MY THREE LOVELY GIRLS

For those who know me you might know a little of our last minute trip to Disney a year ago this week. It was during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Celebration. And I can't think of a better time for us to have been there. I can't think of a place that could have transported us out of the circumstances, even if it was just for a moment, better than Disney World did. We all needed it at that moment.

Due to the circumstances at the time, I'm sure some thought, "What is he doing?" I have this to say; "Grace rarely ever makes sense to those looking in from the outside." This was a God trip and was worth every bit of what we spent to be there. As Much as Thanksgiving this year brought back memories of a year ago, this whole Holiday Season will be a time of remembrance. And what a year it has been.

When you find yourself in messy times. When you feel so out of control and fear is ready to pounce. Don't ever give up. God can take the biggest messes and redeem them and work transformations deep inside all involved. I can testify to that, and so can these three girls and their mom.

We are all better today because of the Holiday Season a year ago.

This is a statement of faith that came from a quote I found during that painful time as I began to feel a deep healing work of the grace of God. This is still one of my favorite quotes today.

"What may at first seem fragile becomes, instead, a journey toward a rendezvous with grace."

Never give up.

And may you all enjoy the Savior and your family and friends this Christmas Season.

PART TWO (please start with the post below)

This is a video exposing one of the most dangerous, destructive, ridiculous voices our girls must contend with today. Or should I say all women actually. Those with boys, do not think for a minute you get to escape this. This is effecting your boys also when it comes to how they look at girls and what they expect also. EXPOSE THE LIE WITH THE TRUTH. IT IS TRUTH THAT WILL SET US AND THEM FREE.

www.campaignforrealbeauty.com

A REVISIT TO THE CITY OF ZOOROPA

The message of this song just stays with me all the time. Yesterday at work someone had put this on the board "REMEMBER, WE DRESS FOR SUCCESS" and it made me think of the slogans mentioned in this song Zooropa. I know what was meant by this being posted at work and I'm not dismissing it out of hand( I work in the fashion industry ) but I do see it as one of the ridiculous voices I speak of often. What is success for a follower of Christ? When we say things like this, how does it effect people around us that can't seem to find, that-kind-of-success-the-world-pushes? How does it end up competing with the more important issues?


I want to live free of these kind of ridiculous slogans. When you read through the words to this song, think about what Bono was trying to bring attention to, with the use of the popular slogans during the time this song was written. Think about these kind of things as you walk through your days. Try to identify some of the ridiculous voices that have seeped into your mind and heart that are out of sorts with the things that are really important for those who would follow Jesus. I think God wants to deliver us from some of these voices?

Zooropa

Zooropa... Vorsprung durch Technik (lead trough technology)
Zooropa... be all that you can be
Be a winner
Eat to get slimmer

Zooropa... a bluer kind of white
Zooropa... it could be yours tonight
We're mild and green
And squeaky clean

Zooropa... better by design
Zooropa... fly the friendly skies
Through appliance of science
We've got that ring of confidence...

And I have no compass
And I have no map
And I have no reasons
No reasons to get back

And I have no religion
And I don't know what's what
And I don't know the limit
The limit of what we've got

Zooropa... Don't worry baby, it'll be alright
Zooropa... You got the right shoes
Zooropa... To get you through the night
Zooropa... It's cold outside, but brightly lit
Zooropa... Skip the subway
Zooropa... Let's go to the overground
Get your head out of the mud baby
Put flowers in the mud baby
Overground

No particular place names
No particular song
I've been hiding
What am I hiding from?

Zooropa... Don't worry baby, it's gonna be alright
Zooropa... Uncertainty... can be a guiding light
Zooropa... I hear voices, ridiculous voices
Zooropa... In the slipstream
Zooropa... Let's go, let's go... overground
Zooropa... Take your head out of the mud baby

She's gonna dream up
The world she wants to live in
She's gonna dream out loud



I want to live the life God has already dreamed up for me, (it is about something different) and success there, has nothing to do with how you dress or any of the other things the crazy world says you need. Success in this realm we find ourselves can be a big stumbling block. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE..........

A DAY WITH SOUND VOICES TO DROWN OUT ALL THE OTHER RIDICULOUS VOICES

KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

I am on this journey of finding more and more freedom from the external controls that I would call the world system. I want to be free of the control and manipulation and I want to be free of ever using these controls and manipulations on anyone else.

Today some of the sound voices went like this:

"You will never be able to get enough of what you don't need."

"The journey is hard and long. The secret is to travel light."

"Traveling light doesn't first mean materially, it means clear your head of the things that distract. If that happens, material things will look like the weak substitutes they really are."

"Live wide awake."

"Don't grab for the things God has not given."

"Today is all you have. Don't let it get away."

These voices are so much better than the voices of consumerism all around us. It's actually ridiculous. My encouragement is this; DON'T LISTEN to the ridiculous voices!!!!!!! Learn to identify them for what they are. They are the cares of the the world. The deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things. They choke out the life of Jesus. And we know, real life is only found in Him. This other thing that passes for reality is a lie and when we let ourselves get sucked into it or if we have never unplugged from it, we lose there in that place, big time.

I LOVE THIS STORY (yes, it has to do with Bono)

I'm not fond of mega-churches, but at least it seems a lot of folks are starting to hear the call that Jesus gave to those who would follow, to care for the least of these. This is from a Newsweek article that can be read here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15566654/site/newsweek/

"Bill Hybels, who leads the Willow Creek organization of megachurches—an association of 11,000 churches in 45 countries—has recently befriended the Irish rock star Bono. At Willow Creek's annual meeting last summer, the highlight was a video of Hybels and Bono hashing over the fate of the world. Bono quoted Scripture (Luke, chapter 4); the crowd wept. Cally Parkinson, who runs the Willow Creek media-relations department, was there. As she was leaving, she overheard one pastor say to another, "I went in there wondering if Bono was a Christian, and I came out wondering if I was."

I've felt that way before also.

Bono and many others have been way out in front of most of the Church when it comes to these issues of poverty, AIDS and the injustice created by inequality. He has been hammered by the christian community, all the while we were the ones that needed to take a long hard look at ourselves and our complacency. I read this in the book "U2 by U2" and it seems his frustration with the mainstream Church might be cooling a bit? Just a little bit. Maybe??????? Well, maybe not???? This is Bono speaking about the song "Crumbs From Your Table"

"You were pretty as a picture, it was all there to see, then your face caught up to your psychology, With a mouth full of teeth you ate all your friends, and you broke every heart thinking every heart mends.

