This is my first ever blog posting, so be gentle.
The Sojourner invited me into this world that I encouraged him to create. I would be remiss not to take the opportunity to put my two cents in.
For a number of years, I have been toying with the idea of what caused the Creator to create the world we live in. If a being is perfect, why the need to add to itself? Does that need imply the being is imperfect since perfect doesn't have "needs"?
I could talk about the definition of perfect and all that it entails, but definitions are boring and stringent. I prefer to talk about why something is or isn't, rather than what it is or isn't. "What" doesn't lead us to deeper understanding. "Why" does!
I started out talking to other people about the idea to get feedback and work to refine my understanding. The question would be something as simple as "Why do you believe God made Creation?" Usually the question was a non-starter. I would get blank stares, nebulous answers, or recitations of what someone else had told them. I would throw out the suggestion that Love is what drove Him to create and there would be a little bit of talk about it, but it usually fell to the floor and we moved on. I so wanted others to feel how I felt.
As I have moved on to contemplating the question within rather than asking other people, I came to a different conclusion. It wasn't Love that caused the Creator to create, but passion! Passion is the driving force behind so many actions and, in my mind, the cause of everything created. Think about it. What caused Edison to continue the search for the best combination of materials for an incandescent lamp? What caused the Pharaohs to build pyramids? What causes a person to paint works of art? What causes a person to rise up and destroy millions of other humans? What causes two people to join together and create another life? While the last may be attributed to love, they can all be attributed to passion. Passion drives us to do so many things, even things we might regret. I guess passion could be divided into two camps: love (spiritual) or hate (flesh). That may not sit well with some, but I can live with that for now. Understanding takes time and I continue to work on this question that resides within me.
I say this, Sojourner. Since the Creator wants us to mirror Himself, let your passion flow on these pages and create the thing you are dying to let out!
John
Friday, July 27, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
July 16, 2012
Spiritual Abuse
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2012/07/spiritual-abuse/
Crispin Schroeder - thank you for sharing this, particularly at the juncture Northshore Vineyard finds itself in regarding growth and relocation.
Our faith is intended to be simple and Papa God's vision has been cast - love God with all you have, love those around you as yourself. Go and make disciples (not converts) and point them (center them) on Christ the Word/Son. Repeat. Repeat.
In my humble opinion, there is no "new vision." Christ set the direction and paid the price of admission to get on His train headed to the destination in His narrative.
Where I have fallen as a leader (role vs. position) and have willingly been led astray in the past is when someone believes a "new vision" is required to provide laser focus in support of a man or woman in their unique calling.
This should be the first red flag that is waving furiously as the Holy Spirit/Teacher/Guide/
Liberation requires risking in the veracity of the Spirit. There is no immunity apart from reliance on Christ the Word/Son. His sheep know His voice and He is not a ventriloquist working through charismatic men and women (favorite example is scene in the movie Joshua of the "tent healer" and his encounter with Christ via Joshua.
Does this mean we are lone rangers? No, far from it. He knits us together (I see His tapestry in many posts in this virtual community meeting place).
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
Follow His voice as He builds spiritual community. Submit one to another. To the community, not to a structure. Seek His voice to understand the difference between roles in serving and equipping and someone casting a unique vision and requiring submission in order for you to participate.
Love one another. Lay your lives down for each other - NOT for self-appointed junior messiahs would would have you buy in to the notion of spiritual superiority. In the Kingdom, there is no Jew nor Greek, slave nor master, man nor woman, white or black, democrat or republican.....
There are only His creation. Some have come to know Him and follow Him. Our mission is to shine His light for the unanimated creation (our sleeping brothers and sisters - the harvest is plentiful) so that they can be liberated as we have been.
Encourage, equip, empower each other, for the greatest of all adventures.
The vision and mission are eternal. Don't cast pearls before swine who would coerce and convince you otherwise.
When the Word/Son said "it is finished," He meant it. Believe and submit to Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Crispin, thank you for your transparency, first as a Brother and co-laborer, second in your role as Pastor in our Fellowship. The first speaks to our equality as joint heirs with Christ - an even playing field; the second to our specific roles in equipping, empowering, encouraging and releasing.
