving, and being forgiven, giving and receiving grace to those we meet and those we hope to.  I have found disappointment within, due to the abuses and misunderstanding of organized religion, And I have found uncommon grace with the unbelieving who at times are more attuned to correct values, and are more Christian than those who claim Christ.  So It is like a diamond with many facets.  Some shine brilliant. Some yellow, some bright white.  And yet it is like a lump of clay worked and reworked until the master sees what he likes.   
     Peace.