When you hear a song where I'm giving out, it is usually myself I'm giving out about. But not in this case.

I'd been working, trying to get African countries proper representation. I remember feeling angry about how the poor have to come to the West with their cap in hand. I thought, God does not see it like that. Whether your the CEO of a giant corporation or a poor farmer in Africa, God doesn't see any difference. I just thought we should give the poor more respect. Why don't they have the same representation in Washington and London as the National Rifle Association or the tobacco industry? Because the beautiful people of Africa can't hit back. If you mess with the NRA they will follow you to your pig roast in the middle of your constituency, they'll try to take you out of office. I want to have that kind of representation for poor people, where they don't have to go up to beg for the crumbs from our table. AND YOU SPEAK OF SIGNS AND WONDERS, BUT I NEED SOMETHING OTHER, I WOULD BELIEVE IF I WAS ABLE, BUT I'M WAITING FOR THE CRUMBS FROM YOUR TABLE. That line was a shot at the Church, because I felt at that time the Church wasn't doing anything about the AIDS emergency. The sleeping giant has since awoken, I'm happy to say."

TOO MANY CHOICES?

I think back to the garden and the choices were basically two.

To simplify God said: "Trust me."

They did get to choose though. If they decided to believe what God had said to them, they had all that was good that He had planned for them. They would need nothing else but that which He had given them. The Tree of Life. It speaks perfectly for itself, here is where LIFE is found. Meaning is found here, fulfillment, joy, peace, security, ABUNDANCE!!!! These things in His reality as He intended.

But they were deceived and chose not to trust God's words. We know what entered the picture because of this choice. Man and woman have struggled ever since. Every attempt to make sense of life outside of the Story God had set in motion leaves us confused and empty.

Now back to these thoughts of how the system (capitalism for this conversation) we live in, perpetuates this mess. Unless, we see where our focus is wrong. I will speak now from my experience on a particular matter of capitalism.

THE PURSUIT OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM

First off, what is financial freedom anyway? I had a conversation several months back with an acquaintance who is also a small business owner. His business struggles at times like most small businesses do, but he is doing well. Living better than most. He and his wife have a beautiful home and wonderful children. Their lives seem to be full of nice things. They seem to be able to take nice vacations and spend what seems to be a lot of time just enjoying the life in all the choices we are offered here in America. I ask him how he was doing. He said fine, but just wished he could get a handle on and find some peace from the stress of finances and the fear of finacial ruin.

I asked him if he knew of anyone that lived free of those worries. He said no. He then said something I think is very important for us to see and understand. He said, "Actually, those I know with more money than they would ever need seem even less at peace with these issue, than even I am." My experience is the same. Those who don't think they have enough are stressed by the pursuit of trying to get enough and those who have it are stressed and living in fear in trying to hang onto it. FREEDOM IS NOT FOUND IN HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE!!!!! It is a trap of the capitalist mindset. And probably every mindset living outside of what God has given.

Our worth and our security is not found in how much we have or in our ability to get more. This is not a part of that story God is telling and the one He is trying to draw us back to.

Why is this struggle between belief and unbelief so powerful? Why is it that most people we know aren't doing well with this one? For me, it has become about where my affections are directed. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. I'm feeling my faith in the story of God for me and all of us who would follow coming to life. I have felt fulfillment, joy, peace, security and abundance, that seem to have a lasting effect, in Jesus this year like never before, and certainly like I never had from my pursuit of the things of the world. This should be a no-brainer, but it isn't. The pull from the things of this world are powerful. I don't trust myself not to get sucked back into these things even before I am aware it is happening. But I am learning to trust Him and He knows how to keep me from falling back into the fake, false unreality of the things of the world. But I must continually stay alert to the lie of capitalism. It will never stop screaming, "Look over here. Isn't this beautiful. This will bring so much joy and meaning to your life. You need this to be happy."

We would be wise to not listen to the ridiculous voices.........it is the voice of the shepard we are to learn to follow. He is not a capitalist. Not even close.

CONTINUATION OF SOME THOUGHTS ON THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CAPITALISM ON GOD'S PEOPLE

How many of our misconceptions of God and the gospel are caught up in the effects of capitalism on us? It seems to me one of our problems with the message of grace is because it is free. Most people always seem to think there is a catch. We are driven to say this; "Come on now, nothing is free!" I've heard some people refer to it as "Cheap Grace."

How many people here in America want something if it is cheap? We want great quality but we want it at a bargan. We just don't want to pay too much. I think this, in and of itself, causes us great problems with the gospel.

I know throughout history people in about all forms of economic systems have had the problem with the gift from God being free. Folks seem to have a hard time with getting something for nothing.

I wonder how our capitalist mindset ends up just being another layer we must cut through to understand the things of the gospel? I think every system man has thought up causes trouble in these matters because they all have something to do with us having to make the move to purchase what we want. He seems to turn all of this upside down. He gives and gives and continues to give. He seems to be saying to those that would follow that they are to do the same. That just doesn't fit the mindset of capitalism.

This is the most awesome treasure ever made available, and it is free. But it does seem like it costs us something? It seems to me what we have to do, is we have to give up something. Not to get it, but to follow and access the beauty of this new reality. We have to give back to him what we grabbed for ourselves. Control of our lives.

Capitalism seems to be all about being in control of my life and those around me and manipulation of people and circumstances. Sounds like religion to me? The people who work these systems the best seem to be the most "successful." That is, in the realm of capitalism and religion, maybe not so much with the things of the kingdom?

CAPITALISM MIGHT BE THE BEST ATTEMPT YET, BUT BEWARE....THERE ARE MANY DANGERS

Please don't misunderstand me. I'm just working through some thoughts on the idea that Capitalism can be very dangerous for those trying to follow Christ.

It seems to me a walk through scripture will give one the feeling that money can be a very enticing danger. I am coming to see many ways this is true for most people, myself included. How can we avoid the intoxicating pull of money and the desire for more?

The reason for the title of this post, and the Capitalism connection, is that money seems to be the driving force of Capitalistic Democracies. If this is so, how do we believers live in the world and participate in commerce, consumption and daily life and not be seduced by it? How can we engage in business without using the advertising tactics of manipulation of the senses to get consumers to buy what we are selling? How can we stay free from these things, as the system is bombarding us with manipulations of all kinds to get us to buy, buy, buy, and then buy even more?

Do you think these are important questions or do they not create a dilemma for us?

Money always seems to be in the mix when you talk about corruption.

