tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50304811995426075412024-02-20T01:22:56.576-08:00The thought just occurred to meMaryAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07151669752030074109noreply@blogger.comBlogger311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030481199542607541.post-37023352801317018862022-01-26T03:38:00.000-08:002022-01-26T03:38:06.411-08:00Modes, Modes and More Modes<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Today's multimodal communication comes in a wide variety of flavors. We'll take a quick peek at some of the familiar ways messages are transmitted to us daily.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8-GO6HXSz-t1h54t47doyHSzRDQzVaCmfuL0mBq2t-b4C1Iq9jttsRSAfYrmIvl_QDRKrbfa4lqebNoyc0NJ27oTm8D8k_iM_hUTGZWTpv-XUNAKqQG7Xn9MYxotOb2IyT_AuGTd4XBzc8uGLxBZG4v7PQhtBMRgvlSuMcK9cUet-At6cv2Ydk272wQ=s379" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="379" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8-GO6HXSz-t1h54t47doyHSzRDQzVaCmfuL0mBq2t-b4C1Iq9jttsRSAfYrmIvl_QDRKrbfa4lqebNoyc0NJ27oTm8D8k_iM_hUTGZWTpv-XUNAKqQG7Xn9MYxotOb2IyT_AuGTd4XBzc8uGLxBZG4v7PQhtBMRgvlSuMcK9cUet-At6cv2Ydk272wQ=w220-h193" width="220" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Linguistic mode</b> - more than just words on some substrate, text plays an important role in transmitting thoughts and ideas. Font size and shape, copyrighted trademarks and logos are visual landmark's along life's information highway. The big blue letters IBM need no explanation, we know it means computing. However, it is normally the content and not necessarily the text design itself that grabs our attention. The t-shirt's basic design helps send the message clearly. There is no distracting artwork, just the simple statement about math. I received this shirt after withdrawing from math in the fall semester. My seventy-two-year-old-brain was too out of practice to continue. In my case, the shirt's statement is in black and white, with no shades of grey...math is not my strong suit.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih_FxqCXKrIO1cyQm2nF0R24F-Vgq0VZEO4KYtwADiVKhELzpwk4HJwcTedIY3l8hFW3Vx1WGm7YXilpAjoMoIDW2B9C0J2XhhTp8QDmOdcYwZv7ZkAoQwizCpuy5DUQaQd2bY9KJy0C3eSoCwJAGcUqwhztZ_YExCA34cOWNxCg8fq8dKjbfoAqKdlA=s423" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="390" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih_FxqCXKrIO1cyQm2nF0R24F-Vgq0VZEO4KYtwADiVKhELzpwk4HJwcTedIY3l8hFW3Vx1WGm7YXilpAjoMoIDW2B9C0J2XhhTp8QDmOdcYwZv7ZkAoQwizCpuy5DUQaQd2bY9KJy0C3eSoCwJAGcUqwhztZ_YExCA34cOWNxCg8fq8dKjbfoAqKdlA=w158-h200" width="158" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br />Linguistic and Visual Modes</b> - the layout and design for the perception article is purposeful. Crisp white background, consistent margins, bold heading, double-spaced body copy forced justified on both sides projects a professional, scholarly appearance. The accompanying graphic is colorful, designed to lead the eye in a circular motion indicating the progressive steps in the perception process. The overall look and feel exudes a sense of seriousness, however, the information is conveyed in an eye pleasing manner. Rather than turning the reader away, the layout invites them in to take in the information and then ponder what they've learned.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Winter driving conditions pokes fun at the misspelled word care. Like lolcats, the meme is meant to produce a chuckle. Is it real? Who knows? With Photoshop, almost anything is possible. Could a sign like this show up on the highway? It's in the realm of possibility.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiygXlQTcL-6tuA_XGNgs0tV50O3EvrHphpv_ejY-xeScihAUZfQpKLBa_leeonvwnF-ozUWMMeBu97Ta-cBRs4OfvonLDWQz-MyCxL43gh79Q2wyCFbjkEcsdPQLZqvolSwq8yD23iULDIpNl3QxMZfY4ybd4bSEG0io6rw59C1TAXlsW7Okjx9IBFZg=s599" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="599" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiygXlQTcL-6tuA_XGNgs0tV50O3EvrHphpv_ejY-xeScihAUZfQpKLBa_leeonvwnF-ozUWMMeBu97Ta-cBRs4OfvonLDWQz-MyCxL43gh79Q2wyCFbjkEcsdPQLZqvolSwq8yD23iULDIpNl3QxMZfY4ybd4bSEG0io6rw59C1TAXlsW7Okjx9IBFZg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4bt97whCMtfpOGfUmaDtE06yvmFpEqYjJa9n9PNN0JQyorNleA866-A33t-aFQfHyiLfnYYxcwM00zrRCb9-_IoUvODum8ugvLlRbWPzvtJEjxe9jvmxcQIcHRMvNB1JjNGuF3zc_f0WENUVtoo1cvh8_H5Q8l6TpLSEbsEzIcKHNw2A19x-7NAa6xw=s782" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="782" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4bt97whCMtfpOGfUmaDtE06yvmFpEqYjJa9n9PNN0JQyorNleA866-A33t-aFQfHyiLfnYYxcwM00zrRCb9-_IoUvODum8ugvLlRbWPzvtJEjxe9jvmxcQIcHRMvNB1JjNGuF3zc_f0WENUVtoo1cvh8_H5Q8l6TpLSEbsEzIcKHNw2A19x-7NAa6xw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><b>Linguistic, Visual and Spatial Modes</b> - The Starbucks meme combines these three modes. The text and graphic on a white background is spatially balanced and pleasing to the eye. Sometimes less really can be more. Meant to highlight Starbucks recent decision to no longer require vaccinations for employees, the designer uses a clever play on the word "shot." It's not unusual to be asked if you'd like a shot of espresso in your coffee (especially early in the morning). However, intentionally printed in a Starbucks looking green is the thought that not getting a shot at all is preferable.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Linguistic, Visual and Aural Mode</b> - Microsoft's Solitaire contains all three. Text is minimal, reduced to telling the player when to start, stop and if they have run out of options and must start again. Visuals consist of a virtual deck of cards identical to those used in real games off line. With each touch of the card, a click is made and when the game is successfully over there is a whole upbeat musical score that plays while the game resets.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ2uD5XiYi0OTHqIrItMVzsO22gbB6QioeLRL6nLeD29qa9QIDylfkTZmg1Zp-B3HtdKS2SamPVDIzFkPLipzaODfMjGR1WlydhGyL6p9QHEtS9k5n1XkzzoVrCYE6NCRrrdLhyCuV16b22qQDJXp3ISSADRat2HeJDNCtaqD8lAL4OdCIww5RSY8DnQ=s802" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="802" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ2uD5XiYi0OTHqIrItMVzsO22gbB6QioeLRL6nLeD29qa9QIDylfkTZmg1Zp-B3HtdKS2SamPVDIzFkPLipzaODfMjGR1WlydhGyL6p9QHEtS9k5n1XkzzoVrCYE6NCRrrdLhyCuV16b22qQDJXp3ISSADRat2HeJDNCtaqD8lAL4OdCIww5RSY8DnQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Linguistic, Visual, Aural, Spatial and Gestural Modes</b>- political ads are great fodder for analysis. If one pays attention, one can find all types of techniques, both subtle and obvious, designed to influence the viewer. Unfortunately, Blogger will not let me link the video so I'll show some images of this ad.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Linguistic</b> - the text is limited to embedded and superimposed (and often misspelled) copy. Gary Chambers does his own voiceover. His tone and script is edgy, in-your-face with perfectly timed inflections for emphasis. The opening scene is Mr. Chambers puffing on a blunt.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1qSblqtGIGBvLF4LvYWHJuDpvC9FER3TNVU0Z2kY2zz6V0PRl3Z8dQHXRiOxG_gO3-R8djB8od9-ugXuGGJwuYHR2PKO8aMulE5Kp5rFD_EW_h8iS4q5r1bHDptaHHftKK_7v5rQAv6ob-MdsY3tbLnh5LRGuD5u-MBpNrEaN4tARZitV0MNVJbC_Rw=s555" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="555" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1qSblqtGIGBvLF4LvYWHJuDpvC9FER3TNVU0Z2kY2zz6V0PRl3Z8dQHXRiOxG_gO3-R8djB8od9-ugXuGGJwuYHR2PKO8aMulE5Kp5rFD_EW_h8iS4q5r1bHDptaHHftKK_7v5rQAv6ob-MdsY3tbLnh5LRGuD5u-MBpNrEaN4tARZitV0MNVJbC_Rw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Visual </b>- Chambers' only message is the use of recreational marijuana. The video has a raw, grainy feel to it portraying the candidate as a regular guy, not a polished politician. Many of the frames are shot close range, with a I Dare You glare to demonstrate that he means business. He is a serious candidate for the senate seat (hence, filmed sitting on a chair).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY4SW5iGnelvWqxs6mF5SC0jTVPcL2kpOX_A6TQaJAkcZCvrCsub2iAgB62zObAusPVPOPT87pthupbzfVgMQFGoITFTYPxFvQjePduJqpghYHSXpvJWMD8sz5JYCiT69wMsenE_Efks1pyruSyLbp7mJgZ1Be3wrJUhLGjf6NVjOXDSw2qiHgSoupGQ=s524" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="524" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY4SW5iGnelvWqxs6mF5SC0jTVPcL2kpOX_A6TQaJAkcZCvrCsub2iAgB62zObAusPVPOPT87pthupbzfVgMQFGoITFTYPxFvQjePduJqpghYHSXpvJWMD8sz5JYCiT69wMsenE_Efks1pyruSyLbp7mJgZ1Be3wrJUhLGjf6NVjOXDSw2qiHgSoupGQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Aural </b>- The ad opens with strong background music which fades and the sound of a runaway clock ticks under the candidate's voiceover creating a "it's time for action" tone. At the very end, when the shot is framed face forward and Mr. Chambers declares that he approves of this ad, all the background sound is silenced for impact.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Spatial -</b> the entire ad is shot in an open field subtly underscoring the message that Mr. Chambers is an "outsider." Chambers is an ordinary guy, not a part of the establishment. He is about freedom and the wide open space surrounding him amplifies his theme that there are no restrictions needed.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiktKZybqzrXydcQAX1q46N2Wokw-Alo-dznlQ8xZYwjYeqNZYiIkAOqif9TRCgYdl16fCN197si7z-SfTjgwaXUcFG8JmrRs_NYigvnLz_-JFZGHI5Kvm6djh7dz29TG5qUZFOOHSxHGQ2nLOWmD4dzZvIRDjRfnbrGW_oJ9BvMnyeJF_O2r6H5ycNUw=s527" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="527" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiktKZybqzrXydcQAX1q46N2Wokw-Alo-dznlQ8xZYwjYeqNZYiIkAOqif9TRCgYdl16fCN197si7z-SfTjgwaXUcFG8JmrRs_NYigvnLz_-JFZGHI5Kvm6djh7dz29TG5qUZFOOHSxHGQ2nLOWmD4dzZvIRDjRfnbrGW_oJ9BvMnyeJF_O2r6H5ycNUw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><b style="font-family: arial;"><div><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></div>Gestural</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> - Chambers facial expressions and body language all project a determined air. He's not trying to win votes by pretending to be your friend. It's all business. He casually smokes a blunt (one can assume there's something other than tobacco in it). Chambers sits as smoke drifts from the blunt and from his mouth. In the closing frames he looks like a stereotypical politician sitting in the wingback chair and smoking a cigar. All that's missing is a drink in hand. Perhaps he's trying to show that he can fit in to the club.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For anyone interested in watching the ad for themselves, here is the link. Sorry but for some reason it will not play in blogger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiKjWmW7GUo</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">As demonstrated above, there isn't a one-size-fit-all approach to multimodal communication. Different modes work better in some situations than in others. The math t-shirt made its point using only text. The textbook chapter on perception has a more serious message, and uses visual elements to make it more appealing to readers. The "drive with cake" meme's photos really tell the story. It doesn't need additional text to explain what the viewer sees. Having music in the background may be fun, but is unnecessary. The Starbucks meme has a slick, professional look in keeping with the Starbucks image. Except for the message, visually it could easily pass for a real piece of Starbucks corporate imagery.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Microsoft's Solitaire gives the player a good experience with visuals, text and sound in the hopes that one will enjoy the game so much, one will be willing to pay in order to avoid the pesky ads that show up on a regular basis. Finally Mr. Chambers ad, employs all five aspects of multimodal communication in order to produce a most unusual campaign promotion and one that viewers will not quickly forget.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Multimodal communication is all around us and impacts our lives daily. As content creators, the more successful we are at determining which mode(s) work best in specific instances, the higher our success rate in grabbing others attention, and getting them to act. And as consumers, knowing the methodologies employed can help us analyze what we see and evaluate its impact and validity.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span></p>
</div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="https://twitter.com/MaryAgrusa" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @MaryAgrusa</a>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></div>MaryAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07151669752030074109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030481199542607541.post-49042031984939971732017-12-31T13:09:00.000-08:002017-12-31T13:09:01.069-08:00The Comforter<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient
for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto
you: but if I depart, I will send Him to you." John 16:7.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Had they consciously/unconsciously ignored Jesus' previous
statements about His impending departure, this time the message was
inescapable. "I am leaving."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the disciples it had to be distressing, upsetting news.
