The coffee cup existence measures what is important by what holds its attention. Abram encountered many of the same conjectures in his day. People born of the false illusions were called pagans. Now under veiled acceptance, the pagans have all disappeared. But the cosmos resonated with a different drumbeat for Abram. He built altars to the Lord. The smoke rose to the heavens in a potent reminder that God is here despite all the evidence to the contrary. There is evil. Pagans are in the land. Life holds mysteries and dilemmas. But these do not erase God’s presence but serve as the reason for calling upon one’s God.
God sustained and strengthened Abram in the land of the kings. He was not to be wooed by their gifts and pledges. Desperation brings its own alliances. But Abram was to be spared. So in the midst of the kings, another king appears. He is Melchizedec—king of righteousness and king of peace. Here comes very wine and bread to remind of God’s nearness and presence. Here comes Real Communion to deliver grasping for tokens of the little kings. Who can compare to the Almighty? Worship speaks, “Double dare. Bully if you do.”
Worship is more than praising God. It bears His reality upon the days of man. It strives against the besetting circumstances. They no longer confound in the face of Glory. Abram received such a blessing. “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heavens and Earth.” The Lord may be supplanted in the heart of man in philosophy, religion, and science. But He will never be removed as Possessor of the Cosmos.
How did Abram respond? He would tell the king of Sodom that his tokens had no sway. Not a thread or sandal could ever be used to enrich God’s servant. But what is the typical response? Is it to turn to the Possessor of the heavens; to turn from the enshrinement of the “here and now”? Or do many instead reach for threads and sandal over the supposed misfortune of being steadfast? What happens when worship no longer inoculates against the persistent Now - when confessions come from worried hearts and hymns flow from minds fixed on the horizons of tomorrow and not on those grander eternal shores?
Friday, April 3, 2009
When does LIFE begin?
One of the transforming dimensions of the Gospel is how it approaches the “here and now” It comes with the hallelujah cry of “here and forever”. It speaks in contradiction to here and now thinking . The voices of today make their pronouncements. “Live for the moment.” “Grab it while you can.” And what does the Gospel say? “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life.” “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.” Life begins at a different point than what the world says.
Can you imagine my friend what it’s like to stumble out of the tomb? I shielded my eyes with my hands for the sunlight was too bright. The sky was this incredible blue, bluer than I had ever seen. The Light was shining in my world. A shadowy figure approached me. “Lazarus.” Immediately I knew who He was—my brother, my friend, my Lord. He reached out His hand and grabbed my shoulder. The Lord stood there with this fantastic grin. What an experience, to walk out of the tomb by the Power from on High, knowing your best Friend in all the world had brought you back to life. This was the Gospel in flesh and bone.
Set your mind on the things above and not on the things below. Man was warned for good reason. The cosmos can be a dangerous intersection. Attempts have been made to make God relevant to this world. But then God does not need to become relevant to this world. After all, He is the Divine Being, the Great I am. But it is this world and its timestamp that needs to be made relevant to God.
There is another world beyond this one. Ask me how I know! I had an idea before—but now, I really know. Coming back from the dead changes everything and it sure changed me. I am not the same Lazarus they put in the tomb. That old “Zee”, as my friends used to call me, was gone. I am a new person and very different from the one my friends used to know, including my sisters.
It is hard to argue against a time warp. Tell that to Mary and Martha. “Lord, You should have been there. You could have saved our brother.” The day I died hit my sisters very hard. They told me the story over and over again how they went to the Teacher. And they clearly did not understand what was happening. But the Teacher had planned all along that He would bring me back from the dead. “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” The world, including my two sisters, needed to see it.
This is the age of reason and enlightenment? Then when does life begin? I will tell you. It is when the Lord Creator, the power of the universe, Designer of the cosmos hits you right between the eyes. He gave me second life and I was not prepared for what was going to happen. This one startled me more than any other. And this is it. I no longer belonged to this world. I didn’t fit in. The full Gospel dimension that calls us from this life to the better life—the Life from on High, the great I Am life, had lifted me beyond all my earthly desires and worldly concerns.
Can you imagine my friend what it’s like to stumble out of the tomb? I shielded my eyes with my hands for the sunlight was too bright. The sky was this incredible blue, bluer than I had ever seen. The Light was shining in my world. A shadowy figure approached me. “Lazarus.” Immediately I knew who He was—my brother, my friend, my Lord. He reached out His hand and grabbed my shoulder. The Lord stood there with this fantastic grin. What an experience, to walk out of the tomb by the Power from on High, knowing your best Friend in all the world had brought you back to life. This was the Gospel in flesh and bone.
Set your mind on the things above and not on the things below. Man was warned for good reason. The cosmos can be a dangerous intersection. Attempts have been made to make God relevant to this world. But then God does not need to become relevant to this world. After all, He is the Divine Being, the Great I am. But it is this world and its timestamp that needs to be made relevant to God.