The Political system is broken because of the hunger for power and it is bought with money.

Our religious institutes are controlled by power and money.

Corporate America is controlled by money.

Money seems to me to be running the show? How do we keep it from running us?

Where there is money, greed seems to go pretty much unchecked or justified. I had someone tell me the other day that they wanted to have a lot of money so they could really serve the kingdom with it. That seems like a weak argument when Jesus said the poor women who put her last coin in the collection had given more than the one who gave from his abundance. Jesus also said that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

On one hand I see the freedom to self govern our lives as a wonderful thing when it comes to kingdom of the world government style. The only problem with that, is the human heart doesn't seem to be cut out for it. Or at least doesn't in most cases do it well. Consumerism is killing us all. It is robbing us of our peace and any security. Violence breeds here rapidly.

I'm going to continue to try to walk through some of this mostly by asking questions and pointing out some of the dangers we face as followers of Christ living here in Capitalistic Society. How do we use our democratic freedoms as a positive thing for the kingdom of God without getting sucked into what seems like the danger zone of too many choices?

I believe Jesus is the answer for all of these dilemmas. If we let Him get at them. What rules our hearts rules us. This past year, I have seen some of the ways this was effecting me. I want out of it. That is why I am asking and praying about these issues. I want Jesus and life in His kingdom to rule my heart.

I DON'T KNOW THE LIMIT, THE LIMIT OF WHAT WE'VE GOT

I'm moving this up from the 6 part story I posted a few weeks back. I listened to a podcast today that took me back to it. I think this is so important for us to understand. It stands in the way and chokes the life of God out of us by distracting us..

Mark 4: 18

I love the U2 song Zooropa and the title to this post comes from that song. During the band's ZooTV tour in the mid 90's, they used massive amounts of over stimulation to draw attention to the desperately lost condition of the culture at that time. Unfortunately it continues today.

Zooropa came from that period. You can see the lyrics at this link along with a great excerpt from the book "Hope Against Darkness" By Richard Rohr about this issue of no limits being a very harmful thing for us. http://nthegarden.blogspot.com/2006/10/ongoig-problem-for-us-in-west-yes-even.html

Out of control CONSUMERISM is one of the most in-vogue drugs of our day. Whether it is materialism or all kinds of entertainment(all pleasure based stuff) we are numbing ourselves and in turn we are probably among the weakest people emotionally in the world. It doesn't bode well for our country with the dangers and challenges that we face today here at home and abroad.

( side note: Our government actually uses war and self serving foreign policy to defend this over-indulgent lifestyle.)

And the Church is not in any better condition. Maybe even worse because we are unaware of the effects it has had on us. We face two dilemmas. Many of us are numb and we are also terribly confused. We cover up our greed for money and things by calling it "God's Blessing." If we really take an honest look at ourselves do we really believe we deserve all we have because of......WHAT? I mean, come on. How can we possibly believe this God we believe in finds us so much more worthy of blessing and ease of life over some beautiful believer in Africa trying to save her three children dying of AIDS or malaria or starvation?

http://www.miniature-earth.com/ watch the short clip at this link

I'm being awakened to this condition that has been a part of me. I'm asking Him to show me the way out.

DEEPER FREEDOMS / INSPIRED LIVING

I'm sitting here on Thanksgiving morning with the smells of rotisserie turkey hanging in the air. I'm looking forward to the time with family and friends today.

I'm also thinking back on the year I have had. Something happened in my family last year on this day that set in motion a most beautiful change. It didn't start out that way though. It was a pain that ripped me from deep inside and has set in motion an incredible transformation. I had no idea how God was going to use what seemed to me to be the scariest thing I had ever faced.

The details of the event are not important. It's funny how I can say that today because on this day last year, all it was about was the details of the event. Like I said, a beautiful change has taken place. One of the big changes could be described as, a big chunk of the law man I was last Thanksgiving I am no longer today. My whole family thanks God for this.

God had begun about 5-6 years ago to reveal to me how grace was the power unto inner change. To see the work of the cross as the ultimate act of radical grace that it really was. Why does it seem there must be acts of violent rumblings in the securities of our lives to bring us to a place of being vulnerable enough for these truths to penetrate? I don't know and today I don't care.

What had happened to me in the days, weeks and months that followed is nothing short of the breaking of a heart shaped by rules and law and the birthing of a heart learning to live grounded in the spirit of love and grace. This year has been about the changing of basically everything. This is not me. I would have not gone here on my own. So many thing about me are absolutely opposite of what they were last year at this time and I feel freer than I ever have.

All I can say is the veil was ripped a little more open and I have seen some wonderful things I had never seen. It had very little or nothing at all to do with myself or anything I had done. All I can think of that I had done, was I accepted the fact that I had come to the end of myself and my ability(or illusion there of) of being able to control myself, my children, my wife and the circumstances of life. It is to this revealing that I attribute most, if not all of the changes of this year. This seems to me to be, the absolute most important truth when it comes to walking in freedom with Christ. If we continue living thinking we must remain in control, God is left on the outside. Freedom will never be a reality if this change doesn't take place. We will continue to live in fear, we will be stressed, frustrated, angry, depressed, and unable to function except out of that fear, stress, frustration and anger.

These are the very things that I have felt the Spirit freeing me from this year. And it feels good. The things that are opening up before my very eyes are wonderful. I am living with expectancy of what is possible like never before. The expectancy of what is possible, is not about me anymore. It is so much bigger. It is about the story God is working out for all of His creation. I am a part of that but it isn't about me. And yet it is in a way also. I referred to it in one of my first posts as a blogger. It is a private dance at first with my savior but it doesn't remain only that. It opens up into a life of sharing my dance with those around me having their own private dance. It is a beautiful thing.

So, I have much to be thankful for today. But as I look back on this past year, the thing I am most thankful for is the deep pain of last Thanksgiving and what it set in motion.

Thanks for dropping by and listening. Hopefully the thinking out loud that goes on here at Faithfully Dangerous is an encouragement and a challenge to those who stop by.

Have a very wonderful Thanksgiving.

WORDS FROM DR. KING

I have been making my way slowly through many of Dr. King's letters, speeches and writings this year. It has been an incredible experience. The courage and conviction of this man is inspiring. The poetry in which he spoke and wrote conveyed such a vision for a better world where people treated people with respect and decency. A place where justice was important and available for all. Where poverty and inequality would be crushed because those with the power to do something about it would act because they knew it was the right thing to do. I am also amazed at how timeless his words are. So many of the things he spoke are so relevant today. I could change names, races, or events he spoke about in many of his speeches to present day players and events and they would fit circumstances we are suffering under and struggling with today. It is worth the time to search through his words. When someone is speaking things that are at the heart of the gospel of Christ they are timeless.