Jesus was their life. When other followers abandoned Christ, they had remained.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of
eternal life. We believe and know that your are the Holy One of God." John
6:68.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bridges were burned and there was no turning back. Now
their beloved teacher and friend would soon be gone leaving them with...a Comforter?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can think of other things I would have wanted to learn was
my reward for three years of loyal attention and devotion. What would this
Comforter, who may have seemed more like a consolation prize for faithful attendance
do...make them feel less foolish for forsaking all in pursuit of a dream?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unlike the disciples then, we know just how well things
worked out. The Comforter was exactly Whom they needed. Unaware that they were
about to be launched into a world changing endeavor, Jesus knew from personal experience
how tough this assignment would be. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While traveling with Him, the disciples tasted small doses
of the rejection, animosity and persecution that Christ experienced. Now with
His departure they would feel the full force of these attacks. Their decision
to take on the mandate offered them would be richly rewarding and satisfying.
It would also be filled with pain, suffering and even death for their belief in
the Master.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Holy Spirit's role at this time mirrors that He assumed in Genesis 1:1-2.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth. Now the earth was formless and void, darkness was over the deep, and the
spirit of God was hovering over the waters."</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Hebrew, the earth was "tohu bohu" or chaotic.
The disciple's lives would now be shaken and their world upended. They'd
experience the physical darkness of the crucifixion and the subsequent loss of
their light in the world. However, in the midst of all that, the Spirit was at
work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Spirit" in Hebrew is ruach (wind, spirit). This
is a feminine noun and of the eighty-nine times it is used in the Old
Testament, only nine times is it a masculine noun. The verb
"hovering" is also feminine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just as a bird sits on the nest until the eggs hatch and new
life appears, the Spirit brooded over those who at Christ's command waited in <st1:city>Jerusalem</st1:city>
until the church was birthed on Pentecost. Then, as in Genesis where light
sparked the first sign of life, "tongues of fire" appeared, and we
know the rest of the story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When children are born, mother's typically play the major
role in their early developmental years. The transition from the safety of the
womb to life in the real world is difficult, even frightening. Mom's are there
to offer nurture and assurance. They kiss the boo-boo's, dry the tears and provide
a safe place from fear. They systematically impart skills necessary to navigate
life: potty training, shoe tying, and keeping your milk in the glass and not
all over the table and the floor. I'm not insinuating that father's don't play
a vital and important role in a child's life. Our country is suffering on a
scale not known previously the bitter fruit of fatherlessness in children's
lives today. God designed women in His image also and they normally display the
nurturing, caring character of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The early church would need wisdom, power, boldness and so
forth. However, Jesus realized that believers also need something just as
important when times get tough-comfort. Holy Spirit fills this role in our
lives perfectly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? How do you describe Holy Spirit's involvement
in your life? When have you experienced the Spirit's comfort? In order of
importance, where does comfort fall in the list of His ministrations to you?
Can you really live without the comfort that the Spirit gives?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As 2017 comes to and end, it is time so say "Thank you" to all who have read my blog and even posted comments. What started as a goal to write once a week for a full year has had a six year uninterrupted streak. But now it's time to end this run. I may on occasion post something new and if and when I do, I hope you'll enjoy my ramblings. I wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year. God bless you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000;">"In</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #660000;"> the Beginning God created the
heavens and earth" Gen. 1:1 emphasis mine.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does "in" here denote time, as in <i>"once
upon a time"</i> or does it designate a location, such as "<i>deep in
the heart of </i><st1:state><st1:place><i>Texas</i></st1:place></st1:state><i>"</i>?
How one interprets this two letter word can place one comfortably in the camp
of current scientific thought about the age of the cosmos and in the crosshairs
of fundamentalists. I now believe <i>"in"</i> pertains to location
and is Paul's proof text for Col. 1:17. Concerning Christ the Apostle writes,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"He is before all
things and <b>in</b> Him all things hold together" emphasis mine."</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to Paul all things are located in Jesus and have
been there since creation. John also bolsters this notion by tying Jesus to
<span style="color: #660000;"><i>"the Beginning"</i></span> of Gen. 1:1.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the
last, the Beginning and the End" Rev. 22:13.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Interpreting the <i>"in"</i> of Gen. 1:1 as a
statement of position makes the opening line of the Bible about more than creation
alone (which is a big enough subject in and of itself). It is about the
grandeur and majesty of God. All of our ever-expanding cosmos is safely
contained in Jesus. Paul then adds more to this most intriguing paradox.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>"For you died and your life is now hidden <b>in</b>
Christ <b>in</b> God" </i><st1:country-region><st1:place><i>Col.</i></st1:place></st1:country-region></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">
3:3 emphasis mine.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're not just in Christ but we're also in God and here we
glimpse the interconnectivity of the Trinity. Because this is true, Paul could
assure the Roman church that no one could possible separate them from God's
love (<st1:country-region>Rom.</st1:country-region>
8:5). As an interesting side note, the whom in this verse isn't people, but
circumstances. John tacks on more to the mystery of the meaning of 'in" by
defining love, not as an emotions, but as God Himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>"God is love. Whoever lives <b>in</b> love, lives <b>in</b>
God and God </i>in</span><i><span style="color: #660000;"> him" 1 John 4:16.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How can this be? How does Jesus hold all things together in
Himself and yet manage to reside in individuals? I have no idea...but it's
worth pondering and talking to God about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Returning to the original question concerning the meaning of
the word <i>"in"</i> found in Gen. 1:1. I am in agreement with Paul's
position stated in Col. 1:17 and then re-emphasized in Col. 3:3. We're actually
<i>"in" </i>God. He is love and those in Him also live in love.
According to 1 John 4:16 it's all about location, location, location. Because
Christ is <i>The Beginning</i>, Gen. 1:1 is about where and not when creation
took place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I recognize this is radical. Understanding that creation
since its inception has been in eternity helps explain how science can state
that the earth is much older than 7000 years as we compute time. Time is part
of creation and is for our benefit. God has no need of it because He's outside
of time. That said, God's version of a day may be very different than our
understanding of a 24 hour time sequence. Perhaps, since God exists in
eternity, outside the confines of time, He gave us this explanation in order
that we would have a frame of reference. On the other hand, could God compress
billions of years into a literal 7 day period if He wanted to? Why not. He's
more marvelous and mysterious than we can imagine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I accept <i>"In the Beginning"</i> to be about
location and not time which agrees with both Paul and John. Now I view
science's estimate of the cosmos' age with wonder. How did God do all this in
His version of 7 days? What does it say about His willingness to take as much
time as necessary to accomplish His purposes? Wouldn't it be wonderful to live
as God does, free from the tyranny of the urgent?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? If Gen. 1:1 is about place and not about time
how does this change your understanding of this verse? How might it help you
understand that your present position is <b>in</b> Christ now and not a future
event? In the event that science is correct about the universe's age would this
interpretation help you reconcile it's findings with the Biblical account of
creation? What new avenues of mystery does this open up for you to explore?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We might have to wait to really understand how this all
works. Once free from time's restrictions in the physical world, things will
probably become crystal clear. For now, we're free to explore these mysteries
with God who has all the answers. Who knows. He just might explain it all to
you if you ask.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"And there were shepherds living out in the fields
nearby keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared
to them" Luke 2:8-9.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during
the time of King Herod, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where
is the one who is been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the East and
we have come to worship him'" Matt. 2:1-2.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking at the accounts of Christ's birth it's interesting
to see who did/didn't get the message and how this corresponds to His earthly
ministry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, the shepherds. According to Edershiem's <i>The Life
And Times of Jesus the Messiah,</i> (a voluminous book, but well worth the time
taken to explore it) shepherds, in the eyes of the religious elite, held a very
unique status. These guardians of sheep, some which would later become the
Pascal Lamb...were despised.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even though God equated Himself as the Shepherd of His flock
(<st1:country-region>Israel</st1:country-region>) and
Moses, who was revered and honored for his role in Jewish history was a
shepherd, the Jewish leadership deemed those in this occupation as
"sinners." Why? Who knows.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prejudice doesn't need a logical foundation. Despite their
lowly status, God made shepherds His first choice to learn of Christ's birth.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus had ongoing association with all kinds of
"sinners" and this upset the religious hierarchy. It was part of the
reason they turned against Him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to Luke, the shepherds spread the news of their
angelic encounter and visit to the manger. Their story would be regarded as
worthless by the teachers of the Law. When commanded by Herod to account for
the birthplace of this "King of the Jews" the shepherd's first-hand
testimony was ignored.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next there's the Magi. They were Gentiles. Schooled in
astronomy and the orderly movement of the heavenly bodies, any anomaly was
significant. These were thought to be portents of special events. The appearance
of a star, like the one at Christ's birth, was believed to mark the birth of a
new world leader. Therefore, upon arrival at Herod's court, without hesitation,
they asked the then sitting king the whereabouts of this new King of the Jews
(wrong person to ask).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When questioned the religious authorities quoted Scripture
designating <st1:city>Bethlehem</st1:city> as the
possible nativity site. It's hard to imagine that they hadn't heard about the
shepherd's experience. But, considering their bias toward this group, it's not surprising that this wasn't considered important enough to mention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Magi's quest to find the King of the Jews also
foreshadows the relationship between Jesus and the Gentiles. Considering the Samaritan woman's encounter with Christ at the well (a cultural no-no) and that women were deemed unqualified as witnesses to
anything, even first-hand experiences, her community turned out in droves to
hear this stranger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Gadarene demonic turned healed evangelist crisscrossed
his area spreading the news of his miraculous deliverance. Upon Jesus' return,
the crowds came and He ministered freely to them. Like the Magi, the
Syro-Phoenician woman pro-actively sought Christ out, and none of them went away
disappointed. Jesus was a magnet for sinners, outcasts and even Gentiles who many
times warmly received Him, unlike His own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From birth, the groundwork is laid for Christ's path of
earthly ministry. His mission was primarily to the lost sheep of the house of <st1:country-region>Israel</st1:country-region>,
and symbolically the caretakers of the sheep were the first to know of His
arrival. However, the arrival of the Magi made it clear that God's salvation
wasn't just for a select group. Sinners, and even Gentiles were to be part of
the mix, a message we can't afford to miss out on today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christ's actions went against the grain of the deeply
entrenched Jewish Messianic beliefs putting Jesus on a collision course with
cherished traditions. That trajectory got Him killed. It can still get you
killed today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? Have you ever noticed the link between the
events surrounding Christ's birth and His ministry here on earth? What do you
think of God's selection of two groups outside the prevailing Jewish religious
mainstream receiving this important revelation from God? Could/would God do the
same thing today? Maybe. In that case we better keep our eyes and ears open so
we don't miss God's unorthodox means of communication and who he speaks through.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"...because I know whom I have believed and am
convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that
day." </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">2 Tim. 1:12.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is your faith based on a what or a whom? For Paul it was the
Person Jesus Christ. Through their intimate personal relationship, Paul was
confident of God's leadership and guidance. He needed this when placed in
situations where social and cultural norms collided with his faith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In his endeavor to be all things to all men Paul didn't
flip-flop theologically in order to be politically correct and non-offensive.