There is another world beyond this one. Ask me how I know! I had an idea before—but now, I really know. Coming back from the dead changes everything and it sure changed me. I am not the same Lazarus they put in the tomb. That old “Zee”, as my friends used to call me, was gone. I am a new person and very different from the one my friends used to know, including my sisters.
It is hard to argue against a time warp. Tell that to Mary and Martha. “Lord, You should have been there. You could have saved our brother.” The day I died hit my sisters very hard. They told me the story over and over again how they went to the Teacher. And they clearly did not understand what was happening. But the Teacher had planned all along that He would bring me back from the dead. “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” The world, including my two sisters, needed to see it.
This is the age of reason and enlightenment? Then when does life begin? I will tell you. It is when the Lord Creator, the power of the universe, Designer of the cosmos hits you right between the eyes. He gave me second life and I was not prepared for what was going to happen. This one startled me more than any other. And this is it. I no longer belonged to this world. I didn’t fit in. The full Gospel dimension that calls us from this life to the better life—the Life from on High, the great I Am life, had lifted me beyond all my earthly desires and worldly concerns.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Skullstackers in Sackcloth
40 days of purpose. 40 days of prayer. 40 days to find yourself. Just believe! That may work in some parts. But it won’t fly in any serious skull heaping metro. Slogans won’t turn this dead town around. If this is going to work, it will take something beyond a tee shirt to get the job done. Jonah’s dead man walking was a pretty good start.
Believe. It’s such an easy concept, especially for a hunkering bohemian whose appetite for destruction is not easily sated. It is easier to believe in black holes that swallow distant universes. Just how does one believe in phenomena that is not available on this planet? The new science is being heralded by the prophets. They are making discoveries from the Great Ocean of Truth before a lip smacking crowd dieing in anticipation. This was not the case for this wary lot in Ninevah. They would not fall for simple ostentation.
What is faith? How does one come to it? Can the hand reach and wrestle it from the Great Ocean of Truth? What would make a skull stacker consider a totally different view of life? Let those looking for a new universe also weigh the evidence. Here are skull stackers in sackcloth. No simple word of man brought this about. The king himself has spoken. Even the animals are to bear the sins and regrets of this forbidden land. This is a brand new cosmic constellation of the heavens.
Believe. It’s such an easy concept, especially for a hunkering bohemian whose appetite for destruction is not easily sated. It is easier to believe in black holes that swallow distant universes. Just how does one believe in phenomena that is not available on this planet? The new science is being heralded by the prophets. They are making discoveries from the Great Ocean of Truth before a lip smacking crowd dieing in anticipation. This was not the case for this wary lot in Ninevah. They would not fall for simple ostentation.
What is faith? How does one come to it? Can the hand reach and wrestle it from the Great Ocean of Truth? What would make a skull stacker consider a totally different view of life? Let those looking for a new universe also weigh the evidence. Here are skull stackers in sackcloth. No simple word of man brought this about. The king himself has spoken. Even the animals are to bear the sins and regrets of this forbidden land. This is a brand new cosmic constellation of the heavens.
"Worldlings We Are!"
“I came that you may have Life and have it abundantly.” Words really fail to grasp what the Good Shepherd offers. “Abundantly” is favored by some. But how many would claim to already have an abundant life? Of course, it is on their terms—BMW’s, stock options, executive salaries. What is offered here is more beyond-anything-you-can-think-of Life! It is the full Life, the plural Life that “I have come that you may have Life.” There is a difference between Life and existence. One can have existence and not be Alive. Isn’t that the message here? Worldlings have fallen for the illusion that this is all there is. They live by the dictates of fate and circumstance. These are their shepherds guiding in the pastures of here and now. The Great Ocean of Truth are dangerous waters. Better guides to man fallible senses are needed. The Good Shepherd steps forward. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
“Worldlings we are!” This is the confronting message of the Gospel. Man has settled for existence. He will build the towers of self-importance and create and define life according to his terms. Beware you brood of existentialists! The Good Shepherd speaks the only terms. “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” Quite the indictment is spoken across the Cosmos to man who is still trying to find himself in this universe. How many years have the earthlings pointed radar to listen to alternative messages from deep space? There is that deep and desperate hope that Man is not alone. Yet he lives for himself denying the influence of any Intelligent Creator? What an amazing contradiction.
“Worldlings we are!” This is the confronting message of the Gospel. Man has settled for existence. He will build the towers of self-importance and create and define life according to his terms. Beware you brood of existentialists! The Good Shepherd speaks the only terms. “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” Quite the indictment is spoken across the Cosmos to man who is still trying to find himself in this universe. How many years have the earthlings pointed radar to listen to alternative messages from deep space? There is that deep and desperate hope that Man is not alone. Yet he lives for himself denying the influence of any Intelligent Creator? What an amazing contradiction.
The Gerasenes Mk 5
Battles embitter. Egos escalate. Reason, like an archer, releases arrows of contempt. Strident horses bring their champions. What king ever walks away? They either conquer or die conquered. What king...just….walks away?