I want to share from the book "The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr." the epitaph of John Kennedy

"Our nation should do a great deal of soul searching as a result of President Kennedy's assassination. The shot that came from the fifth story building cannot be easily dismissed as the isolated act of a madman. Honesty impels us to look beyond the demented mind that executed this dastardly act. While the question "Who killed President Kennedy?" is important, the question "What killed him?" is more important.

Our late President was assassinated by a morally inclement climate. It is a climate filled with heavy torrents of false accusation, jostling winds of hatred, and raging storms of violence.

It is a climate where men cannot disagree without being disagreeable, and where they express dissent through violence and murder. It is the same climate that murdered Medgar Evers in Mississippi and six innocent Negro children in Birmingham, Alabama.

So in a sense we are all participants in that horrible act that tarnished the image of our nation. By our silence, by our willingness to compromise principle, by our constant attempt to cure the cancer of racial injustice with the Vaseline of gradualism, by our readiness to allow arms to be purchased at will and fired at whim, by allowing our movie and television screens to teach our children that the hero is one who masters the art of shooting and the technique of killing, by allowing all these developments we have created an atmosphere in which violence and hatred have become popular pastimes.

So President Kennedy has something important to say to each of us in his death. He has something to say to every politician who has feed his constituents the stale bread of racism and the spoiled meat of hatred. He has something to say to every clergyman who observed racial evils and remained silent behind the safe security of stained glass windows. He has something to say to the devotees of the extreme right who poured out venomous words against the Supreme Court and the United Nations, and branded everyone a communist with whom they disagree. He has something to say to the misguided philosophy of communism that would teach man that the end justifies the means, and that violence and denial of basic freedom are justifiable methods to achieve the goal of a classless society.

He says to all of us that the virus of hate that seeped into the veins of our nation, if unchecked, will lead inevitably to our moral and spiritual doom.

Thus the epitaph of John Kennedy's life illuminates profound truths that challenge us to set aside our grief of a season and move forward with more determination to rid our nation of the vestiges of racial segregation and discrimination."

"Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and evil. The greatest way to do that is through love. I believe firmly that love is a transforming power that can lift a whole community to new horizons of fair play, good will, and justice."

We would do well to listen to Dr. King on these issues.

ARE WE TO TAKE THESE IDEAS AT FACE VALUE?

When Jesus said 'love your enemies,' Do you think he probably meant don't kill them?

When he said 'turn the other cheek,' do you think he probably meant don't strike them back?

There are many other examples of revolutionary ideas Jesus seemed to be teaching. Do you think we can take them at face value or do you think we are suppose to conclude that He really didn't mean for them to be taken seriously?

If they aren't to be taken seriously, why did those that followed shortly after Him seem to take them seriously? Many of them seemed to follow in His very footsteps when it came to these stunning ideas of how to live.

Why don't we? I include myself in this also. Why do we believe this isn't what He meant even for us 2000 years later? Could it be that we have wandered so far from the life Jesus called us to, and we have actually added to many of the problems in the world today. Do you think that if we took this seriously, at face value, we would see the demonstration of the life that changed the course of mankind again, right here in our time?

Maybe to break the cycle of violence that started with Cain and Abel and has spread like fire throughout history, it can only be broken by our committment to stand up against the cycle of hate, violence and vengeance for self-preservation by actively demonstrating love as Christ did? It seems to me, this is exactly what Jesus was trying to get us to understand. Love really is the only answer. Not hate or fear hiding behind some twisted version of 'I love you brother, but.....'

Anyone want to take a shot at these questions? If not here, do you think these are important questions to think about?

IF CHRIST IS CENTRAL, GRACE WILL BE CENTRAL

I just spent an hour with a friend talking and enjoying a cup of coffee. Grace dominated the conversation. I love that. I was thinking this is a good indicator of who or what is at the heart of what you are experiencing. If you find yourself being more gracious with yourself and those around you be encouraged.

from the song "Grace" by U2

Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace, it's the name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace always feels like a beautiful song to those who experience it. It can change anything. It can melt the coldest of hearts. It can calm the most violent offender. It can heal the deepest pain. It can take insecurity and fear and turn it into confidence and trust. It can take arrogance and turn it into humility. It will take judgement and turn it into mercy. It can make beauty out of ugly things.

It is changing me........

WHY DO WE MAKE THIS A COMPETITION?

I responded on another blog this morning and I thought I would continue some of these thoughts here. This guys was having a discussion with another blogger who thought reclaiming the term Religion, so it is seen as the good thing it is (or was), was an important thing to do. Rob, the other guy doesn't feel it needs to be reclaimed and he is not interested in spending any time to do so. I'm with Rob.

I think religion is dead and was never alive. It was something God used to bring his people into another reality. That transition was suppose to have taken place along time ago. Unfortunately, we keep picking it back up in an attempt to revive it, at the cost of what Jesus came to give us. It was a stepping stone, if you will, to a life of reconciliation to God through Christ, and fellowship with the saints who had entered into a new reality in the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed was at hand, and we are to live as resident aliens in this world. We are advised not to get too attached to it. What God has given us through Jesus, is much better than anything religion had ever produced.

Religion is about us being in control. It is about us figuring it out(or at least thinking we have) so that we feel justified. It causes men to boast and point to what they have built when we are called to build nothing. It is a system that sucks up most of the resources people give to it just to maintain it. If caring for people doesn't serve the system, the system wins out and the people lose. Those in charge usually usurp the authority that is to belong to God only. Jesus is the only head, most in the religious system put some holy man guru there and we wonder why it is dead? Just about everybody I know involved with it knows something is wrong. It is easy to blame it on some notion that it is because people are not committed enough. Maybe, people aren't committed because there is nothing real enough for them, to get excited enough about, to lay their lives down for? We need to be real honest about this: RELIGION IS ABOUT US and what we can get out of it. People aren't getting much, so that is why they won't ever give much.

Contrast all of that with the things Jesus said and the men and women that layed their lives down in the same sacrificial way Jesus did. It was about something bigger than them and they were convinced of that. The Kingdom of God and our Lord's rule and reign has been traded for a religious exercise. Do you feel like dying for your "church"? Why would we, when we don't have to. I will say it again, religion is about us. The Kingdom of God is about something totally different. One, I am beginning to understand and believe is worth dying for, the other one I'm not so willing to go that way.