With Christ's help in setting boundaries Paul integrated himself into society.
As opposed to adopting a confrontational approach - <i>"I'm right and you
dummies are wrong!"</i> Paul looked for natural openings to share the Good
News.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Acts 17 covers Paul's trip to <st1:city>Athens</st1:city>.
Exploring the city Paul discovered an interesting fact about the residents -
they were very religious people. When he found the altar to the Unknown God (no
harm covering all the bases) he used it to his advantage. Instead of chiding
the people for using worship as an insurance policy, Paul took this as an open
door. And did he have Good News for them! Paul personally knew this Deity and
was happy for the chance to introduce the Athenians to Him. This was possible
because Paul knew Whom, and not just what he believed. His foundation was
Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While doing doctoral studies at <st1:place>St. Andrews</st1:place>
in <st1:country-region>Scotland</st1:country-region>,
Baxter Kruger attended a lecture by one of the early editors of well known, popular Christian magazine. This gentleman was a well-respected individual in the
evangelical community. Kruger was stunned at the speaker's concern for this
group. In this man's opinion, evangelicals had placed the Bible (the written
Word of God) in a higher position of esteem and authority than Jesus - the real
Word of God. Unconsciously they'd slipped into worshipping the book and not the
author. How had that happened?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The principle of Sola Scriptura is an outgrowth of the
Reformation. John MacArthur on www.ligionier.org presents an excellent
explanation of this from an evangelical viewpoint and with a great sense of
humor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Sola Scriptura simply means that all truth
necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or
implicitly in Scripture. It is not a claim that all truth of every kind is
found in Scripture...for example, Scripture has little to say about </i><st1:stockticker><i>DNA</i></st1:stockticker><i>
structures, microbiology, the rules of Chinese grammar and rocket
science."<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What Kruger understood the speaker to say was that
inadvertently the Bible had become the "gold standard" for revelation
as opposed to personal revelation from Jesus Himself. Relationship was with a
text not a person.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To be clear, I love the Bible. I have plenty of them in all
sizes, shapes and flavors, hard and soft bound and even electronic. Since I
don't read Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic I'm at the mercy of the translators and
their personal biases (and they do have them...we all do).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul and the early church didn't have Bibles because they
didn't exist. Jewish believers may have possessed a familiarity with the Old
Testament and even owned a small portion or two of it. But the Gentiles who
quickly joined their ranks were clueless, which was not necessarily a bad
thing. Early believers trusted Holy Spirit to guide them into truth, and they
needed all the help they could get. There were heresies, false doctrines and
opposition aplenty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my opinion, Sola Scriptura was a necessary but an
over correction to curb abuses in the church. Dependency shifted back to the
Bible as a book of rules and regulations as opposed to an unfolding revelation
of the nature and character of God. Early on I was taught to solely trust
Scripture and to be suspicious of personal revelations received by direct
interaction with God. Best leave that to the professionals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul upset the balancing act, tipping the scales in favor that
the Word is a Person as opposed to a book. He believed Christ was the more
capable of the two to keep him in line when navigating uncharted waters. Jesus
was Paul's Sola Scriptura - the true living Word of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? Is your faith based on information and
knowledge gleaned solely from the Bible (which is a great place to start) or on
Jesus the Author and Finisher of your faith? When was the last time you asked
God to weigh in on a matter, and then searched the Bible for a confirmation of
what you'd heard? Do you find it easier to use the Bible as a how-to manual as
opposed to interacting with Father, Son and Holy Spirit whom are full of
surprises?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whatever you do...don't ditch your Bible! However, don't use
it as a substitute for an intimate, personal relationship with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>"Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in
parables; He did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was
fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: 'I will utter <b>things hidden
since the creation of the world'</b>" Matt </i><st1:time hour="17" minute="34"><i>17:34</i></st1:time></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">-35 (emphasis mine).</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why did God through Jesus' preaching/teaching ministry
finally reveal things kept secreted away since creation? Was God the one who had
hidden these? What exactly was Jesus talking about?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">IMHO I believe Jesus referred to the true nature of God
Himself, in His totality. Various individuals encountered Him as He
progressively revealed Himself. No one, except Jesus, really had the big
picture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why not?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think the problem lies with us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fall brought sin into the mix which Paul claims causes
us to believe that God is the enemy. Few look, think or speak well of their
opposition. Usually we demonize them and make them sub-par to ourselves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Additionally, we mistakenly create God in our own image -
not vice versa. For example Paul quotes a familiar passage<i>. <span style="color: #660000;">"<span style="background: white;">Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord". Rom. </span></span></i><span style="color: #660000;"><st1:time hour="12" minute="19"><i><span style="background: white;">12:19</span></i></st1:time><i><span style="background: white;">.</span></i></span><span style="background: white;"> We quickly assume that God acts like us when we've been
wronged. In the Parable of the Prodigal it's no surprise that the father's
reaction to his sons' insults went right over the audience's head. They expected
angry outbursts directed at both boys because that's what we'd do. Throw a
party for a loser or stand outside and console an angry, ungrateful kid...not
happening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As time continued
people caught glimpses of God's goodness, but it so violated their traditional
notions of Him and cultural beliefs, these were rejected as wishful thinking.
They were too good to be true. I'm now experiencing this same thing concerning
some of my long-held concepts of God's nature and personality. The problem is
my short-sightedness. My comfortable box where I let God reside, is
unacceptable to Him. He doesn't intend to remain there. Having asked for a
revelation of His true nature I'm finding an ever expanding debris field composed
of my shattered pre-conceived ideas scattered about. It's unsettling, but in a
good and healthy way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some may label me
a heretic, and it's true. I'm Happily Encountering Real Experiences Today In
Christ! The book worm is learning to love the experiential.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, why parables?
Stories put flesh and bones on abstract ideas. God is love, but what does that
really look like? In Jesus' time and still today, stories are an integral part
of the learning process, especially for non-readers. Our own culture is
saturated with materials for children, even infants with no understanding that
squiggly lines on a page are words that mean something. Pictures, however, even
without any dialog convey the message.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus was a
master storyteller and if one only listened to be entertained (and many did)
the deep spiritual message and meaning was lost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background: white;">"While
Jesus was not a philosopher or theologian (in the accepted sense), his parables
alone provided material that neither the philosopher nor the theologian can exhaust.
This is the mark of Jesus' supreme genius. We have a curious tendency, even in
dealing with Jesus' humanity, to overlook his sheer intellectual stature."</span></i><span style="background: white;"> C.W.F. Smith, Prophecy, pg. 19.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">The country
carpenter turned traveling rabbi, sans credentials, was no spiritual midget.
Even at the tender age of twelve, one year shy of Bar Mitzvah and manhood,
Jesus held his own with the teachers of the Law in the </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white;">Temple</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white;">. He <b><i>knew</i></b> God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">Employing
familiar everyday examples Jesus peeled back the layers that obscured the truth
concerning His Father and the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="background: white;">Kingdom</span></st1:placetype><span style="background: white;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="background: white;">God</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="background: white;">. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear
got the message and it made them either friend or foe. Just like today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you?
What have you gleaned from the parables concerning God's nature that has left
you scratching your head wondering, "Huh?" Which have made you
uncomfortable and why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keep digging.
Perhaps you can still go even deeper and find more rich truth hidden that
you've missed before. Ask God for help. He enjoys a good treasure hunt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i><span lang="EN">"</span></i><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255);">But in your hearts
revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who
asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with
gentleness and respect," 1 Peter </span></i><st1:time hour="15" minute="15"><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255);">3:15</span></i></st1:time></span><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"> My sociology professor wanted us to
share our personal thoughts and experiences with religion... an invitation too
good to pass up. This is a bit lengthy and to my delight, my professor received
it in the right spirit. I trust it made a good impression on her and cracked
open the door to experiencing God as He really is.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN"> </span><span lang="EN">Religion is a topic that tends to
polarize people. As a born again Christian I'd probably be considered a
“fundamentalist” by many. Although I do agree with some of this term’s
descriptions in our text, I do not lay claim to that designation. In fact, I’m
not a fan of religion at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It may appear that
identifying myself as a believer in Jesus, yet disavowing any connection to
religion is contradictory, but I think not. In my opinion, religion is man’s
attempt to figure out God and then get right with Him. Our programs generally
degenerate into systems of regulations to be strenuously adhered to if one
wishes to get into and stay in God’s good graces. Follow the rules and you’re safe. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Because
we like law keeping, God gave us His concept of <i><span style="color: #660000;">the</span></i> standard to adhere to. It's found in the Old Testament in simplified form, the Ten Commandments. Judaism
further codified them into about 631 laws covering every aspect of life. To
date, only one person perfectly kept the Law…Jesus. Everyone else has failed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I
believe God's interested in relationship, not religion. Of the two,
relationship is the more challenging. I have been married for forty-five years.
If my marriage was solely based on abiding by a set of rules that both of us
had to follow, we wouldn’t have much of a relationship, if any at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I have faith and confidence in my husband, not because he
“religiously” follows pre-established guidelines, but because I <i>know</i> him.
I know how he thinks, what he likes/dislikes, what makes him happy or sad and
what he considers important. This comes from decades of living together
intimately, not from reading a rule book and acting accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Religion
promotes the concept that unless you get it “right” you face the wrath of God.