And all the people in that region begged...go away.
Such is the siege of the Gospel. It does not force itself upon the Gerasenes. They live taken over by the spirits of the age. Yes, they could see perhaps his benefits if they were living as madmen upon the tombstones and cutting themselves and following each other with constant curses.
But who thinks upon the grave when there is so much sanity to occupy and tomorrows to face? The Gerasense feared losing themselves in the contest with Jesus. It may have fared well for the demoniac. Tell others they can have Jesus if only they are willing to give up this life. See how quickly the Gerasene emerges. “Go away. Leave us alone.”
The sane and logical have the most to lose as all Gerasenes know. It is their cunning grasp of the now. They live by the momentary lapse of reason. They are most impressed by the hour. The possession of the demoniac was more obvious. But the possession of the Gerasense was just as insidious.
But the siege of the Gospel is quite different from all others. But then it comes from the heart of no ordinary king. The King has been asked to leave and so He leaves. At least they thought He was going away, that was the impression He gave. But He leaves something of Himself behind.
The crazy man who was now in his right mind, came to the only logical conclusion in town. Get out! The people had driven his Savior away. They were rushing headlong over the cliffs of time. What an impetuous lot they were.
Time possession. The signs are most telling. Calendars. Appointments. Desk planners. Alarms. Wrinkles.
“No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you.” The Gerasenses thought that they had had enough of Jesus. So Jesus leaves the madman behind. The Gospel was laying siege one madman at a time. How grateful the Gerasenses should have been. This was no ordinary king. No homage was demanded. Not a reed will He break. He calms the angry sea. He casts demons by command. And when the Gerasenes ask leave, He turns and takes a boat.
The Gospel counters the vision of the world with one of its own. The world is swayed by the now, the moment, time possession, fixation on what is before the eye. Who has not noticed this at the cemetery? Someone hits “pause”. It is a frightening moment for the Gerasenses and one they never get used to. Appointments have to be rescheduled. Usual routines are set aside.
Discontinuity pushes forward like a fat woman in a buffet line and pies upon pies are baked in some unreflective motion. Days are spent sharing tales of the madman among the relatives. And then something interesting happens. Someone once again “unpauses” and life resumes once more.
The madman was not to return to his family to discover what he had missed out on. “The neighbors down the street had a fire a year ago and last May one of the girls was married off in a spectacular affair.” Momma had a lot of catching up to do and she was game. But the prodigal from the cemetery had come home instead to tell his family what they had been missing their whole lives by a constant over focus on the now and hogs and making it big. Time possession.
And all the people in that region begged...go away.
Such is the siege of the Gospel. It does not force itself upon the Gerasenes. They live taken over by the spirits of the age. Yes, they could see perhaps his benefits if they were living as madmen upon the tombstones and cutting themselves and following each other with constant curses.
But who thinks upon the grave when there is so much sanity to occupy and tomorrows to face? The Gerasense feared losing themselves in the contest with Jesus. It may have fared well for the demoniac. Tell others they can have Jesus if only they are willing to give up this life. See how quickly the Gerasene emerges. “Go away. Leave us alone.”
The sane and logical have the most to lose as all Gerasenes know. It is their cunning grasp of the now. They live by the momentary lapse of reason. They are most impressed by the hour. The possession of the demoniac was more obvious. But the possession of the Gerasense was just as insidious.
But the siege of the Gospel is quite different from all others. But then it comes from the heart of no ordinary king. The King has been asked to leave and so He leaves. At least they thought He was going away, that was the impression He gave. But He leaves something of Himself behind.
The crazy man who was now in his right mind, came to the only logical conclusion in town. Get out! The people had driven his Savior away. They were rushing headlong over the cliffs of time. What an impetuous lot they were.
Time possession. The signs are most telling. Calendars. Appointments. Desk planners. Alarms. Wrinkles.
“No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you.” The Gerasenses thought that they had had enough of Jesus. So Jesus leaves the madman behind. The Gospel was laying siege one madman at a time. How grateful the Gerasenses should have been. This was no ordinary king. No homage was demanded. Not a reed will He break. He calms the angry sea. He casts demons by command. And when the Gerasenes ask leave, He turns and takes a boat.
The Gospel counters the vision of the world with one of its own. The world is swayed by the now, the moment, time possession, fixation on what is before the eye. Who has not noticed this at the cemetery? Someone hits “pause”. It is a frightening moment for the Gerasenses and one they never get used to. Appointments have to be rescheduled. Usual routines are set aside.
Discontinuity pushes forward like a fat woman in a buffet line and pies upon pies are baked in some unreflective motion. Days are spent sharing tales of the madman among the relatives. And then something interesting happens. Someone once again “unpauses” and life resumes once more.
The madman was not to return to his family to discover what he had missed out on. “The neighbors down the street had a fire a year ago and last May one of the girls was married off in a spectacular affair.” Momma had a lot of catching up to do and she was game. But the prodigal from the cemetery had come home instead to tell his family what they had been missing their whole lives by a constant over focus on the now and hogs and making it big. Time possession.