Jesus is the one who will and can inspire us to something larger than ourselves. It is beautiful, it is power through weakness, the victory has already been won, we just need to believe it.

I really shouldn't need to say this but I will. Look around you, does the Church in our country feel and act like the victory is won. I hear folks saying all the time, "we need to take back America for God", our "Churches are dying", "the enemy is winning", "if we don't stand up and fight, this is over" and the one we just went through last week. The Democrats won, how can this be? The things of God will be ridiculed and mocked. We are losing.....

I think that is enough to make the point I am trying to make. Focus on religion will kill and destroy people and rob hearts and minds of what the truth is.

Jesus has shone us a different way. Has the Kingdom of God ever taken a step backwards because of a tactical move of the enemy? The answer is clearly, NO. Not even when the greatest servant leaders were losing their lives. Jesus showed us his Kingdom advances like no other on the face of the earth. NOTHING can stop it. We just don't believe it any more.....so we continue to do it our own way all the while feeling we are losing and just trying to hang on until the end.

There is something worth laying everything down for. That is the way ahead with Jesus. He is not competing with anyone anymore.

THE DANGER OF THE PUNITIVE WAY

If we are interested in the freedom awaiting those who would take up residence in the Kingdom of God, it seems it is important we know what it is. The Church that resides in countries that have democratic governments, seem more interested in preserving their personal freedoms for themselves and others, than they are interested in the freedom Christ came to give us.

Punitive measures work for folks that learn and submit to rules of conformity. For societies to have a sense of order that is good. This has nothing to do with what God is about. Actually it does, it just works differently.

I have been around a lot of people who are conformists and inside they are as rebellious as those acting out openly. I've been both, probably still have alittle of both still in me. He is still working on that. It seems to me it was the conformist crowd that produced the pharisees that gave Jesus so much grief?

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the rebellious son came to his senses and the conformist son was still trapped in his sin. What was the conformist son's sin? He was trying to earn his father's affection and love and probably many other things were hiding there also. Everyone today that looks at the those struggling in sin with disdain, need to understand, it was the sin of the younger brother and the extravigant love of the father, Jesus was using to expose the sin of the older brother, the conformist.

Don't be fooled by conformity. This is what punitive measures get us most of the time. If we keep presenting a God of punitive ways instead of the loving Father of the cross, who was willing to take that which was killing us into himself to set us free, people will continue to hide or act out in anger and fear. Those that act out, we will reject and those that conform, we will embrace. We are so easily fooled using this measuring stick.

HOW I AM UNDERSTANDING COMPASSION

Learning to live, holding our past and present lives together as sinner and saint.

If we forget where we came from, where we were when Christ found us, our perspective will be a religious one. It will do more harm than good. It is the twists in people's lives caused by hurt, rejection, unworthiness, shame, guilt, fear and ultimately, separation from the One who brings meaning to life that people are struggling under.

In his compassion he made a way for us all to find our way out. Compassion is what the world needs. We have the privilege of being the ones that carry the message of reconciliation to them by caring for them and loving them as he did.

Punitive measures aren't solving any of our problems and never have.

FLESH (death) vs. SPIRIT (life) 2nd post today, my wife and girls are gone tonight....

Waking up trying to abstain from the flesh is still a life lived focused on the flesh. We are to live a life focused on the spirit. Trying to get people (or even worse, forcing people) to focus on their sin, to get free of it, is as much death as the sin itself. It is a losing battle. The Church has damaged so many people by doing this.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is what got us all in trouble in the first place. Forcing the law on people (do this, don't do that) is feeding people from this tree. It is the Tree of Life we are all in need of and need to help people understand. One brings life. One will always produces death. Maybe this is a big reason the Church is in so much trouble?

Why do we believe more in our ability to manage sin in ourselves and others, more than we believe in the grace of God as demonstrated through the life of Christ to really transform us? I think many are afraid of grace and don't think it will change people. They think people will trample it under foot and take advantage of it. Guess what, many will and do. I think we are all guilty of it sometimes. Come on, let's be real. But it doesn't change the fact that this is what Jesus offers us that changes us. We shouldn't with hold it just because some will take advantage of it. The grace and mercy demonstrated through the cross is still the power unto salvation.

It seems many believe in the power of shame and guilt to transform more so than they believe in grace. Shame and guilt are actually killers. Exploiting people's shame and guilt causes them to hide. The message of the cross is this, someone took this from us. HE TOOK IT FROM US.

I wonder, what would happen if everyone who professed they believed the gospel, actually lived trying to take people's shame and guilt off of them as Jesus did, so they could understand God loves them just as they are?

We might just see a wonderously free Body of Christ?

God loves us out of our alternate stories (lives) that we are living. He does that, because that way of living is killing the objects of his affection(us).

THIS SOUNDS LIKE WHAT A LIFE HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD MIGHT BE LIKE

This life of living in the Kingdom of God is not about rule keeping. This is about learning to live free. Paul had learned to live free and he knew of his security in the very heart of God because of what Christ had done.

In light of the last few posts, Today I thought of this passage of scripture from The Message from Galatian 2: 17-21

Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?) And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren't perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous. If I was "trying to be good," I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Here's some more on this from Romans 8 in the NIV

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful humanity to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in human flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

SELF CENTEREDNESS

A co-worker the other day was appalled at her teenage daughter's selfishness and attitude of thinking life revolved around her. I ask her what was more sinister. A teenage adolecent openly acting this way or adults that have become much better over the years at concealing the fact that they manipulate and control people and events to get what they want?

Most adults do the very same thing. Start paying attention to how often someone is trying to manipulate you to get something from you. People being nice at times is a manipulation. People acting in anger is a way of manipulating. This works out in many ways most are never aware of.

Then start paying attention to how often you do it to those around you.

LIFE HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD VS. LIFE IN THE LAND OF RELIGIOUS RULE KEEPING

There is a big difference and the agendas that motivate from these two drastically different places are worlds apart.

A life of rule keeping is motivated by fear. The most love distorting fear is the fear of God. Yes, I do believe that. I know the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. But I think the kicker in that passage of scripture, which most of us have failed to understand is, it is the BEGINNING of wisdom. Fear never perfects love in us. Perfect love casts out fear. For those who still fear, the work of God's love is not being work out in them. Law keeping is driven by a fear of what will happen to us if we don't jump through these hoops. Law keeping (which everyone but Christ, has proven we are not good at) was a tool in which God used to prove this very point to mankind. We don't do well trying to live within forced boundaries.