Therefore, getting to know God personally isn’t as important as learning how to
behave in a manner that you think keeps Him placated. This never works.
Everyone goofs up. Therefore, many Christians don’t have any real assurance
that they've met all the “requirements” necessary for getting into heaven,
which really isn’t the most important thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Our
ability to mess things up, even with the best of intentions was no surprise to
God. He knew this and fixed the problem before we had a chance to make any
mistakes. He desires is relationship with His children; we want is a sure-fire
program guaranteeing our eternal
destiny. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Developing
a relationship with God takes time. It’s progressive. I have known him
personally for over four decades. I know less now than ever because I
continually find Him deeper and richer than I’ve imagined. There are standards
that I willingly adhere to, but not because I think they will earn me brownie
points with God. These guidelines make my life simpler.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> For
example, I no longer drink or do drugs. I’m free to do so if I want to...I just
don’t want to. I don’t need the high or the escape they provide and I certainly
don’t want the negative impact on my health that repeated useage produces. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I don't worry about losing control and saying and doing
things under the influence that I’ll regret later. Furthermore, I don’t fear
about being stopped by the police and potentially arrested for any number of
violations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Also,
I go to church on Sunday and have done so for decades. Unlike my early
religious upbrings upbringing where Sunday service attendance was mandatory, I
go to church because I want to. And I don’t consider it ritualistic. That term,
to me, speaks of just going through the motions, doing the same thing
repetitively. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I’m thankful that God refuses to be boxed in and likes changing
things up. I have responsibilities that
require I be in attendance, but I don’t do these out of compulsion. Corporate
worship has a different dynamic than individual. What occurs when the body
comes together demonstrates how much we need each other. Christianity isn’t for
Lone Rangers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I
take communion every Sunday, however, I’m not limited to that time only. I can receive
it anytime using water and crackers, coffee and a bagel or grape juice and
bread. The physical elements aren’t what’s important. Communion is remembering
Jesus and what He’s done for me. It's a time to re-member with Him. I’m now
part of Him and this is a chance to remind myself of this very important fact. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Rather
than trying to show God I'm a good kid by my behavior, I spend time with Him in
conversation. I ask what’s on His mind. Is there something He wants to do today
that I can participate in? Perhaps there’s someone who needs prayer. He tells
me how to pray in agreement with what He’s doing and I'm assured I’m just not
spouting out hot air. What I’m say, based in faith, makes the difference. And I
spend more time listening than talking. His side of the conversation is always
more interesting. Because His Word tells me that I am already seated with Him
in heavenly places, I spend time with Him there and it is a fascinating realm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Instead
of telling people they need to “get right with God” to “turn or burn. ” I
prefer to tell them that, as far as God is concerned, He’s not mad at anyone.
He not counting sin against us because they've been taken care it. Christ’s
crucifixion was just a physical manifestation of what had been done before time
began. The only thing keeping anyone from spending eternity with Him, which
includes right now, is the decision to say, “No thanks. I’m not interested.”
Because we are blessed with free will, God honors our choice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> God is concerned
about sin, but not for reasons most people think. It has consequences. What is
often labeled the “wrath of God” is simply the natural offshoot of bad
behavior. The times I experience His “wrath” so to speak, is when He identifies
things in my life that are harmful, destructive, and definitely not of Him. He
is jealous for me, not of me. He wants the very best and like a good parent
will do everything possible to keep me safe and out of trouble. He knows that
sin causes me to think I’m His enemy and that He is mad at me. Because of the
way sin distorts my mental capacity to know and understand Who He really is,
God hates sin in every form. He wants nothing impeding my relationship with
Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I
understand how religion evolves and develops, sometimes with the very best of
intentions. However, I’ll stick with relationship. It’s not always clear cut
and at times can be very mysteriously unsettling, but I have God’s assurance
that because I’ve placed myself in His Hands, He can keep me out of harm’s way.
And I’m taking His word for it.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="https://twitter.com/MaryAgrusa" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @MaryAgrusa</a>
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<i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"...and you will be like God, knowing good and
evil" Gen. 3:5.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The original sin was steeped in good intentions. What more
noble aspiration exists than to be like God? The methodology was all wrong, but
we can't fault Eve for wanting to be just like her Creator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We Christians do the exact same thing. We invent any number
of ways designed to make us more God-like. Read/study the Bible, pray,
evangelize, do good works - all fine in and of themselves but they'll never
make us more like God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eve's problem (and ours) was an identity crisis - she didn't
know who she was. Already created in God's image and likeness, how much more
God-like could she get? Unfortunately, she believed the lie that she was
deficient in this department.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This same fallacy is being swallowed hook, line and sinker
today by many believers. Ask Christians if they're righteous and a good portion
with emphatically state, "No!"...but they'd like to be. Some are
working really hard to attain this goal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite the fact that First Corinthians teaches that Jesus
has become our <span style="color: #660000;"><i>"righteousness, holiness and redemption" (</i><st1:time hour="13" minute="30"><i>1:30</i></st1:time><i>) </i>or Second Corinthians
which states that because of Christ we're now <i>"the righteousness of
God" (</i><st1:time hour="17" minute="21"><i>5:21</i></st1:time><i>),</i>
</span>Christians strive to become what they already are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's another old favorite stand-by. "I'm just an old
sinner saved by grace." Really? Sounds humble and pious until you stack it
up the Paul's position on the matter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
while we were still sinners Christ died for us" Rom. 5:8.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unless Jesus re-died in 1972, I wasn't around for Him to die
for me at <st1:place>Calvary</st1:place>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>"That God was reconciling the world to Himself in
Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And He as committed to us the
message of reconciliation" 2 Cor. </i><st1:time hour="17" minute="19"><i>5:19</i></st1:time></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God's not holding anyone's sins against them so then why do
Christians label themselves and others as such? We don't know who we really
are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've heard the title of this week's blog post used in a
variety of settings and with a great deal of latitude. What I'm not insinuating
here, however, is that Eve's sin sent her to Hell. The only way to enter that
domain is to reject God's already-in-place gift of reconciliation. Eating the
forbidden fruit didn't send Eve to Hell. It didn't even stop God from showing
up for his customary daily chat with the pair after the Fall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To me, the meaning of this popular saying is that many
mistakes aren't based on evil intentions - just the opposite. In Eve's case she
wanted something most would consider very good...to be more like God. Ignorant
of her real current status in life, she set out to obtain what she already
possessed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some Christians, even those with familiarity with Scripture
are on a similar mission. Ask me how I know. Unaware of their identity in
Christ they resort to all types of religious gymnastics designed to make them
into someone that they already are. These turn our to be exercises in futility.
Many suffer in silence as they attempt one more program of self-improvement,
the latest Christian fad. Frustrated many give up and quit. Again these are
often good things but they can't make you any better than what God already has
done for you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God went to a lot of time and trouble to reconcile us back
to Him. All we have to do is accept that it's already done. As the truth takes
root and we begin to live out of this new reality, our life changes. We don't
strive to be transformed - we recognize and step into our true identity in
Christ.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? What religious self-improvement program are
you on now? Is it designed to make you a better Christian and more like God?
How's it working for you? Are you becoming a new person via effort on your part
or by awakening to your true identity and living out of it? Are you refreshed
or stressed? Can you relax in the truth that you're already like God, thanks to
His actions alone?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>"Your gentleness has made me great" Psalm </i><st1:time hour="18" minute="35"><i>18:35</i></st1:time></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Viewing David's life, his ascension from shepherd to King of
Israel, it is easy to ascribe his success to any number of things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">David was fearless taking on opponents to his flock and his
nation. He was loyal to the point of never betraying or harming a king bent on
hunting him down to destroy him. He was faithful to God in good and bad times.
He was the man after God's own heart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the other hand, David had issues. He was a flawed character.
His parenting skills were less than impressive; his home was in constant uproar
with out of control kids. He was an adulterer who murdered his lover's husband
in an attempt to cover his sin. Told never to number the people, his census
brought disaster to the nation plus a very painful remedy. Still, despite all
his failings, David is held in the highest regard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Throughout God's dealings with him, it was the gentleness of
his Lord that David says made him great. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">David experienced God's correction and discipline. God
didn't let him off the hook when he erred. David's seemingly private affair was
made very public when the king was confronted by Nathan the prophet. Would
David admit is sin or use his royal power to cover it up and sweep it under the
rug?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">David reflected upon this and other times the Lord dealt
with him not as punitive or harsh but as gentleness. These shaped his character
and caused him to excel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Apostle Paul came to this same conclusion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"or do you show contempt for the riches of his
kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is
intended to lead you to repentance?" Rom. 2:4.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul's audience was the church at <st1:city>Rome</st1:city>,
for the most part a congregation of former pagan Gentiles. Fortunately this
group hadn't been steeped in the legalism of the Law with all its do's and
don'ts. However they too had their religious baggage to overcome including the
worship of an emperor who claimed to be god and who wasn't known for extending
mercy to those who believed otherwise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul stated authoritatively that God's kindness is what
motivates us to change our thinking. As Saul of Tarsus Paul, according to
Jesus, persecuted Him personally. That's how the Son of God interpreted Saul's
actions. Knocked to the ground and temporarily blinded got hard charging Saul's
immediate attention. Rather than eradicating the opposition (a popular
Christian viewpoint) God shook up Saul to get his attention. Reflecting back,
Paul recognized that is was the kindness of God that changed a repentant Saul
of Tarsus in the Apostle Paul.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God's gentleness is the key to our greatness. Notice David
didn't say "success," at least not in the terms we're familiar with
today. Greatness had to do with personal growth and character not impression
achievements like victory in battle and kingship. Gentleness allowed David's
inner man to develop and grow large enough to embrace the ever expanding
revelation of his great God and their progressively deepening relationship. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God's kindness was the pivot that turned Saul into Paul.
Instantly realizing he was on the wrong side, Saul recognized that God's olive
branch (and not a beating or worse) was the wise way to go. God's mercy and
love overwhelmed Saul into submission and transformed him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? If you were in Saul's sandals on the </span><st1:city style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Damascus</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
road how would you have reacted to God's rude interruption of your life? As a
believer, do you think Saul got off too easy? Looking at David's life, where do
you see God's gentleness making David a great man? In your own life would you
prefer kindness and gentleness or something more severe?</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who
have set their hearts on pilgrimage" Psalm 84:5.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've never heard of anyone going on a pilgrimage. For Old
and New Testament Jews accustomed to mandatory participation in certain <st1:city>Temple</st1:city>
services annually, this was a familiar life event. Muslims traveling to <st1:city>Mecca</st1:city>
are the closest contemporary example of pilgrims on a sacred journey that I can
think of.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcE65Ee-X1igmP5zg3HMBVbIectRvobx_ftgsP9KEARYCM450Z11ZHEe2pjbprQQfHnAu0NJfh23hGrNko0kGyrZ8lBDoA9SDP6dFJG2Hatn_8CI_HcWLaxnlkgqYzZ89rmV_ItzXgDo9/s1600/road+trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="220" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcE65Ee-X1igmP5zg3HMBVbIectRvobx_ftgsP9KEARYCM450Z11ZHEe2pjbprQQfHnAu0NJfh23hGrNko0kGyrZ8lBDoA9SDP6dFJG2Hatn_8CI_HcWLaxnlkgqYzZ89rmV_ItzXgDo9/s320/road+trip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A pilgrimage is an adventure. Other than knowing one will
travel from Point A to Point B, all that transpires in between these two is a
mystery. The unknown enhances the overall experience. The final destination keeps
the travelers filled with anticipation. The expense, trials and difficulties are
immaterial when compared to arriving at one's heart's desire. Doing whatever it
takes to reach the goal is well worth it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps our walk with God would be more satisfying if we
approached it with the pilgrim's sense of awe and wonder. To do this we may
first have to reassess our concept of Who God is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the book, <i>How God Changes Your Brain,</i> authors Dr.