The Child King
Love came streaking across the skies of Dead Planet. A Child King would come to a most unlikely couple. A young virgin was to have a child. The Cosmos was ready to be born again. Here was news the heavens would declare with the shout of angels. A Babe was to bring a new kingdom. The Promise given in the Garden was stepping forth. The Word became flesh and dwelt among the inhabitants of this cold, dark world. The Light was about to shine. The One from beyond the stars would speak His golden words.
The God-among-man was here. I remember the first time I saw Him. He looked like one of us, dressed in the fashion of his day. But His Words of Life betrayed Him. This was no ordinary man from Judea circa 3 AD. He spoke in distant tones to this planet. There was no easy surrender. The dead world hypnosis with its “here and now” was going to be challenged. But who would listen? The Temple shouted its own tradition and reputations. It became a box of its own making. The new Herald of Eternity did not fit.
“Listen all you boxes of religion.” The other boxes received Him not. The big box of riches said He was too poor. The box of Now said His concerns were not important. The box of existence said things were fine just the way they were. All the boxes rejected Him and turned away. The Good News was that the Wonder of the universe cared little for the boxes and all their fine traditions. He was more concerned for the inhabitants of dead world and dead life caught inside them. He came to free them, not to fit in the boxes. Woe to the boxes.
“This girl is not dead but sleeping.” Little did the boxes know. But the One from the beyond-Life was just beginning to shine. The little boxes had a good laugh. But then the girl awoke into a new horizon and crossed the boundary of death before their very eyes. This was more upsetting than anything to the little boxes. How could they go on living as though nothing had happened? Would their seats of honor at the Temple mean as much as they did in the past? The little girl come back from the dead was going to be very unsettling. The dead do not give up their dead easily. What else had they gotten wrong?
The God-among-man was here. I remember the first time I saw Him. He looked like one of us, dressed in the fashion of his day. But His Words of Life betrayed Him. This was no ordinary man from Judea circa 3 AD. He spoke in distant tones to this planet. There was no easy surrender. The dead world hypnosis with its “here and now” was going to be challenged. But who would listen? The Temple shouted its own tradition and reputations. It became a box of its own making. The new Herald of Eternity did not fit.
“Listen all you boxes of religion.” The other boxes received Him not. The big box of riches said He was too poor. The box of Now said His concerns were not important. The box of existence said things were fine just the way they were. All the boxes rejected Him and turned away. The Good News was that the Wonder of the universe cared little for the boxes and all their fine traditions. He was more concerned for the inhabitants of dead world and dead life caught inside them. He came to free them, not to fit in the boxes. Woe to the boxes.
“This girl is not dead but sleeping.” Little did the boxes know. But the One from the beyond-Life was just beginning to shine. The little boxes had a good laugh. But then the girl awoke into a new horizon and crossed the boundary of death before their very eyes. This was more upsetting than anything to the little boxes. How could they go on living as though nothing had happened? Would their seats of honor at the Temple mean as much as they did in the past? The little girl come back from the dead was going to be very unsettling. The dead do not give up their dead easily. What else had they gotten wrong?
Jeremiah's Prayer
“You are the Great and Powerful God”, even while Jerusalem and its Temple are destroyed. “You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles”, and still does not ask God to reverse his misfortune. Jeremiah held to different vistas than what mere human perception could have seen.
Are personal fortunes at risk? Is the consensus against God Himself growing in the capital cities? Is the church herself being taken again in some strange Babylonian captivity? More Jeremiah prayers are needed. Prayers—not that ask God for bended knee to bring our requested solutions— that bring us to even greater perspectives. God is in control even during the personal and national tragedies. Our misfortunes and circumstances do not tie His hands or begin to measure who He is. The toppled stones of daily living do not predict future hope. Yahweh Ya-rah. Evil has been taken in hand. Faith alone sees this. The lower life cannot and is moved to fear by thunder rolling across the stormy skies of life.
The Jeremiah prayer prevented the confusing hour from swamping the larger focus. Such hours ask, “where is God?” “Why did He permit this?” “Doesn’t He care that we perish?” The box of human understanding demands God to be God on its terms. Sit God, sit! Rollover God, rollover! Do what we want. Here, fetch.
Are personal fortunes at risk? Is the consensus against God Himself growing in the capital cities? Is the church herself being taken again in some strange Babylonian captivity? More Jeremiah prayers are needed. Prayers—not that ask God for bended knee to bring our requested solutions— that bring us to even greater perspectives. God is in control even during the personal and national tragedies. Our misfortunes and circumstances do not tie His hands or begin to measure who He is. The toppled stones of daily living do not predict future hope. Yahweh Ya-rah. Evil has been taken in hand. Faith alone sees this. The lower life cannot and is moved to fear by thunder rolling across the stormy skies of life.