Often folks use children to speak of the constant testing of boundaries. It is a good example. But we adults need to get really real about this. Adults are even worse at it. We are just better at disguising our law breaking tendencies. Unless something happens deep in our hearts.

If that transformation doesn't happen, we just move on to rule breaking that we can hide. We might obey the speed limit but we get angry at someone who cuts us off in traffic. We might not steal but we will exploit people to get what we want. We might not commit adultery but lust still resides in the heart and mind. We might not look or act like control freaks but everything that we do is an attempt to get our way with people and situations. We in the Church are appalled at sexual sins but over-look the greed, gossip, back-biting, and hunger for power that is so corrupting our relationships with each other. This is what law keeping produces. This is the life we get, living in the land of religious rule keeping. And I will be as bold to say this; IT PRODUCES NOTHING ELSE!!!!!! It is shallow, it is not what God in Christ paid such a high price for. IT IS THE VERY THING HE DESIRES TO DELIVER US FROM.

A life hidden with Christ in God is not about religious rule keeping. It is about setting us free from the condition that makes us law breakers. Living life out in an alternate story other than what God designed for us, will always create disastrous results. Just look around. The Mainstream Church is suffering under it just like those outside of any pursuit of God are. If we deny the condition of the church and ourselves I mentioned above, we have our heads so buried in the mud we are suffocating.

There is great news though. We have a patient, loving, gracious and merciful God. If you all haven't noticed, He doesn't seem to be whacking anybody right now. I'm not getting whacked when I fall short of the mark. I am not perfected yet. If God is about judgement for law breakers, I should get whacked when I make mistakes(sin). Instead, He wraps those loving arms around me and says: "Kent, I know how to rescue you from that. I made a way for you to be freed from that twist in your life that doesn't reflect my nature. It's found in the life that is hidden with Christ in Me."

What law keeping could never do, God accomplished in the life, death and resurrection of the son. We are invited into this awesome mystery that is so far beyond rule keeping. In this land of the life hidden with Christ in God, the law becomes promise. When we find the unconditional love of God being worked out in us we will not want to do any of these things any more and in Him we find the power of the spirit that will make it so. He can crush that old law breaking man I once was a slave to. Life in Him becomes a life focused on the spirit. The spirit is not law, it is LIFE and FREEDOM. The land of law keeping, is a life focused on the flesh. I think it was the Apostle Paul that said, a life focused on the flesh is what produces death in us.

Let's get on with living the life hidden with Christ in God. We can't produce this, so don't try. Get to know the One who has made it possible and wants to free you from the tyranny of law keeping..

LIVING IT OUT THERE, IN THE WORLD, LIKE WE BELIEVE IT

I've been so challenged to step out in faith and live like I believe the "Good News". The gospel is such good news. Jesus said" Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." What better news could there be?

Look around you, people are lonely, they are scared, they are broken and need hope. Jesus seemed to be drawn to the marginalized in society. It seems like He was keenly aware of the fact that they were closer to entering his Kingdom than anyone else.

Were they closer because they were holier? Or could it be that they were closer because they were more aware of there lost and hopeless condition?

Having too many props and back ups can be a very dangerous thing for those that always seem to be able to make it on their own. They can keep us from really having to trust God.

When we are in control, God isn't.

I am so intrigued by this thought. This whole thing we call our life is a blip on the pages of the story God is working out. It started before the world was created and it will come into it's fullness with Christ's return and the establishing of the new heavens and new earth. Adam and Eve were the first ones who decided to try to live an alternate story by not believing what God had said to them. How many of us are on the same page with God and the story He is working out? How many of us are trying to live our own story not believing what He has invited us into?

For the Church to be effective in the things of God, out there in the mess of the world, in the mess of our own lives, we need to be on God's page knowing what His story is about.

ARE WE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE FOR OTHER'S TRANSFORMATION? OR WILL THE CHURCH JUST CONTINUE TO ATTACK?

I took this first part from a post of a few days ago. I wanted to contrast it with some thoughts from "Hope Against Darkness" by Richard Rohr.

We shouldn't be surprised that the Church mirrors perfectly about all the same destructive behaviors that they are screaming at the world outside about. What's worse for the Church is all the while heaping a big dose of judgement on everybody but themselves, the judgement seems to always come back on the one that lives in judgement of others. The end result at this time is this; the church has pretty much became exactly the same.

Richard says this:

"To attack the person out there is usually to simply continue the problem, because he or she is a victim, too. The reason people do evil, why they hate, sin, make mistakes is because somewhere they have been hurt, rejected, excluded or wounded. They just keep passing it on. And the cycle repeats and spreads. Jesus, you could say, came to break and even stop the cycle. Punitive behavior only continues the same old game and, I am afraid, most of the Church itself has yet to understand this. We still think it is about forcing conformity instead of seeking true interior transformation. True transformation always demands that we pay the price for the other's growth. We would rather punish and coerce a response. God is much more patient."

GRACE

These are some of the words to the song "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I'm posting the link to the AIDS Video again set to this song along with a quote from the video that I just can't get out of my head. Songs are powerful things in my life as you all know by now. Images (especially those I never want to forget) set to music will stay with me forever. I'm glad this song, when I hear it, will forever play these images in my head.

"Sometimes in an effort to remind people of the cost of the cross, we withhold grace until we are sure they understand their sin. But it is in giving of our grace that we remind people that they need to go to Jesus to find their own. People understand their sin without our help. It’s grace they need help in understanding."

We need to understand grace. We need it for ourselves and everyone around us needs it also. Grace has the ability to change everything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idcAAQtWzP0

JUDGEMENT vs GRACE

We shouldn't be surprised that the Church mirrors perfectly about all the same destructive behaviors that they are screaming at the world outside about. What's worse for the Church is all the while heaping a big dose of judgement on everybody but themselves, the judgement seems to always come back on the one that lives in judgement of others. The end result at this time is this; the church has pretty much became exactly the same.

This is what I'm learning. I am no different than anyone else if I in turn live in judgement of the "Church Sub Culture" or the world. What I am feeling challenged to do, is live as I see and feel God's spirit leading me to live. Free to do that and free to leave everything else for Him to set straight if he wants to set it straight.

What I also feel challenged to do, when I see an opening, is to bring attention to the fact that we all need to take a long hard look at ourselves. We need to be reminded that critical thinking is vital to our spiritual health. We are told to measure everything according to scripture. If Jesus is the exact representation of God his life seems to be a good place to start. Actually, he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I think the point is, if we start with him, live with him and finish with him that is the goal.