Andrew Newberg and Mr. Mark Robert Waldman cite a <st1:place><st1:placename>Baylor</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype></st1:place> study done in
conjunction with the <st1:city>Gallup</st1:city>
organization. The sample interviewed included: Evangelicals, mainline and black
Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, adherents to all types of
beliefs and those with no religious/church affiliation at all. The research
revealed that Americans tend to classify God's personality as one of these
four: authoritarian, critical, distant and benevolent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Only twenty-three percent view God as <i>"gentle,
forgiving and less likely to respond with wrath"</i> (pg. 110 kindle
version). Furthermore this group viewed God as being personally involved in
their lives, listening and responding to prayers and deeply concerned about
those who suffer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With statistics like this is there any surprise that some
Christians find Christianity (the religion) pure drudgery? After all, who gets
excited about a road trip to visit a cranky, mean old relative? A root canal's
more preferable. It would be encouraging if Christians comprised that
twenty-three percent who viewed God favorably - but that's not the case.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why not?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is it any wonder why people stay away in droves from the
angry, retributive God fostered by much of the church today? Yet, when exposed
to Jesus, they're captivated by Him because, by His own admission, He is the
living example of God the Father. In His day Jesus was a radical departure from
what His contemporaries were being forced-fed in their religious traditions.
Christ turned no one away, good or bad. He never condoned wrong behavior
because what we do and how we live matters. However, He never made a person's
present life condition a barrier that prevented fellowship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's time to take a serious look at God through the lens of
Jesus. Doing so can cause a major upheaval of our assumptions concerning the
nature of God and His method of dealing with mankind. This can also transform our
quest to know God into an exciting, festive pilgrimage as opposed to a torturous,
frustrating journey.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? How would you honestly evaluate your
relationship with God? Is it what motivates you to get up each morning, curious
to discover what the day will bring? Or, does it make you want to pull the
covers up over your head because you're too tired and disappointed to go any
further? Are you part of the twenty-three percent minority who look at God in a
favorable light or the majority who do not?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Life will always present unexpected challenges. Whether we
believe in God or not is important. What we believe He is like matters a great
deal. If you're part of the majority who harbor a negative opinion of God,
here's a suggestion. Get a new roadmap, one that will guide you on a journey to
discover the Jesus-kind of Father God. Pack you bags and get ready for the road
trip of a lifetime.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, Mine Elect, in
whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon Him; He shall bring forth
judgment to the Gentiles" Isaiah 42:1.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Judgment to the Gentiles, according to Jesus, looked nothing
like what those of His day and even some Christians today envision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During His ministry Christ endured more opposition from His
own than from the Gentiles. A careful look at his travel itinerary reveals He
spent a good deal of time outside the confines of Jewish territory, which often
proved to be more hospitable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When encountering the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus
passed judgment. The woman's background was sketchy. His verdict...she was the perfect
candidate to be His first evangelist. Despite her past history and the fact
that women weren't permitted to give testimony to anything, even if they were
eyewitnesses, Jesus believed she fit the bill. And He was right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><st1:city>Gadara</st1:city> is
Gentile country. Upon arrival, the warning to avoid the uncontrollable demoniac
was promptly ignored. Once again, Jesus passed judgment, this time on the man's
condition. It was unacceptable and had to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, free from the possession that had robbed him of a
meaningful life, Jesus had a new plan for the man. For a number of reasons he
couldn't join Christ's roving band, but there was a more important role for
this former crazy man to play. Traveling around the area, this newly hatched
evangelist could tell all who would listen about God's power to heal and love
demonstrated by his own miraculous deliverance. When Jesus returned the crowds
were waiting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the disciples, bless their hearts, this had to be
confusing. Jews harbored real deep-seated animosity toward Gentiles and even
more toward Samaritans. Had Jesus' ministry occurred in the <st1:place>Deep
South</st1:place> after the Civil War, His followers would have been culture
shocked for sure. Jesus wouldn't have ignored the freed slaves, the
Carpetbaggers, the Yankee soldiers and other Northerners now in the South.
Strong feelings of prejudice and superiority would have quickly surfaced and been
challenged as they were in Christ's day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Matt 12:17-21 records Jesus' quotation of a familiar passage
in Isaiah 42. However, in His version the prophet's declaration is altered.
According to Isaiah, God's Servant wouldn't rest until law and order was
established. In particular, in His cross-hairs, were the Gentiles upon whom the
Law would be imposed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus felt free to correct Isaiah's misunderstanding of
Christ's role as the Servant. God already had one nation trying to keep the Law
as a means of establishing and maintaining a relationship with Him. And it
wasn't working. Jesus was unwilling to put the burden of the Law on anyone,
including the Gentiles. <i><span style="color: #660000;">"In His name the Gentiles will trust."
Matt. 12:21.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's still the same today. God's not looking to exclude but
to include all in His family. Sin is already forgiven and everyone's already
reconciled back to Him. The only ones disqualified, so to speak, are those who
decline His invitation. And like every good parent, God will deal with our
problems and issues, but as Jesus demonstrated, it won't be with a heavy hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? From a Biblical standpoint, what does
judgment look like to you? Is it always harsh and punitive? As a believer will
that type of action draw you closer to God or send you heading to the exits?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">God's all inclusive nature was hard for the Jews during
Jesus' day to accept, but it's not like that now. Or is it? God doesn't want anyone left
out, so we better enlarge our nets, look for fresh, different bait and expect a
bigger, more interesting and diverse catch. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"YHVH said to Abram:
'I am El Shaddai. Walk before me and be perfect'" Gen. 17:1</span>.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A female! Could he believe
his ears? This invisible deity Who had called Abram to forsake family and
familiar wasn't a warrior like the god's of his culture, but was a woman? What
other surprises did this God have up her sleeve?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If this reference to God as
feminine rankles your religious sensibilities - blame Him. God's the one who
identified Himself as the Many-breasted One.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ancient cultures had their
versions of fertility goddesses usually depicted as a woman with many breasts...
kinda creepy actually. These deities were considered the source of good crops,
prolific flocks and most importantly, offspring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An image of a nurturing deity
responsible for life's provision wasn't unusual for Abram. However, living in a
strong patriarchal society and having an invisible God (which was a stretch in and
of itself) Who was female must have been very unsettling. God just loves
upsetting our ideas of how things should be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to Ex. 6:2-3, El
Shaddai was the only name God chose to reveal Himself by until Moses was given
the name YHWH which suggested God's absolute self-sufficiency. Why the switch?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Starting with Abram, God
began the birthing process of the nation of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>. At the Exodus the child, so to speak, was delivered
and now in need of a father, hence the name change. This never implied a
pantheistic form of theology, rather it was an unfolding of a deeper
understanding of the complex nature of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For any in the birthing
process (spiritual and otherwise) God understands the rigors of pregnancy. He
can relate to the initial elation of knowing there's a child on the way and how
that can fade when the unborn child's growth makes life very difficult and
uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He knows the feeling of
uncertainty concerning the unknown delivery date. Will the birth be quick and
relative pain free or long, arduous or even dangerous? Mother's of the
world say "Amen!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One need only go back a few
chapter to the beginning in Genesis to see God's identification with the female
sex. Man was <i>created <span style="color: #660000;">"in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them" Gen. 1:27.</span></i> Adam initially possessed this dual
nature like God's until it was separated out of him with Eve's creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To be clear, God is neither
male nor female - He is Spirit and the source of both sexes. Therefore, He is
capable of being either Father or Mother depending on the need and
circumstances. He understands both men and women so all have someone who really
gets them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? How does God's
feminine nature sit with you? Does it bring you comfort or make you want to
squirm? It's in the Bible. So, how will this truth impact how you relate to
God? If you're in the process of bringing something to birth take heart that
God really knows what you're going through.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you
say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and
sinners'"</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">Luke 7:34.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus, as the Son of Man, did much to upset people's notions
of how the Son of God should behave. Claiming God as His Father was at least
controversial and at worse scandalous. If He was God's Son, He certainly wasn't
a chip off the 'Old Block'.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At least some thought He wasn't.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a traveling rabbi invitations of hospitality could come from
a broad spectrum of people. Being hosted was a demonstration of
honor. However, being the guest of someone deemed undesirable or untouchable
was this person's way of showing respect and honor for someone they esteemed more
worthy than themselves. Such invitations might raise an eyebrow or two, but who
knew. Perhaps this young rabbi just might rub off of on the low lifes to their
betterment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However Jesus didn't just eat with the riff-raff. The
problem - He threw parties for them! This was over-the-top unacceptable to the religious
authorities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In his two books <i>Poet & Peasant </i>and <i>Through
Peasant Eyes</i> author Kenneth E. Bailey extensively explores the cultural
roots of Luke's parables. Bailey notes that casual associations with sinners,
including eating at their homes, weren't out of the norm for a rabbi. However it wasn't customary. So what upset the Pharisees so much about Jesus' social
schedule?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hosting publicans and sinners meant He showed
honor to these individuals. At the event, Jesus would have been expected to extend the
guest(s) of honor His utmost respect and to laud them to all those in
attendance. Unthinkable!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, this still happens today. God is portrayed as
aloof from and completely cut off from sinners. The thought that He'd welcome
them with open arms is repugnant. Certainly God has standards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Indeed He does.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God sees everyone as already reconciled, therefore, all are
welcome. This may offend some Christian's sensibilities because after all, God
is holy. He can't be around sin or sinners. Either God never got our memo concerning this, or if He did, He chose to ignore it, pitching it into
the celestial trashcan where it belongs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus' mode of hospitality may have driven his neighbor's
crazy and their property values down, however, Heaven is filled to the brim
with earth's undesirables. They are now citizens of good standing in the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place>. Those who accept His
invitation find the welcome mat is always out and the relationship's already
restored.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? If Jesus lived next door and regularly threw
house parties for those you deemed unworthy, how would you react? What message
would your response convey about your understanding of God's character and
nature, and His choice of friends? Would you find His "open door"
policy towards sinners reprehensible and if so, why?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">God is looking to include not exclude. Can we as His
ambassadors here on earth do any less? </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="https://twitter.com/MaryAgrusa" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @MaryAgrusa</a>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></div>MaryAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07151669752030074109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030481199542607541.post-77252648268616074652017-10-10T06:42:00.000-07:002017-10-10T06:42:10.396-07:00Silverware<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never
be thirsty'" John </i><st1:time hour="18" minute="35"><i>6:35</i></st1:time></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwygmsPuS9_-fvmSyM5c0PW1yuTAdLBR1SYop_OfUSzozGx0t4hKxRPrI9JiRzTrC9CHhsP2tP9a_Hw-3XU9RXm3e-3NL75ni5oIRtTTtW3R7wInWl_FcWnMOLRuokG_IWRZmg7bpu9aTA/s1600/silverware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwygmsPuS9_-fvmSyM5c0PW1yuTAdLBR1SYop_OfUSzozGx0t4hKxRPrI9JiRzTrC9CHhsP2tP9a_Hw-3XU9RXm3e-3NL75ni5oIRtTTtW3R7wInWl_FcWnMOLRuokG_IWRZmg7bpu9aTA/s320/silverware.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes we refer to sharing a meal as the <i>breaking of
bread</i>. In Jesus' time this phrase had a richer and more practical meaning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Typically, when we eat we apportion individual servings from
a common dish onto our plate. Some occasions, such as chips and salsa, require
all to plunge their portion into a communal bowl and hence the warning,
"No double dipping!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus and his contemporaries would have been well acquainted
with the need to refrain from said practice. Their meals were served
like our chips and salsa. There were no individual portions. Everyone ate from
the same pot. To avoid contamination diners used an particular type of
silverware - a piece of bread.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Bread was not the meal. Bread is the knife, fork and
spoon with which the meal was eaten." Kenneth E. Bailey, Poet and Peasant,
pg 123.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life in John
6:35 He wasn't equating Himself to just a primary source of sustenance, but also as the
role of bread as Middle Eastern flatware. He is the absolute main utensil in
order to partake of everything needed for life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Jesus as our <i>silverware </i>we're never a source of
contamination to ourselves or others. In addition, Middle Eastern bread is
typically either seasoned to compliment the meal or salted in order to enhance
the food's flavor. As our bread, Jesus adds flavors to our life and prevents it
from becoming ho-hum and boring.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a Middle Eastern meal the one without bread goes hungry.