The Jeremiah prayer prevented the confusing hour from swamping the larger focus. Such hours ask, “where is God?” “Why did He permit this?” “Doesn’t He care that we perish?” The box of human understanding demands God to be God on its terms. Sit God, sit! Rollover God, rollover! Do what we want. Here, fetch.
Shepherd and the Gospel
Yahweh Ya-rah. The Lord is my Shepherd. Shepherd comes from two words in Hebrew, “hand” (Ya) and “evil” (rah). The Shepherd is aware of evil and takes it in hand. He controls it and protects others from it. Evil rises upon the hills. But the good order of the universe is not threatened by it. The sun will still rise tomorrow. The rain will fall upon the earth. The heavens will be the constants of the ages.
Evil will not go unchecked. Yahweh takes it in hand and uses it for His purposes. Jerusalem is handed over to Nebechadnezzar. Evil does not triumph.
Evil will not go unchecked. Yahweh takes it in hand and uses it for His purposes. Jerusalem is handed over to Nebechadnezzar. Evil does not triumph.
Yahweh Ya-rah. The Lord is my Shepherd. Shepherd comes from two words in Hebrew, “hand” (Ya) and “evil” (rah). The Shepherd is aware of evil and takes it in hand. He controls it and protects others from it. Evil rises upon the hills. But the good order of the universe is not threatened by it. The sun will still rise tomorrow. The rain will fall upon the earth. The heavens will be the constants of the ages.
Evil will not go unchecked. Yahweh takes it in hand and uses it for His purposes. Jerusalem is handed over to Nebechadnezzar. Evil does not triumph.
Evil will not go unchecked. Yahweh takes it in hand and uses it for His purposes. Jerusalem is handed over to Nebechadnezzar. Evil does not triumph.
A Prayer
Be my God. Pour Yourself into my life. Open my heart to Your Presence and touch me, fill me, change me. Help me to reject the false evidence that only betrays and hides You and Your love. Sustain my faith or I am lost as to my purpose and place in this cosmos. Mend me with this Life that I may see its depth and privilege. As you rested from drawing the heavens, you made me Your child. What power that drew oceans from the rivers and rains casts me upon Your love. You called me for Holy Communion with You before the foundations were stretched forth. Bring to me the double life without the wavering doubts of double mindedness. Make the Life of the Gospel the ultimate reality of my world. Amen.
Hayiim and the Gospel
Eloheem is the God of plurality. “Let Us make man in Our image.” And the Life Eloheem offers is also one of plurality. He offers Life, Hayiim. It contains His very breath. There is not just one life. But there is another. There is a life before man now. And there is another life man cannot apprehend by himself. Sometimes the second life is called the Afterlife. People arise from the dead to the Afterlife. This is one notion and the prevailing view.
Hayiim offers a different approach. The Life of plurality was given at one time. But they are seen with different senses. And to make an assessment about Life without considering both aspects is to make wrong headed living arrangements. Hayiim further suggests that both flow together to create Life and to see them as arriving in two distinct stages only misses the boat. The Cosmic Gospel is all about confronting the life of the senses with the reality of the other.
Abraham wasn’t always Abraham. Even when the Lord first spoke to him, the Lord spoke to Abram. Abram received the promise and acted on it to his best ability. “Go forth from your country and from your relatives.” Abram left home but the family came in tow. It wasn’t long before that ability was challenged. The fall had distorted Hayiim. This full Life would have to be restored. But God had more breath.
One can’t grasp for air when one stops breathing. Flailing at the air does little good. Flailing for the breath of God does even less. Hayiim comes only from the divine breath Eloheem alone can give. Abram would have to wait. But when the God-breath would come, it would bring the full Life of the Spirit. Abram would experience nothing short of personal Pentecost. Abram would then be given the mystic “H”. And the bitter woman would receive hers as well and be called Sarah—no longer bitter but bearable; no longer barren; but fruitful.
The little letter represents big possibilities for all mankind. It is a pronounced soft wind. It is not an angry blast. See here how this Gospel of the universe continues to transform and change. See it change the bitter deadwood of humanity. This Gospel is the power of the Lord on High that removes the futility of the stubborn, fallen nature.
This Gospel moves upon Abram to change everything—his character, his life, everything right down to his name. And this Gospel delivers a wife who is no longer bitter and barren but sweet, gentle Sarah who will become a mother to a child or promise. The Hayiim would yet bring further evidence of its dimensions upon the new man now known as Abraham. It will correct the will of Abram and bring it into alignment with the Holy of Holies. The will is a child who should not be trusted with his father’s business. “Hand it over son and assume your role.” Obedience.
Abram was diligent in using his will for the Lord. He had built altars. He did his best in heeding voices and dreams. He gave of his best reason, intellect, and instincts in serving his God. But apart from Hayiim, these would be misleading at times.