I came to see very clearly that my life was and is in need of some major adjustments. I'm beginning to believe and see something much more awesome than I have been about for along time.

Taking an assessment of our lives can be scary. When I started seeing where my life was out of sorts with God's heart there were moments that were gut wrenching. It was territory I was unfamiliar with. Some of the adjustments have just been little tweaking. What I have experienced this year can not be described that way. It has been a shaking like I could have never imagined. I am feeling like I'm getting my footing again. But here is something else that is new. I do not trust that the shaking is over. Nore do I want it to be. The shaking is God's grace. It is an attempt to set us free from our own way that is distorting and keeping us from living as he wants us to live.

I need that grace every day because I do not trust myself at all when it comes to these things. This life is a flowing tide. He is all there is to hang onto. He thinks so differently than I do so he moves in ways I would not naturally go. I do want to follow but it is so easy to get distracted and caught up in the noise all around me.

But I will press on because I do not want to go back.

I want to live graciously. There is enough judging already going around and it has never ever done anyone any good.

"Grace rarely ever makes sense to those looking in from the outside."

BELIEVE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

What does being a citizen in the Kingdom of God look like to you? I'm seeing he has called us to be about something so drastically different than we see in the world and especially in most of what I would call the Christian Sub Culture that exists today. A peculiar people does not mean weird though. Different priorities? Absolutely!!!!!!

GOD'S STORY?

Either we are a part of the most incredible mystery initiated by the Creator of everything in Heaven and Earth or this is the biggest sham some sick mind came up with to control a group of people they were afraid of.

Which one do you believe?

Does this sound like a good plan? Your King is born in straw poverty with nothing to call his own. When he becomes a man, he will set out to tell those in the world that basically everything they think they know is wrong. Not only are they wrong, they are really wrong. And their wrongness is killing them.

He then proceeds to lay out were REALITY is really found. He says it is found in Him. If that isn't hard enough to except he then continues to make it even seem more preposterous. Here’s where it gets really hard to accept. Unless.... something happens in us.

The world says, the powerful rule. And that is what it looks like. He says the meek shall inherit the earth and it is in weakness that power is really found.

Those following the world’s way of thinking are fighting to be first. He says, he who is last is first and who ever is first is last.

The world says fight for what you believe in, he seems to say if it is worth having, lay down your life for it.

The world says, put your trust in us, we will protect you and take care of you. He says those who trust in themselves and the arm of the flesh will be disappointed. He says there is only one we should trust.

The world tells us and shows us vengeance is the quickest way to solve disputes. It’s funny though how disputes never seem to be resolved this way. He tells us to leave that to him. He then proceeds to tell us, not only should we not use violence, but he tells us if someone strikes you, offer them the other cheek. And the story continues to go on and on like this.

His life on earth ends in what seems like, the biggest waste of all. An innocent man(actually the only one ever to live) gets accused of something and has to go in front of, what at the time, was the most "powerful" man alive. He tells that man that he has no power, but that which His Father in Heaven had given him. That man then has him killed. I bet you there wasn't anyone standing there that day that thought for a second Jesus was right in his assessment of who had the power.

The story then jumps forward a couple of days and something mysterious happens and turns everything up side down. Actually, it sets in motion the thing that would turn everything right side up.

Do we live like we believe this?

Either this is the most awesome mystery we have been invited to participate in or this is a joke?

As I look around, it seems trying to live in-between these two drastically different ways of life might just be killing us also?

(Part 6) RIDICULOUS VOICES ANSWERING LIFE'S MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Who am I? Why am I here? What is this all about? What gives meaning to life?

There are way too many ridiculous voices answering these questions for us. And usually without exception, they are wrong. TV (news, entertainment shows, sitcoms, movies, reality shows that have nothing to do with reality.) Violent sex filled movies get sucked up faster than Hollywood can pump them out. How did we all get to a place where we seem to buy into all of this? One of the things I feel is hurting us in all this stuff is we don't have to think for ourselves anymore. Someone else will tell us what to think. No wonder we are so confused. I think most of us aren't even remotely aware of it. We feel that there is something wrong but we can't seem to put our finger on what it is. It is killing us.

Critical thinking seems to be a lost art. Speaking of art, we rarely see good art anymore. Good art has been replaced with junk art. Junk art tells you everything. You don't have to think. Junk art is simple and transparent. Good art always stretches us. The substance is hidden, the listener or on-looker must search for it. The beauty of this is we all might see something different depending on where we are in our journeys. It always cause us to ask questions. It rarely ever answers the question. Questions seem to take us places answer never do. Answers are a final destination. If the answers are wrong the destination will be wrong. Questions send us off on a journey. They should make us uncomfortable because they challenges us to move from where we are on towards a better place. Think of Jesus's use of Parables. We are some what robbed of the mystery of them. We haven't had good treacher that know how to handle them. Actually, we need teachers who know how to bring this lost art form back . Present day parables. Instead, they just tell us what to do. It's easier and honestly they don't trust us to figure it out on our own with the spirit as our teacher.

This life really isn't about what I wear, where I live, where I work, what car I drive, how much money I have saved? I know these things are a part of living but they are not what life is about. If life isn't found in these things why do we spend so much of our time(physical and mental) pursuing them? I believe, to the degree we are caught up here, our ability to know the Way, the Truth, and the Life is diminished.

This has been a year of seeing a lot of the non-essential things in my life exposed. Can I continue to live free of these distractions? I don't know?
Am I going to try? You bet I am. I have never felt more alive. I have never felt freer of anger and frustration. My mind has never felt less cluttered.

I have thought of this so often this year:

THE JOURNEY IS LONG AND HARD, THE SECRET IS TO TRAVEL LIGHT.

This has been a new reality this year not only in the physical but I think even more importantly in my mind. The voices have been quieted. They are still here all around, but I am recognizing them for what they are. RIDICULOUS VOICES......DISTRACTIONS......NOISE THAT DROWNS OUT THAT STILL SMALL VOICE THAT HAS NEVER STOPPED SPEAKING.

If the sons and daughters of God are led by the spirit of God, it seems to me it would be necessary to hear His voice. The non-essential things get in the way and choke His life out. Without Him, I am lost.

(Part 5) AND I DON'T KNOW THE LIMIT, THE LIMIT OF WHAT WE'VE GOT ( please start down below with "I hear voices..."