Everything needed to meet one's needs and satisfy one's hunger is so close-but
inaccessible. This is true of life. Without Jesus as our means to consistently
receive nourishment - we die.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just as the diner's portion of bread was torn from the loaf in
order to provide access to the food, Christ's body was torn so we can access
real life through Him. Communion reminds us of this and provides the
opportunity to re-<i>member</i> with Him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? How does Jesus as your silverware enhance the
fares life serves you? How does He add zest and flavor particularly to those
portions we'd just as soon skip over? With him as the main facilitator of all
we ingest, what does this say about being contamination free?</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="https://twitter.com/MaryAgrusa" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @MaryAgrusa</a>
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<i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255);"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one
that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not
God; for God is love. </span></span></i><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">1 John 4:7-8.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These
Scriptures are indelibly burned into my brain compliments of Psalty, a series
of children's recordings. My now adult daughter had the full compilation and
several songs from them are available on instant replay in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently, in an encounter with God, He asked for an accounting of my understanding of
love's definition. Immediately I remembered these verses from 1 John and I
premised my response based on the fact that God is love. </span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every
word that I could think of that defined love I attributed to God as a facet of
His character.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God
is good, kind, compassionate, long-suffering, patient and non-judgmental, just
for starters. In addition He is joy, peaceful, pleasant, easy-to-get-along
with, playful, funny and cheerful. God convicts and corrects without a hint of
condemnation. The more I contemplated the question the more I realized how much
I underestimated what true love and God are really like.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
was a bit disheartened. I realized that the in breadth of my understanding of
love, I haven't understood or experienced God in the totality of any of them.
Not only do I not live in their full expression personally, but also I see how
little I comprehend them as part of God's nature. He's so much more than I can imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Entering
the pool of God's love, metaphorically speaking, is like plunging into the deep
end. It's vast and can't be fathomed. Meditating on the individual words I used
to describe love revealed depths I'd not explored before. These attributes of
God run far deeper than my superficial attempts to understand and live them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
know God didn't design this as an exercise in frustration. This was, as it
turns out, an exploration in wonder and a chance to ponder more fully His
majesty. Trying to unpack the totality of Him as love personified revealed
layer upon layer of richness. I'm still delving deeper and there's no hint of a
bottom in sight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? How do you describe love? How
does it correlate to the personhood of God? So much greater than words can
express and our ability to grasp, God who is love can keep our hearts and heads
engaged in divine conversations on this subject for a long, long time. Even
eternally.</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="https://twitter.com/MaryAgrusa" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @MaryAgrusa</a>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest" Matt. </i><st1:time hour="11" minute="28"><i>11:28</i></st1:time></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #660000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJS5y7f4QDr7886AvUtrx2xOV4I-Idcm7ZdoVy9MoZBz-9JZVbJeLRStmiHHXAUgl0bwJ_eAvfwa_MxedCXFN2WvGo61JIcjYOH1bIJoYEX_VLEE13M4_wMvql8jr_g8uB1ByQ5CDSXgi/s1600/street+person.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="340" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJS5y7f4QDr7886AvUtrx2xOV4I-Idcm7ZdoVy9MoZBz-9JZVbJeLRStmiHHXAUgl0bwJ_eAvfwa_MxedCXFN2WvGo61JIcjYOH1bIJoYEX_VLEE13M4_wMvql8jr_g8uB1ByQ5CDSXgi/s320/street+person.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Under the Overpass</i> chronicles Mike Yankoski's
adventures as a "homeless" person. Following God's specific directive
and accompanied by his friend Sam, the pair resided in six cities spread
throughout the country in six months.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Throughout their journey Mike and Sam became intimately
acquainted with the difficulties of street life: lack of food and water,
maintaining decent hygiene, constant exposure to all kinds of weather and the
ever present threat of danger. Worst of all was the invisibility. Being ragged
and dirty made it easy for people to pretend they didn't exist...including
Christians. On more than one occasion Mike and Sam were made to feel unwelcome
- even in church.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite the hardships, the pair knew their situation was
only temporary. They marveled how those they met endured the harsh living
conditions, rejection and loneliness for years on end. To the pair's dismay the church, which should have been a beacon of hope, often piled additional
guilt and condemnation on the already beaten down men and women.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To prepare for life on the streets both men spent time in
separate urban residential rehab centers. Only those in charge knew their real
situation but the rest of the staff and residents didn't. In addition to
mandatory assigned chores, daily chapel service attendance was required.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The theme of their
message rarely varied - and it always began with bad news...I couldn’t help
wondering why the speakers so often focused on the 'hell, fire and damnation'
theme and so little on hope, joy, love, peace or really anything positive. Did
the speaker assume to be homeless or addicted meant that you're definitely on
the road to hell and only scare tactics matter now?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Think about it. If you see
someone dangling precariously off a cliff you might warn them about falling to
his death but it would make more sense to throw him a rope.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>Jesus did thunder warning of
suffering and condemnation, but primarily to those who were convinced they were
healthy and had no need of Him. To the weak, diseased, hungry and sin-bound He
had another message. 'Come to me, all who are weary and burdened' (Matt. </i><st1:time hour="11" minute="28"><i>11:28</i></st1:time></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">)." Under the Overpass</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One doesn't need to scour the highways and byways to find
desperate, broken, hungry, and addicted down-trodden people. We rub shoulders
with them all the time. They sometimes dress nice, smell good and appear
respectable. You'll find them in the pews and seats of churches every time the
doors are open. They too can benefit from a message that declares God's love
for those who are struggling with life. Some of these are also dangling off the
cliff, hanging on by mere threads. They need a rope, not a sermon on how much
worse life's about to get. The Gospel is supposed to be good news, isn't it?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? Given the chance to share with those
demonstrably down on their luck, what would you say? If you were in their
place, what would you need to hear? Who do you know that looks
"normal" but is struggling? It's not just the homeless and addicted.
What do you say to them? What do they need more a life line or a threat?</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="https://twitter.com/MaryAgrusa" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @MaryAgrusa</a>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></div>MaryAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07151669752030074109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030481199542607541.post-82801541056707877442017-09-19T08:27:00.000-07:002017-09-19T08:27:40.898-07:00He'll Keep The Light On For You<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPDRPTkEMMYMOkbRwyLkmtBBzmfmw1VBKp-6yd6tOotApEUpXjA1oDoY2K1H3MPneMJmjCOVeSQmjYFBZSVwQDfN1DIDagYY8O-WjirOINCv7Uag5MW2P_o9SXkBQ27tvGxDDkKcxvF_5/s1600/lamp+in+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPDRPTkEMMYMOkbRwyLkmtBBzmfmw1VBKp-6yd6tOotApEUpXjA1oDoY2K1H3MPneMJmjCOVeSQmjYFBZSVwQDfN1DIDagYY8O-WjirOINCv7Uag5MW2P_o9SXkBQ27tvGxDDkKcxvF_5/s1600/lamp+in+window.jpg" /></a><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"And having driven out the man, He stationed at the
East of the Garden of Eden the cherubim, and the flame of the ever turning
sword to<b> guard</b> the way to the Tree of Life" Gen. 3:24 Tanach
(emphasis mine).</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ever wonder how the focus of this verse appears to be on God's
way of keeping Adam and Eve away from the Tree of Life and out of the Garden?
What if that wasn't His intent at all?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">True, in their present condition, God was unwilling to risk
the couple eating from the Tree of Life. Mercifully, He prevented them from
remaining eternally as they were. The pair at this point expressed no remorse
for disobeying God's directive, nor did they take responsibility for what
they'd done. Eve blamed the serpent that wouldn't have been there if God hadn't
created snakes. Adam blame Eve, which was God's fault since He had created her.
If there was any design flaws in the plan, the blame was the Creator's.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even sadder, the duo never voiced disappointment or sorrow over the disruption of the once very intimate relationship they shared with
God. Still, He wasn't about to give up so easily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The word <i>guard</i> is the primitive Hebrew root shamar which
means to keep, observe, heed, preserve, beware, mark, watch, regard and save.
Interestingly it doesn't convey any idea of erecting barriers to keep people
out. In contrast, it speaks of preserving and maintaining a way back in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Similar to the bush Moses stumbled on that was engulfed in
flame but was unharmed, here the ever-turning sword was enwrapped (lahat,
Hebrew for encircling fire) with flames.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John the Baptist was adamant. He wasn't the Promised One.
John didn't even feel worthy enough to unlatch the sandal of God's Chosen One.