The journey of giving play to sense and judgment is not an easy road. But such is life it seemed for both Abram and Abraham. Both would tell the same lie! “She is my sister.” It was said in fear of men for having such a beautiful wife. And this is from a man who had received God’s promises directly and personally! How prone all must be therefore to flailing in the seas of circumstance. How near all drown by unaided reason in the Great Ocean of Truth. Abraham fared no better in this than he had done as Abram. Oh, sweet Gospel that continues in life giving hush to uphold, sustain and comfort. It is beyond all scope of human comprehension.
Great mystery here that Abraham is some respects is much like old Abram. How can this be? But Hayiim can again instruct. The Life given to Adam was plural in nature. It was overcome in one who was yet perfect. Now the plural Life is again restored to Abram. The small hush has made the new man. But it does not erase the other life of sense. The two must flow together once again. It is one life guiding the other with both taking their turn in Abraham. It was the clear Gospel that called Abram to be the Father of Faith. It was not always his ability to navigate between the two.
Man is not the center of the universe. This may go against the current thinking of this age. But that belongs to the role of CG—the Cosmic Gospel. Even Abram fell to self-interpretations leaning upon his own grasp of the situation. Yet Abram had for the most part a correct theology. God was speaking to him directly and personally. He could have passed any test of scrutiny. But man is not saved by his theology. Abraham did not find his theology improved to any degree. But one had Hayiim. The other did not.
Hayiim offers a different approach. The Life of plurality was given at one time. But they are seen with different senses. And to make an assessment about Life without considering both aspects is to make wrong headed living arrangements. Hayiim further suggests that both flow together to create Life and to see them as arriving in two distinct stages only misses the boat. The Cosmic Gospel is all about confronting the life of the senses with the reality of the other.
Abraham wasn’t always Abraham. Even when the Lord first spoke to him, the Lord spoke to Abram. Abram received the promise and acted on it to his best ability. “Go forth from your country and from your relatives.” Abram left home but the family came in tow. It wasn’t long before that ability was challenged. The fall had distorted Hayiim. This full Life would have to be restored. But God had more breath.
One can’t grasp for air when one stops breathing. Flailing at the air does little good. Flailing for the breath of God does even less. Hayiim comes only from the divine breath Eloheem alone can give. Abram would have to wait. But when the God-breath would come, it would bring the full Life of the Spirit. Abram would experience nothing short of personal Pentecost. Abram would then be given the mystic “H”. And the bitter woman would receive hers as well and be called Sarah—no longer bitter but bearable; no longer barren; but fruitful.
The little letter represents big possibilities for all mankind. It is a pronounced soft wind. It is not an angry blast. See here how this Gospel of the universe continues to transform and change. See it change the bitter deadwood of humanity. This Gospel is the power of the Lord on High that removes the futility of the stubborn, fallen nature.
This Gospel moves upon Abram to change everything—his character, his life, everything right down to his name. And this Gospel delivers a wife who is no longer bitter and barren but sweet, gentle Sarah who will become a mother to a child or promise. The Hayiim would yet bring further evidence of its dimensions upon the new man now known as Abraham. It will correct the will of Abram and bring it into alignment with the Holy of Holies. The will is a child who should not be trusted with his father’s business. “Hand it over son and assume your role.” Obedience.
Abram was diligent in using his will for the Lord. He had built altars. He did his best in heeding voices and dreams. He gave of his best reason, intellect, and instincts in serving his God. But apart from Hayiim, these would be misleading at times.
The journey of giving play to sense and judgment is not an easy road. But such is life it seemed for both Abram and Abraham. Both would tell the same lie! “She is my sister.” It was said in fear of men for having such a beautiful wife. And this is from a man who had received God’s promises directly and personally! How prone all must be therefore to flailing in the seas of circumstance. How near all drown by unaided reason in the Great Ocean of Truth. Abraham fared no better in this than he had done as Abram. Oh, sweet Gospel that continues in life giving hush to uphold, sustain and comfort. It is beyond all scope of human comprehension.
Great mystery here that Abraham is some respects is much like old Abram. How can this be? But Hayiim can again instruct. The Life given to Adam was plural in nature. It was overcome in one who was yet perfect. Now the plural Life is again restored to Abram. The small hush has made the new man. But it does not erase the other life of sense. The two must flow together once again. It is one life guiding the other with both taking their turn in Abraham. It was the clear Gospel that called Abram to be the Father of Faith. It was not always his ability to navigate between the two.
Man is not the center of the universe. This may go against the current thinking of this age. But that belongs to the role of CG—the Cosmic Gospel. Even Abram fell to self-interpretations leaning upon his own grasp of the situation. Yet Abram had for the most part a correct theology. God was speaking to him directly and personally. He could have passed any test of scrutiny. But man is not saved by his theology. Abraham did not find his theology improved to any degree. But one had Hayiim. The other did not.