God raises, we recognize.
If one is called to sweep the floor, another is called to hold the dust pan
God hands out the tools. We follow His lead.
The floors will always need sweeping, but God assigns the brooms.
Not man.
Spiritual Abuse
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2012/07/spiritual-abuse/
Crispin Schroeder - thank you for sharing this, particularly at the juncture Northshore Vineyard finds itself in regarding growth and relocation.
Our faith is intended to be simple and Papa God's vision has been cast - love God with all you have, love those around you as yourself. Go and make disciples (not converts) and point them (center them) on Christ the Word/Son. Repeat. Repeat.
In my humble opinion, there is no "new vision." Christ set the direction and paid the price of admission to get on His train headed to the destination in His narrative.
Where I have fallen as a leader (role vs. position) and have willingly been led astray in the past is when someone believes a "new vision" is required to provide laser focus in support of a man or woman in their unique calling.
This should be the first red flag that is waving furiously as the Holy Spirit/Teacher/Guide/
Liberation requires risking in the veracity of the Spirit. There is no immunity apart from reliance on Christ the Word/Son. His sheep know His voice and He is not a ventriloquist working through charismatic men and women (favorite example is scene in the movie Joshua of the "tent healer" and his encounter with Christ via Joshua.
Does this mean we are lone rangers? No, far from it. He knits us together (I see His tapestry in many posts in this virtual community meeting place).
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
Follow His voice as He builds spiritual community. Submit one to another. To the community, not to a structure. Seek His voice to understand the difference between roles in serving and equipping and someone casting a unique vision and requiring submission in order for you to participate.
Love one another. Lay your lives down for each other - NOT for self-appointed junior messiahs would would have you buy in to the notion of spiritual superiority. In the Kingdom, there is no Jew nor Greek, slave nor master, man nor woman, white or black, democrat or republican.....
There are only His creation. Some have come to know Him and follow Him. Our mission is to shine His light for the unanimated creation (our sleeping brothers and sisters - the harvest is plentiful) so that they can be liberated as we have been.
Encourage, equip, empower each other, for the greatest of all adventures.
The vision and mission are eternal. Don't cast pearls before swine who would coerce and convince you otherwise.
When the Word/Son said "it is finished," He meant it. Believe and submit to Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Crispin, thank you for your transparency, first as a Brother and co-laborer, second in your role as Pastor in our Fellowship. The first speaks to our equality as joint heirs with Christ - an even playing field; the second to our specific roles in equipping, empowering, encouraging and releasing.
God raises, we recognize.
If one is called to sweep the floor, another is called to hold the dust pan
God hands out the tools. We follow His lead.
The floors will always need sweeping, but God assigns the brooms.
Not man.
July 4, 2012
Christ, the Word/Son
Christ, the Word/Son - elaboration.
Several folks have asked me about my references to Christ as the Word/Son. Our fellowship in Covington, Louisiana has been rummaging around in the Book of John in the sometimes disputatious Bible.
Contemplation of what is presented along with illumination for the Holy Spirit (the Teacher, the Guide, the Counselor) reinforce the "creative force" of God's spoken and communicated Word. God spoke everything into existence via Christ. All things that are created are created in Him and by Him. God continues to speak life into His creation via the Word/Son.
The written word is important, to be sure, but only as a vehicle for the living Word to be illuminated. Christ is the Living Word and the Intervening Son. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Priest on the order of Melchizedek. He is the Center of all things. All truth points to Him.
Crispin Schroeder shared with us the difference between being bounded (a group that is defined by specific criteria for membership) and centered (those that are related in that they are drawn to the same object). We are to be Christ-centered as opposed to dogma/doxology/
Today, we celebrate freedom - in Him, by Him, and through Him.
Christ, the Word/Son.
Christ, the Word/Son
Christ, the Word/Son - elaboration.
Several folks have asked me about my references to Christ as the Word/Son. Our fellowship in Covington, Louisiana has been rummaging around in the Book of John in the sometimes disputatious Bible.