He did however, alert his followers that he was preparing the way for the One
who would baptize - not with water but with the Spirit and with fire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hebrews <st1:time hour="16" minute="12">4:12</st1:time>
describes the only way back to the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Garden</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place> in <st1:city>Eden</st1:city>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"For the Word of God is alive and active, sharper
than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to the dividing of soul and
spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and intents of the
heart."</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many in Christianity attribute this verse to the Bible,
however when written, the Bible didn't exist. To the early church the Word of
God was none other than Jesus Himself. He is The Word of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God and the Word was God" John 1:1.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition, Jesus made claim to being the exclusive way
back to God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gen. 3:24 doesn't describe access to the Tree of Life as
being permanently closed - quite the contrary. The flaming sword lights the way
back in. Provision was made to ensure that entrance was always easily accessible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 3 that passage through the flames
establishes the validity of our efforts. Only the gold, silver and precious stones survive. Hebrews 4 reminds us that this
includes our thoughts and motives. Some things won't survive the flames. Paul
wrote that some <span style="color: #660000;"><i>"will suffer loss, he himself will be saved, but only
as one escaping the flames" 1 Cor. </i><st1:time hour="15" minute="15"><i>3:15</i></st1:time>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fire of God refines, it doesn't destroy. Although
unpleasant it's to be embraced and not feared. Receiving conviction and heeding
His correction can prevent additional mistakes and blunders going forward not
to mention additional wood, hay and stubble. Our flesh and soul won't like it,
but out spirit will thank us for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? When was the last time that you asked Jesus,
the Word of God, to evaluate your thoughts, actions and motives? How would you
describe the experience? What surprises did submitting to God's review of your
life and work reveal? Would it be better to know now and make changes than
experience the fate Paul described above? With Christ as our Judge and Baptizer
with fire we can be assured that the refining process will bring out the very
best in us.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCh3pmKaUYDAxQbgUJnTLIAHPZvDlFhOHgWvUt9c-hf6kjXyD_RDE-x258_SPI564IBjKmj8qDHrFHQU4W7U0Ij9_l2GuAfD7XfRy5dyYIbc-qtF_v2Ocs9AtBJA7iB_od0y8g0egKN7a/s1600/trash+can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCh3pmKaUYDAxQbgUJnTLIAHPZvDlFhOHgWvUt9c-hf6kjXyD_RDE-x258_SPI564IBjKmj8qDHrFHQU4W7U0Ij9_l2GuAfD7XfRy5dyYIbc-qtF_v2Ocs9AtBJA7iB_od0y8g0egKN7a/s1600/trash+can.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet
to have taken hold of it. But one think I do: forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Phil. 3:13-14.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul was a neat-nik. He promoted a personal program of
year-round continuous spring cleaning. Childish things (1 Cor. <st1:time hour="13" minute="11">13:11</st1:time>), bitterness, rage, anger, brawling,
slander, and malice (Eph. <st1:time hour="16" minute="31">4:31</st1:time>) were
relegated to the trash can regularly. Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil
desires, greed and idolatry (Col. 3:5) were deemed rubbish and dealt with
accordingly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul and other biblical writers weren't promoting
self-improvement regimens. Eliminate A, B, and C and your life will be happier,
healthier and more productive. That's not the point. If not careful, all
of our lives get cluttered with non-essentials. We have homes full of stuff and
storage units to house the overflow of yesterday's must haves. Paul and others
recognized that hanging onto old junk in our personal lives leaves less room
for what is important and vital for life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In his book, <i>Prayer - Does it Make a Difference?</i>
Philip Yancey explores the topic of unworthiness and its impact on our prayer
life. Often this type of feeling is rooted in the very things Paul urges us to
kick to the curb. To illustrate, Yancey quotes an anonymous fourteenth-century
author's book, <i>The Cloud of the Unknowing.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Before penetrating the cloud of the unknowing above
us," he said, "we may need to imagine a 'cloud of forgetting' beneath
us. Forget past failures, forget recurring sins, forget feelings of
inferiority, and instead open your mind to God, who cannot fill what has not
been emptied." (pg 185).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taking out the trash opens up more space for God to occupy
comfortably. We don't want Him to feel restricted, having to wiggle around our
old habits, mindsets and lifestyles which reduce the volume He wants to pour
into us. God wants us to see and understand from His perspective. He want us to
be just like Him. This happens when we make a clean sweep. Out with the old to
make room for the new.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, this is harder to do than to talk about. Look
around you. How much useless stuff is hanging around your house? You neither
need it or use it, but...you can't part with it. In some cases it's broken and
beyond repair, but you still won't let it go. Why? What's the problem?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the same way that pitching out old household items is a
measure of identity loss, so is discarding old ways of thinking and behaving.
If we get rid of these </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">leftovers, who are we? Empty space can seem scary.
This is, however, what faith is all about. We trust God to replace our debris
with something very valuable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? What's cluttering up your life and
restricting God from taking a more expansive role. Why are you hanging onto
thing which are unnecessary and don't work anymore? Don't you think it's time
to finally take out the trash?</span> </div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"So I say to you: 'Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you'." Luke
11:9.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"If you could ask Me one question about anything,
what would it be?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Usually I'm the one making requests of God, but this time it
was His turn. I was speechless.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"What did You say?"</i> I inquired. I needed
clarification.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"If you could ask Me one question about anything,
what would it be?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My initial reaction was how I could frame my question that would
allow me more than just ONE question. However, that's wishing and wishes aren't
questions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"About ANYTHING?"</i> I had to be sure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Yes, anything."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of all the questions I've pondered over the years nothing
came to mind. With a limit of one I had to make this question count.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I need to think about this."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What an odd position to be in - keeping God Almighty waiting
for my decision. Worst of all, I couldn't think of the most important thing I
wanted to know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've often wondered what His favorite color might be. My
guess is green because there's so much of it everywhere. Why do giraffes have
such large necks? What did creation look like? What is the purpose of
mosquitoes and roaches? How did you dream up everything you've made? I've
wondered about these and more, but this was for real. What did I really have to
know?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What never crossed my mind were questions about my natural
life. What's the winning lottery number? How can I make a lot of money? What
will make me a best selling author, an in-demand speaker or even a decent
day-trader. No, how about a super day trader. This opportunity was too
important to waste on trivial matters like these.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally I spoke. I told God the one thing, more than
anything else that I wanted to know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"What do I have to do</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> or change so I can see and
understand the way You do?"</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Technically,"</i> God laughed, <i>"that's
more than one question."</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Work with me on this,"</i> I replied<i>.
"I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts into words. I want to be able
to see and understand things from Your perspective and not my limited sphere of
knowledge."<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Silence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God didn't say one word. I didn't take this as a <i>"No!"</i>
My question can't be answered verbally. I'll have to experience it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm confident I don't really know what I asked for.
Discovering the answer may be harder than I've imagined. It might hurt a bit
too. Still, to be able to see with His eyes and understand with His heart will
transform me into a more loving, compassionate, patient and joyful person than
I could ever work up on my own. I'll be just like my Dad. What more could a
girl ask for?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? If you could ask God one question about
anything - what would it be?</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their
children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; <b>or else</b> I
will come and strike the land with a curse" Mal. 4:6 (emphasis mine).</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last verse of the Old Testament ends on an ominous note.
It's as if we're given an ultimatum. Not so in the Tanach, the Jewish Old
Testament which ends very differently. Second Chronicles is the last book in
the Tanach and its last verse contains an invitation to come and rebuild
the <st1:city>Temple</st1:city>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>"Thus says Cyrus king of </i><st1:country-region><st1:place><i>Persia</i></st1:place></st1:country-region><i>:
Hashem, God of Heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has
commanded me to build Him a temple in </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>Jerusalem</i></st1:place></st1:city><i>,
which is in </i><st1:country-region><st1:place><i>Judah</i></st1:place></st1:country-region></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">.
Whoever is there among you of His people - may Hashem His God be with him, and
let him go up!" 2 Chron. 36:23.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Similar to the end of Revelation, the Jewish Old Testament
ends with a call to return to God and with words of hope - not gloom and doom.
Interesting. What's particularly fascinating is that God gave Cyrus, a Gentile
king, the mandate to rebuild the <st1:city>Temple,</st1:city> not the Jewish religious elite. From the Bible we know that only a small
portion of the exiles elected to leave <st1:city>Babylon</st1:city>
to join the reconstruction program.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a result of their rebellion against Babylonian rule, the
Jews saw their capital <st1:city>Jerusalem</st1:city>
completely dismantled. Every building was leveled. Those returning faced harsh living
conditions. There was no protective wall, and the only housing and businesses
standing were those rebuilt and occupied by those left in the land after the
exile. Still, for those who came back it was the fulfillment of a cherished dream, "Next year in <st1:city>Jerusalem</st1:city>."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This scenario is a beautiful type and shadow of Christ's
coming. Although Herod's magnificent temple was in place and Judaism was
recognized by <st1:city>Rome</st1:city> things were a
far cry from God's original intent. Most importantly, the Ark of the Covenant,
the physical manifestation of the presences of God was missing. Without it, the
temple was just an empty shell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, God showed up - in person - and spent most of His
time outside the temple proper and none of it in the Holy of Holies. He was too
busy roaming out among the people, both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus proceeded to
dismantle the old way of relating to God and replaced it with something new and
better. Once again, the King put out a call for volunteers to come and join a
building program.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I marvel at the difference of the two Old Testament endings.
To me, Christianity's version echoes the too familiar "conversion by
threat" similar to Islam's "conversion by the sword." The Jewish
translation closes with an invitation to a co-operative effort between Jews and
Gentiles to rebuild God's house. I like their's better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? Which ending, from an evangelistic
standpoint, would be more inviting? Which end do you think more accurately
reflects God's heart toward mankind? Which of the two are you more comfortable
with?</span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ix8ddosjg-k/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ix8ddosjg-k?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"...Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you;
or thirsty and we gave you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in, or need clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or
in prison and go to visit you?" Matt. 25:37.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both the sheep and the goats were baffled. When had they
encountered the Lord and had opportunity to minister to Him? Jesus' description
of receiving personal attention revolved around mundane tasks. He didn't
mention pulpit ministry, evangelistic crusades, bible studies, worship services
or marathon all-night prayer meetings. These are all good when the motive
behind them is right and God is directing the action. But, none of these made
the list.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The goats couldn't honestly recall any such events because
there weren't any. Maybe, if Jesus showed up with neon arrows pointing Himself
out, they'd have responded...perhaps. He was present in the hungry, thirsty,
sick, naked and imprisoned, but to the goats, they and the Lord were invisible.
Why?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The goats may have been preoccupied with their own
situation, which is easy enough to do. If they were looking for good returns on
capital outlays, which isn't a bad thing in and of itself, these categories have
nothing to offer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just as flummoxed were the sheep. They too missed the Lord
when they ministered to the needy. Not interested in gaining recognition or
favor, the sheep did what appeared to be the only logical response to the
situation. They gave, and with no strings attached.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both groups were repaid in kind for their investments. The
goats gave nothing and received nothing in return. The sheep on the other hand
were rewarded with more than then cost of any personal inconvenience suffered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What strikes me most is the sheep's utter amazement that they'd
been ministering to Jesus all along. They're actions weren't spectacular, but
were the humane response to someone in a jam. They may have assumed that anyone
faced with someone in crisis would have acted the same way. They were mistaken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes it's hard to believe that our life counts for
anything, let alone making an impact for the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place>. Most believers won't have
their names recorded in the annuals of church history. Our lives and
contributions will be recognized and remembered by few if at all. We'll come
and go and hardly anyone will notice...but. The One Who matters doesn't miss a
thing. To Him, little things mean a lot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? When was the last time you may have
unconsciously ministered to Jesus? Can you make kindness and generosity a game
of Treasure Hunt? How often can you find Christ disguised as someone in need
that you can help? This can be the most fun you'll ever have.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">p.s. Hope you enjoyed the vintage Keith Green video. I date myself by including it here.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">Jesus told his disciples, "There was a rich man
whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and
asked him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your
management, because you cannot be a manager any longer.'" </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">Luke 16:1-2.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I confess, this parable always had me stumped. Author Robert
Farrar Capon calls it "the hardest parable." Space doesn't permit me
to share all his insights, but I'll blend a little of his with a dash of my own
and maybe the mix will be more than duck soup. To begin with, Capon equates
Jesus with the manager in question.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The opening lines of the story are what tripped me up. I assumed
the manager was a crook. However, it says he was accused of being corrupt, but not
that he actually was. I see this portion of the parable centering around the
relationship between Jesus and the religious establishment, who considered
themselves the masters of all things concerning God. Just like the manager in
the story, Jesus refused to defend himself of the charges leveled against Him while He stood before the High Priest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus, the upstart young whippersnapper had the audacity to
refer to God as Father...even worse, as <i>His </i>Father. Rather than curry
their favor and good graces by promoting the </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">establishment's agenda, Jesus</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </i><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">wasted</span></i><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">time with the
people. All kinds of people. Many the likes of whom they'd wouldn't be caught
dead with. Bottom line-He had to go. Jesus couldn't care less. He was on a
mission from the real Master - His Heavenly Father. His methodology was more in
line with a shrewd businessman than a theologian.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bill collectors are hired to recoup unpaid debts. One way
this is accomplished is to arrange settlements for less than the amount owed.