Gospel for Ninevites
The Gospel changes hearts. It brings a different scope. Man is small in this amazing constellation. The heavenly kingdom stills the clutching. There is no need for grasping tokens in sight of the treasures of eternal life. Immortality brings a new horizon to worldlings. The meek do not find the better treasure. They are born from its inheritance. Knighted by mercy, sons and daughters arise among Ninevah.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Bring reason and all its concoctions. But it had provided the course of conflict. Now a new appetite was growing among the peoples. Run after the world. It does not satisfy. The mighty only find one mightier in time. Their riches become his plunder. But here approaches the full life the ministers of death had not known before. Who would trade this world for the celestial proportions? Come see it grow in the this strange soil.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Mercy is not much of a battle cry until one has been overcome by a Higher Power. How will the enemies react upon hearing how the strongmen had been overcome? And all by a man who came to shore by a whale? But these are now hallowed saints for they have been touched by the All Being One who is from everlasting. None are beyond His reach. Not Jonah. Not the brutal. Not anyone. The great offer of mercy makes all others pale.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Bring reason and all its concoctions. But it had provided the course of conflict. Now a new appetite was growing among the peoples. Run after the world. It does not satisfy. The mighty only find one mightier in time. Their riches become his plunder. But here approaches the full life the ministers of death had not known before. Who would trade this world for the celestial proportions? Come see it grow in the this strange soil.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Mercy is not much of a battle cry until one has been overcome by a Higher Power. How will the enemies react upon hearing how the strongmen had been overcome? And all by a man who came to shore by a whale? But these are now hallowed saints for they have been touched by the All Being One who is from everlasting. None are beyond His reach. Not Jonah. Not the brutal. Not anyone. The great offer of mercy makes all others pale.
Chap 6
The Nicodemian adventure began rather surreptitiously under the guise of darkness. The boxes at the Temple would not have approved. But the burning questions would not go away. They rose like phantoms that frequently haunted. No peace would come until they had been put to rest. Their search finally came to the appointed hour. The Temple life had given solutions of how to live before the Creator. But the Prophet proposed another. The appointed place of Yahweh was on a parallel with the appointed Word of Yahweh. That tension existed no more clearer than in the heart of this seeker. Here was a leading teacher of God’s people searching for answers in a secret hour. It was hard denying that the Words of the Prophet had a profound effect. Was this Man of God? Could His Words be true?
The midnight stage provided one of the clearest occasions for the Gospel. The Temple had given instructions on how to live before the Creator. But the Prophet proposed something different. The appointed place of Yahweh seemed to be at odds with the appointed Word of Yahweh. That tension existed in the heart of this seeker. Here was a leading teacher of God’s people searching for answers in a secret hour. It was hard denying that the words of the Prophet had a profound effect. Was this Man of God? Could His Words be true?
The Gospel offers the beyond Life– beyond ourselves and beyond anything this world can offer. It is for the planetary impaired, out of this world. It speaks and says, “stop the dead living.” It says, “See” and offers eyes. It says, “Believe”, and offers faith. It says, “Dance”, and gives the music. It says, “You are a sin bearer” and offers a Life bearer. It says, “Shout”, and offers a new tongue. It says, “Forgive”, and offers a new heart. It says, “Love”, and offers a Friend.
Those who are far have been brought near. The lost have been found. The gap has been closed. The Gospel comes in the dark and brings a spectacular galaxy of Light. The days of black hole living that pulls the universe in on itself are over. Here is the big bang Life that opens the Cosmic Wonder. Grace unfolds in dimensions previously unknown. The great debt of sin has met its match. It comes to the sunset of death and offers a Sonrise. Death is a candle and it has been blown out by the breath of Life.
Happy Hayiim, the ever filling-Life from beyond that fills the down and outs, that makes the old new, that brings man to himself by communion with a real God, is kept in a box of here and now and the lid is shut. Is that how it is? The box is kept at the Temple and the lid is lifted briefly each week. Is that what You mean? All the while, this gripping reality of circumstances continues to choke the life out of us. But now we have hope for a better life to come. Is that the Gospel? Is that to be the hope proclaimed in the Name? That is bittersweet. That is not enough. There is a world willing to walk past that door and think nothing of it. The minions will settle for less and call it more if this is all the pittance offered. This is what all history has since waited?
No Nicodemus. You must be born from above. You do not have some postcard God sending “wish you were here’s” and “can’t wait to see you again”. The past is gone forever. There are no more tomorrows in the Banquet of Forever. There is only the Eternal Now with God who fills all moments with Himself. This is when existence ends and Life begins. This is when we are freed from the box that attempted to define what life should be about. Now Thy Kingdom comes in a glory that outshines all others. The Cosmos is lit by His Presence, the Real Presence, and the King sits upon His throne. Time and space that have built the little boxes of here and now evaporate in the greater expanse of the eternity.
The midnight stage provided one of the clearest occasions for the Gospel. The Temple had given instructions on how to live before the Creator. But the Prophet proposed something different. The appointed place of Yahweh seemed to be at odds with the appointed Word of Yahweh. That tension existed in the heart of this seeker. Here was a leading teacher of God’s people searching for answers in a secret hour. It was hard denying that the words of the Prophet had a profound effect. Was this Man of God? Could His Words be true?