I love the U2 song Zooropa and the title to this post comes from that song. During the band's ZooTV tour in the mid 90's, they used massive amounts of over stimulation to draw attention to the desperately lost condition of the culture at that time. Unfortunately it continues today. Zooropa came from that period.

You can see the lyrics at this link
http://nthegarden.blogspot.com/2006/10/ongoig-problem-for-us-in-west-yes-even.html

Out of control CONSUMERISM is one of the most in-vogue drugs of our day. Whether it is materialism or all kinds of entertainment(all pleasure based stuff) we are numbing ourselves and in turn we are probably among the weakest people emotionally in the world. It doesn't bode well for our country with the dangers and challenges that we face today here at home and abroad.

( side note: Our government actually uses war and self serving foreign policy to defend this over-indulgent lifestyle.)

And the Church is not in any better condition. Maybe even worse because we are unaware of the effects it has had on us. We face two dilemmas. We are numb also but we are terribly confused. We cover up our greed for money and things by calling it "God's Blessing." If we really take an honest look at ourselves do we really believe we deserve all we have because of......WHAT? I mean, come on. How can we possibly believe this God we believe in finds us so much more worthy of blessing and ease of life over some beautiful believer in Africa trying to save her three children dying of AIDS or malaria or starvation?

http://www.miniature-earth.com/ watch the short clip at this link

I'm being awakened to this condition that has been a part of me. I'm asking Him to show me the way out.

(Part 4) NATIONALISM

I ALSO MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO PART 3

How divided are our allegiances? Is this our home? I think we are suppose to live as sojourners in a strange land that is not our home. Does the idea of Nationalism fit with someone who is following Jesus and trying to live the life he proclaimed and demonstrated?

When we begin to look to our Government for protection and security isn't it hard (if not impossible) to live by the new idea Jesus proposed? Love your enemy. Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile?

Don't get me wrong here. I am not saying the Government does not have the right to defend herself. But as followers of Christ how do I live by Jesus's words and at the same time support action by our Government that violates those words? Is this a good example of how it is impossible to serve them both?

Scripture seems to point out that God is the one that raises and lowers goverments and govermental leaders for His on-going purposes. That seems like something He does. I'm comfortable with that. I myself lived for years conflicted trying to balance serving both things. Today I feel He is sorting out in me where my hope is and where to put my trust and my heart and my head when it comes to these matters.

I'm feeling more at peace with these things than ever before.

(Part 3) THE DREAM OF GOD, OR MY DREAM? ****This was adjusted some on 11/4***

Can we do both? Scripture seems to say no. I'm starting to say this. Why would I trade what the Creator of the Universe has already dreamed up for mankind, for something my limited brain might dream up?

I THINK THIS COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN INTITLED "THE FEAR OF LIVING"

The world system screams at us that we can make our lives whatever we want them to be. RIDICULOUS VOICE!!!!(first off, this is only really possible for a small few of the world's population) It is an option for some and we do get to participate with God in this. Career paths and such are endless. But I think we need to stay aware of how easy it is to get caught up in what the world system tells us is important. It is so easy, at least it seems, for these things to get in the way of following Jesus. One trap to watch out for is when we are dreaming up what we want our lives to be, we are living way out in front of today. Planning for a tomorrow that we might not ever reach and in turn often missing what we are to be about today.

Jesus says today has enough trouble of it's own. Why worry about and plan for something when right now is all you have. And your Father knows all that you need. I'm seeing this as part of that dream God has already dreamed up.

I have no answers for how this falls out in anyone's life but my own. Yours will look different than mine. For me, this whole idea of being afraid to live in the dream God has already set in motion, has become another important thing to ponder.

Matthew 6:19-34

I feel I also need to say this, don't let the fact that the society we live in is set up to where some planning and thinking ahead seems to be necessary. I know that. But if we are to take the passages in Matthew serious, what do they mean for us? How do we keep from getting distracted from God's dream for us?

Live loved and love.

NOTE: the next two post have been gut wrenching realities I have had to face this year. And I mean they were gut wrenching for me.

(Part 2) THE FEAR OF DYING KEEPS US FROM LIVING. DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE IS KEY

PLEASE READ THE POST "I HEAR VOICES, RIDICULOUS VOICES" FIRST

I’m going to start with what I think is maybe the biggest hindrance of all. The fear of dying. As long as this remains, the sacrificial life of Christ will make no sense at all to us. It will be one of the biggest deterrents to us living loved and loving. Self-preservation modes distort everything. I think this even stands in the way of the work of the cross in our lives. As long as we are in self-preservation mode we are still trying to control our lives. The false self will protect it’s turf unfortunately at all costs. This seems to be par for the course for most of what passes as the Christian life here in the West.

Where we are in control, He isn’t.

I believe all we can do in this area of fear and control is ask Him to show each of us what things stand in the way of us finding freedom.

This is a good Podcast to take the time to listen to. Don't let his strange delivery cause you to stop short of hearing it all.

http://www.emergentvillage.com/podcast/stanley-hauerwas-on-theology

(Part 1) I HEAR VOICES, RIDICULOUS VOICES

“Where there is no vision, my people parish.”


Yes, I believe Jesus is to be our focus. He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

But what does that mean for us as individuals and the Body of Christ?

I don’t really fully know yet.

I do think I am seeing what it is not though. Or at least what keeps us from finding out what it means.

I HEAR VOICES, RIDICULOUS VOICES. And I know almost everybody walking and breathing today(at least here in America) hear them also.

I at least know this: EVERYTHING THE WORLD TELLS US IT IS, IS WRONG!!!!!!!

Jesus did tell us what it is not and the warning was clear. The Life will be choked out. If The Life is choked out how will we know The Way and The Truth? No, He didn’t spell it out for us in neatly defined terms. Following Him has never been neatly defined. But I believe if we ask the questions that need asked we will find that He will show us where He wants each of us to go.

Look at Mark 4:19

I believe before I myself, and the Body(His Church) can find what The Way, The Truth, and The Life look like, we have to find out what it is not. If we never recognize the things that compete for our loyalty, we will always wander around in a fog. It is difficult, if not impossible, to have vision in this fog.

What are these ridiculous voices?

I’m going to try over the next few days to explain some of the voices and how they effect us and keep us from knowing The Way, believing The Truth, and living The Life.

If this just gets us thinking about some of these things and laying them before God, that alone will be a good start.

Let me know if you are out there and are interested.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Jesus demonstrated the life for his followers so clearly and in turn we make it fuzzy. We then proceed in setting down hard lines and boundries Jesus never spoke of or demonstrated.