The creditor doesn't suffer a total loss, the bill is cleared off the books and
both sides now start over with a clean slate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus, playing the role of the shrewd manager, approached
humanity on our level. He offers mankind a deal that's too good to pass up.
It's ridiculously unfair and one sided. We don't have to do anything but accept
that He's already squared the books with Father God. It's a win-win. We are
back in relationship with God (we always were but didn't realize it) Who gets
back what was stolen from Him and Jesus has a cadre of BFF's. Everyone is
happy. Well almost everyone. The religious establishment wasn't thrilled. The
One who really counts is ecstatic and that's all that matters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a master storyteller, Jesus crafted the gospel in terms
that the business world with its focus on profit, loss and the bottom line
could easily comprehend. It's a brilliant approach to reach a segment of the
population often ignored. The real Master's delight over the shrewd manager's
creative solution that averted a total loss mirrors our Father's enthusiastic
endorsement of the plan of salvation. No one could possibly afford to pay for
their sins, so Christ did it for us. Now we, who believed we are estranged from
God, discover we're not and that He's overjoyed to have our company back again.
Things are as they should always have been.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? How have you interpreted this parable? </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do you think of Jesus' application of
business principles to the Kingdom's method of operation? Intent on reaching
everyone, Jesus spoke in terms each segment of the population can understand.
What creative ways can you think of to share God's great news with others?</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of
soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees" John
18:2.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To arrest one unarmed man this was overkill; an excessive
use of force. However, Jesus was no ordinary individual.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The detachment of soldiers numbered around six hundred fully
decked out highly trained military men. According the Mark, those sent by the
religious leaders came with clubs and swords. These two groups, with the
addition of Judas represented an unholy trinity of world powers: government,
religion and humanity all aligned with a single purpose. Get rid of Jesus. Sound familiar?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In reality this wasn't even a contest or a fair fight.
Unruffled by the appearance of the wannabe rulers, Jesus calmly and casually
inquired, "Hey guys, who ya lookin' for?" as if He didn't already
know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Jesus of <st1:city>Nazareth</st1:city>."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I am He."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These simple words sent this entire crowd flat on their well
padded hind quarters. What would have occurred if He summoned up the angel army
or raised the "finger of God?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can imagine He may have been amused at the sight. Once
again he asked <i>The Dazed and Confused,</i> "Who'd ya say you were
lookin' for?" To their relief and amazement, He surrendered without
resistance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Delaying the inevitable would have dire consequences. There
was a party in the works and Jesus was determined that it wouldn't start even
one minute late. The next few hours would be murder, literally. The pain and
suffering - unimaginable. He would take the worst man had to dish out and all
of their sins. His physical, emotional and spiritual mettle would be strained
to the snapping point. However, He had a weapon that no one counted on...joy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"Who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame" Heb. 12:2.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally man would have concrete evidence of the sacrifice of
the Lamb made before creation's foundations were laid. This wasn't an after
thought to solve the problem of man's sin, but was a plan concocted before the
very formative stages of creation. The dilemma was solved before it ever
surfaced. Christ died for us before we had the chance to mess things up
royally. We were already reconciled with God. Time to demonstrate this truth in
the natural and then, let the party begin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, what's this got to do with the Triple Crown which is the
biggest annual event in <st1:country-region>U.S.</st1:country-region>
horseracing? Comprised of three races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes
and the Belmont Stakes, since it's inception only twelve horses have managed to
win them all and earn the Triple Crown. Actually, the horse get a big flower
wreath and a wonderful retirement package on a stud farm, not some gold ring
around its head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus ran his own version of the Triple Crown challenge.
Unlike the horses that rest after each week, Jesus completed His course in a
matter of hours. He racked up an impressive three victories over the world, religious
governmental systems and humanity- something never achieved since. He is the
Ultimate Triple Crown Winner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? How would you describe what Jesus was up against in the
garden? What do you think of His generous restraint of power? Why didn't He
demonstrate wrathful revenge then or from the cross? What does this tell us
about His confidence in His position as King of Kings and Lord of Lords or that
we can be sure the party started on time?</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="https://twitter.com/MaryAgrusa" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @MaryAgrusa</a>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman
took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the
dough" Matt. 13:33</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By now <i>The Shack</i> is no longer in theaters and
hopefully, the furor surrounding it has subsided. For the record, I saw it and
thoroughly enjoyed it. Paul Young is a good fiction writer who did an amazing
job describing his personal healing journey. Done, not as a doctrinal or
theological treatise, but in response to his wife's request, he penned
something special for their children. She had in mind an essay, he wrote a
book.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Never intended for publication, <i>The Shack</i> is an
example of how to do everything wrong to publish and market a book and <i>accidentally</i>
wind up with a bestseller. Since its release and now that of the movie, lines
of demarcation have been drawn over issues it raises. One in particular is the
depiction of God as a black woman! Perish the thought (and she doesn't speak
the King's English either). Paul Young, however, wasn't the first person to
describe God in a feminine form. Jesus beat him to the punch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I owe some of these insights to Robert Farrar Capon and his <i>book
Kingdom, Grace, Judgment: Paradox, Outrage and Vindication in the Parables of
Jesus</i>. It's his examination of the Parable of the Leaven that captured my
attention and got the wheels of my thought processes spinning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Let is simply be noted in passing that the
surrogate for God in this parable is a woman. Set that down with Jesus calling
Himself a mother hen." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Capon elaborates. The woman isn't a typical housewife
crafting a few loaves of artisanal bread for a dinner party. This lady is a
commercial baker doing what has in the past been considered men's work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The measure of flour (sáta) used is equivalent to ninety
pounds. Add in approximately forty-two cups of water and you'll have just over
one hundred pounds of bread dough. I've seen bakers mix this amount of
ingredients using heavy duty mixers. Doing this by hand would be a daunting
task, which is her methodology.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Capon's main point wasn't that God was portrayed as a female
baker, but in light of the uproar of Paul Young's depiction of God as a woman,
it's not as out in left field as his critics contend. It's ironic that the
initial encounter with the protagonist of <i>The Shack</i> and God involves
bread making.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"So God created man in his own image, in the image
of God He created Him, male and female He created them" Gen. 1:27.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God is spirit, neither male nor female, but He's free to
reveal Himself anyway He chooses. For those with father issues like Paul Young,
God took a more maternal approach to help him work through his painful,
traumatic past. It was successful and that's what's important.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition, the name of God El Shaddai means the All
Breasty One which is the picture of a nursing mother. Proverbs describes Wisdom
as a woman with God at Creation. Jesus is the Creator and is also called our
Wisdom. The word used for Holy Spirit in the Genesis account of creation is in
the female form. Apparently, God doesn't mind being associated with either sex
since He made them both.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? Does the idea of God portrayed in a feminine
role grate on your nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard? Do you find it
uncomfortable or strange that Jesus used women as symbols for God in the Parables of the Leaven
and the Lost Coin or likened Himself to a mother hen? Based on your past, could
you relate to God easier at times from a motherly perspective as opposed to a
fatherly one? God desires healing and intimacy with all creation and He'll go
to extraordinary lengths to make it happen.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCLbjcVjXPC31yNopsuzLe_Cn2SoZXquMuIJEb7pCKB4ZYLn1Qv_xLQUjEHjWhw5-lpsGxPQBmK9yJS2RKl3IDHnp3flmL9CGos9rHjod-vsDlGqFwuAowiPmDs1w9PADTwFxwjuHQZy_/s1600/bruce+almighty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCLbjcVjXPC31yNopsuzLe_Cn2SoZXquMuIJEb7pCKB4ZYLn1Qv_xLQUjEHjWhw5-lpsGxPQBmK9yJS2RKl3IDHnp3flmL9CGos9rHjod-vsDlGqFwuAowiPmDs1w9PADTwFxwjuHQZy_/s1600/bruce+almighty.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways" </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">Isaiah 55:8.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I recently watched <i>Bruce Almighty</i> and was pleased
that the producers got so much right on several levels. I tried to remember.
Was there as much uproar over God being portrayed as a black man (Morgan
Freeman was a great choice) as opposed to being a black woman like in The
Shack? I don't think so. The deeper message I saw portrayed in the movie is
what many in the Church really believe about God. They're deists. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"God is watching us...from a distance."</i> I
date myself. The song, <i>From a Distance</i> and made popular by Bette Midler
was sung in my church and no one, me included, jumped up and screamed,
"Heretic!" Deism teaches that God created Heaven and earth, put man
in charge and then stepped back and took a hands-off stance. We're on our own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is what happened to Bruce. Convinced he could do a
better job than God he gets the opportunity. The outcome is predictable. Bruce
misuses his power to get what he wants: revenge on bullies who beat him up, his
dog potty trained AND the coveted news anchor desk job.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Warned by God that he'll not be able to override anyone's
free will, Bruce discovers he's powerless to obtain the one thing that is
important and now out of his grasp - his girlfriend's love. His feeble attempt
to use supernatural persuasion only makes him look even more foolish in her
eyes. Through the whole ordeal Bruce learns how true Isaiah 55:8 is. When it
comes to thinking and acting like God, we're clueless.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me the most moving scene was when Bruce accepts a mop
from God. Together Bruce and God flow in perfect harmony like the unforced
rhythms of grace. Now partnered with God in what He's doing, Bruce works
together with Him to clean up the world's messes; so in sync it was as if they
are one. That's how relationship with God should be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the end, Bruce, just like God, is willing to release the
one he loves who no longer wants him. Bruce's transformation to being more like
God comes when he prays that his ex-girl will find happiness and love, even if
it isn't with him and releases her. Bruce learns the price of unconditional
love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't think those associated with the movie were
Christians but that was no barricade for God (maybe even a good thing). His
influence permeates everything, everywhere, even <st1:city>Hollywood</st1:city>.
Too bad I spent so many years boycotting movies in an attempt to be holy and
righteous. I missed out on seeing God work under the radar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you? Which movies gave you a fresh perspective
about God? Were you surprised when they didn't fall into the category labeled </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Christian</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Do you think God can use unbelievers to glorify Him? How does this change your
opinion about whom or what God can employ to get His point across?</span></div>
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