The Gospel offers the beyond Life– beyond ourselves and beyond anything this world can offer. It is for the planetary impaired, out of this world. It speaks and says, “stop the dead living.” It says, “See” and offers eyes. It says, “Believe”, and offers faith. It says, “Dance”, and gives the music. It says, “You are a sin bearer” and offers a Life bearer. It says, “Shout”, and offers a new tongue. It says, “Forgive”, and offers a new heart. It says, “Love”, and offers a Friend.
Those who are far have been brought near. The lost have been found. The gap has been closed. The Gospel comes in the dark and brings a spectacular galaxy of Light. The days of black hole living that pulls the universe in on itself are over. Here is the big bang Life that opens the Cosmic Wonder. Grace unfolds in dimensions previously unknown. The great debt of sin has met its match. It comes to the sunset of death and offers a Sonrise. Death is a candle and it has been blown out by the breath of Life.
Happy Hayiim, the ever filling-Life from beyond that fills the down and outs, that makes the old new, that brings man to himself by communion with a real God, is kept in a box of here and now and the lid is shut. Is that how it is? The box is kept at the Temple and the lid is lifted briefly each week. Is that what You mean? All the while, this gripping reality of circumstances continues to choke the life out of us. But now we have hope for a better life to come. Is that the Gospel? Is that to be the hope proclaimed in the Name? That is bittersweet. That is not enough. There is a world willing to walk past that door and think nothing of it. The minions will settle for less and call it more if this is all the pittance offered. This is what all history has since waited?
No Nicodemus. You must be born from above. You do not have some postcard God sending “wish you were here’s” and “can’t wait to see you again”. The past is gone forever. There are no more tomorrows in the Banquet of Forever. There is only the Eternal Now with God who fills all moments with Himself. This is when existence ends and Life begins. This is when we are freed from the box that attempted to define what life should be about. Now Thy Kingdom comes in a glory that outshines all others. The Cosmos is lit by His Presence, the Real Presence, and the King sits upon His throne. Time and space that have built the little boxes of here and now evaporate in the greater expanse of the eternity.
For God so loved the Cosmos, that He gave His only begotten Son.
What herald of grace touches our world! This invitation crosses the known galaxies and beyond to reveal the gift of God’s own Son. How could this not be some alien declaration—no mortal could have given forth such a promise of hope and salvation. This very Gospel calls us all to a new existence. All born in this genesis are no longer of this world but are themselves aliens to it.
All shall be changed in a twinkling of an eye. The old shall be made new., born again into a cosmic reality. The old eons of time shall pass. All cares and problems are fixed to an address on planet Earth. But once a Cosmic citizen, how different these problems appear. Concerns that so fixate and grip today become the joys of the hallelujah chorus. We are not of this world.
This Cosmic Gospel changes everything. The ramifications could not be more striking. The limited world called today gives way. The Kingdom of God is at hand. But know this. This Gospel offers no nesting program. The Cosmic Gospel would pull us out of this world and vice versa. The overly anxious focus on the here and now gives way to the sweeter communion of the here and forever. The Great Hallelujah Day reminds us: “If we have lived for Christ in this life only, we have been only fools.”.
Born by the new hope, someone like a child emerges, alive and carefree. Eternity eclipses our days. The here and forever day upstages the mere existence. Under the constellation of the Son, Paradise steps forward and it is not of this world. This is the age of the new heaven and new earth. And to everyone else it seems like just another day, another day chained together in a string of uneventful moments. How tragic. In the midst of this broken world, there lies a kingdom many will miss.
What herald of grace touches our world! This invitation crosses the known galaxies and beyond to reveal the gift of God’s own Son. How could this not be some alien declaration—no mortal could have given forth such a promise of hope and salvation. This very Gospel calls us all to a new existence. All born in this genesis are no longer of this world but are themselves aliens to it.
All shall be changed in a twinkling of an eye. The old shall be made new., born again into a cosmic reality. The old eons of time shall pass. All cares and problems are fixed to an address on planet Earth. But once a Cosmic citizen, how different these problems appear. Concerns that so fixate and grip today become the joys of the hallelujah chorus. We are not of this world.
This Cosmic Gospel changes everything. The ramifications could not be more striking. The limited world called today gives way. The Kingdom of God is at hand. But know this. This Gospel offers no nesting program. The Cosmic Gospel would pull us out of this world and vice versa. The overly anxious focus on the here and now gives way to the sweeter communion of the here and forever. The Great Hallelujah Day reminds us: “If we have lived for Christ in this life only, we have been only fools.”.
Born by the new hope, someone like a child emerges, alive and carefree. Eternity eclipses our days. The here and forever day upstages the mere existence. Under the constellation of the Son, Paradise steps forward and it is not of this world. This is the age of the new heaven and new earth. And to everyone else it seems like just another day, another day chained together in a string of uneventful moments. How tragic. In the midst of this broken world, there lies a kingdom many will miss.
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