I shared my view that Papa God created us out of His passion to have fellowship with Him. I believe had I been the only person on the planet, He would have done whatever was necessary (only He knows what is necessary) to reconcile Himself with me and me with Him. Our first covenant is with Papa God and was made possible by Christ Word/Son and is animated by Holy Spirit (the ever-present essence of Papa God and Christ Word/Son).
Papa did not stop there. He designed that we would sojourn together. Sisters and Brothers sharing the same Heavenly Father. He expands the application of Covenant to encompass relationships between His Creation. These secondary Covenants establish Spiritual relationship. Papa God is in the relationship business. He reconciles and restores in order for us to experience maximum relationship with Him and with each other via Christ Word/Son guided by Holy Spirit.
The basis of our relationship with each other is our mutual recognition of and submission to the sovereignty of Papa God. I recall sharing with my Mom on one occasion the epiphany I experienced. "There is a God," I proclaimed, "and He is not me! (or I am not Him)" As Jacob pointed out in his Me vs. Myself post, we are at war when we choose to be.
Remember Tonto and the Lone Ranger? The Lone Ranger was, by definition, disconnected for all practical purposes from others. Like Spiderman, in a way, he wanted to remain anonymous so that none close to him would be placed at risk. I realize I might be over-generalizing a bit, however, my point is that sometimes people choose, for what they perceive is the betterment of others, to remain alone - isolated - separated. Two points in this regard: 1) we were made for fellowship and 2) isolation leads to defeat (not victory).
We are guided by Holy Spirit illuminating the truth from the pages of the disputatious book, the Bible, that we are to submit ourselves one to another. We are to prefer each other. The submission is mutual and is equitable because Papa God's Kingdom is one of equality. There is no Jew nor Greek, slave nor master, man nor woman (Democrat or Republican). In other words, the labels and tags used by the flesh-motivated world are often an attempt to enslave. Societal hierarchies are created. Social order is established. What is really happening is that the strong are lording their strength over the weak.
Remember one of our foundational tenets: Christ Word/Son came to simplify, not complicate. Christ essentially modeled that giving one's life up (laying it down, as it were) is the key to allowing Papa God to animate us as He desires for us. When I am willing to lay down my life for my friend (and I have no greater friend than the Word/Son) I actually begin to "live." When I am willing to serve others at my own expense, there is nothing to lord over anyone because I am not protecting what I perceive to be mine. I am not threatened because I have nothing to lose.
I am His and He is mine. We are all equal in His sight. He loves each of us equally passionately. I have nothing to gain because I have access to all already.
So, whenever you think you have something to lose and that you are better off on your own, take a deep breath and think again. Think about the fact that your very breath is provided by another. We control so very little of our existence, but we are known and loved by the One Who does.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
Me vs. Myself
I have a confession to make. I used to be very confused in regards to what I needed to follow in order to be an obedient and "good" Christian. I would lay down in my bed at night and pray that God show me a way and I would ask myself, "what is your will Lord?" Every time I would sit and pray I would hear my father's words running through my head. "If you love me, obey me"... That's when it hit me, I realized that love is obedience and that if I wanted to be more like him I would have to obey him... Well, that didn't help too much but was a start in my journey. As I poured through the bible I began to see some interesting patterns in regards to what Christ stated was disobedience. I would read verses where Christ would talk about how we can serve only two masters and when Christ told us to "pick up our crosses and follow him". Then the spirit redirected me to a phrase I had heard throughout my childhood. "I must decrease so that he can increase"... Then I realized something, right and wrong become painfully simple. It's a case of me versus Christ. Everyday I wake up do I follow his will or my own. Sin is not simply disobeying certain rules and regulations that were set forth in the Old/ New Testament. Sin is choosing to put ourselves on a higher pedestal and making our flesh to idol of our life. The spirit is there for the purpose of revealing the heart or "spirit" of our actions, telling us if they are of God or of our own flesh. How wonderful it is that we have a spirit that directs us and guides us, if we let it. It reminds me of Paul when he says, "I do the things I don't want to do, and I don't do the things I want to do". To obey is to follow God with our hearts and actions. Sometimes we'll fall, but we must not stay on the ground and allow our flesh to undo our work. We must pick ourselves up and help us love one another and bring out the spirit within us all, that flame within us that lights the world. For it to be so simple relieves and saddens me, it relieves me because I know the path that I am on and I need only listen to the spirit for guidance. It saddens me because there exists a group of Christians that are chained to the old ways, reading and obeying the laws and disregarding the true law Christ intended for us. At the end of the day it becomes a battle of Me vs. Myself. I'm my own enemy and I must choose to decrease so that he may increase within me and within my world.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Do Re Mi - God and Me
As my friend and Brother, Mr. Pankey, noted in an earlier blog, Papa God is passionate! He is most passionate about you and me. In fact, I believe He created us for each other. First to be connected to Him, the first "covenant" (Dictionary.com defines covenant basically as: noun - an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified). He created us to be in relationship with Him. Plain and simple. Of course, there is much more to our journey as we will explore together, however, the simple truth is "I am my Beloved's and He is mine." Papa God established the principle of covenant with the Jewish people and He perfected the covenant in the Person and sacrifice of Christ/Word Son. Much of what Papa God demonstrated prior to the arrival of Christ as a man, was foreshadowing the Word Son. A pattern emerges in the pages of the books comprising the Old Testament that demonstrates man's propensity to complicate something that was originally fairly simple. Christ came and established a "new and everlasting covenant." Permanent. Irrevocable. Undeniable.
This permanence is important as the Word Son stands as our sole Advocate to the Father. Jesus literally "has our back" with Papa God. If God questions or the enemy points out (we will address the mystery of the enemy in future blogs) our weaknesses and failings, Christ steps up and indemnifies us, He literally stands in our place (because He hung in our place). Like any contract, there are terms and conditions to the covenant with God. Christ paid the price to keep the covenant in place. Plain and simple. On the other hand, when I doubt my worthiness to be counted amongst Papa God's children, the Word Son (Who never leaves me nor forsakes me) reminds me who I am in Him. I am beloved. I am precious. I am loved. Papa God is madly passionate about me.
Do re mi, God and me. A simple way to remember that the foundational relationship in my life is with Papa God. The quality of every other relationship I have is dependent on the status of my relationship with God. The closer I walk with Him, the better person I am. The more I allow myself to be transformed into the image of the Word Son (the person that Papa God created me to be), the more I reflect the love of God. I was not designed to journey by myself. I was designed for a Divine Guide and for companions along the way. We will explore much more together, but everything to come depends upon understanding my utter reliance and dependence upon Papa God, the passionate Creator, Who loves me and desires to be with me.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Driven hard
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
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
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)