Contemplation of what is presented along with illumination for the Holy Spirit (the Teacher, the Guide, the Counselor) reinforce the "creative force" of God's spoken and communicated Word. God spoke everything into existence via Christ. All things that are created are created in Him and by Him. God continues to speak life into His creation via the Word/Son.
The written word is important, to be sure, but only as a vehicle for the living Word to be illuminated. Christ is the Living Word and the Intervening Son. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Priest on the order of Melchizedek. He is the Center of all things. All truth points to Him.
Crispin Schroeder shared with us the difference between being bounded (a group that is defined by specific criteria for membership) and centered (those that are related in that they are drawn to the same object). We are to be Christ-centered as opposed to dogma/doxology/
Today, we celebrate freedom - in Him, by Him, and through Him.
Christ, the Word/Son.
July 15, 2012
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F9B2C1NU
Blessed to gather with men this weekend to talk about adventure. Reminded me of Steven Curtis Chapman song.
Those of us who have been drawn to the Word/Son, Christ the Messiah, by Papa God, have been ushered into a grand narrative. A story being penned each moment by the Word/Son. Crispin Schroeder reminded us of this earlier today.
We are designed for a purpose and can only be fulfilled and fully animated when we follow His storyline. We have two choices, write our own story and force the Word/Son into our narrative or seek His Spirit and participate in His narrative.
Simple choices. Hard to choose His narrative if we value ours more. Hard to depend upon Him if we erect safety mechanisms of our own design.
Get out of the boat, get off the bench, remove the net, ditch the parachutes - risk. As Paul wrote in the disputatious book, Colossians 2:8-10, paraphrasing - don't be drawn away fron the narrative of the Word/Son by the hollow philosophies and workings of this world.
Saddle up your horses......
Every breath we draw is a gift to empower us in the great unfolding adventure of life in the narrative of the Word/Son.
Blessed to gather with men this weekend to talk about adventure. Reminded me of Steven Curtis Chapman song.
Those of us who have been drawn to the Word/Son, Christ the Messiah, by Papa God, have been ushered into a grand narrative. A story being penned each moment by the Word/Son. Crispin Schroeder reminded us of this earlier today.
We are designed for a purpose and can only be fulfilled and fully animated when we follow His storyline. We have two choices, write our own story and force the Word/Son into our narrative or seek His Spirit and participate in His narrative.
Simple choices. Hard to choose His narrative if we value ours more. Hard to depend upon Him if we erect safety mechanisms of our own design.
Get out of the boat, get off the bench, remove the net, ditch the parachutes - risk. As Paul wrote in the disputatious book, Colossians 2:8-10, paraphrasing - don't be drawn away fron the narrative of the Word/Son by the hollow philosophies and workings of this world.
Saddle up your horses......
Every breath we draw is a gift to empower us in the great unfolding adventure of life in the narrative of the Word/Son.
July 12, 2012
Good morning spent with a friend and Brother. We are called to walk out this crazy journey in fellowship.
We talked about, among many things, the need to balance internal focus on spiritual growth/development with external commitment to serve.
Love Papa/God with all you have AND love your neighbor as yourself.
Why is this simply powerful? Because loving God allows us to experience His love for us. In the midst of this exchange, we find that we are valued.
Loving my neighbor, then, results in a recognition and transfer of God's love to them. He loves His creation and, as a member of His creation, we are compelled to do the same.
Let us not grow weary in doing good.
Let us lay down our lives for others.
Let us spend enough time in Fellowship such that we are encouraged and equipped to love.
Good morning spent with a friend and Brother. We are called to walk out this crazy journey in fellowship.
We talked about, among many things, the need to balance internal focus on spiritual growth/development with external commitment to serve.
Love Papa/God with all you have AND love your neighbor as yourself.
Why is this simply powerful? Because loving God allows us to experience His love for us. In the midst of this exchange, we find that we are valued.
Loving my neighbor, then, results in a recognition and transfer of God's love to them. He loves His creation and, as a member of His creation, we are compelled to do the same.
Let us not grow weary in doing good.
Let us lay down our lives for others.
Let us spend enough time in Fellowship such that we are encouraged and equipped to love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)