Do I Deny the Resurrection?

These words are so powerful to me. They are not my words but those of Hugh Hollowell and Peter Rollins. I can add nothing…

Without equivocation or hesitation I fully and completely admit that I deny the resurrection of Christ. This is something that anyone who knows me could tell you, and I am not afraid to say it publicly, no matter what some people may think…

I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.

However there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.

As you might expect, this does not calm the questioners down. They accuse me of not understanding the question. I understand the question perfectly well. I think they are the ones who do not know what they are asking.

So let me be even more clear:

The ancient story is that the most powerful government the world had ever known, Rome, had done the worst thing it could imagine to this man Jesus. They beat him and killed him by the most brutal means at their disposal. Yet and still, the last words on his lips are reported to be his asking God to forgive his killers. On that Friday, the powers of the world said “No” to Jesus and the Kingdom of God he was preaching. If the tomb was empty on that Sunday morning long ago, that was God’s “Yes” to Rome’s “No”. If the tomb was empty, then love overcame power and vindicated Jesus. It means that Jesus was right – the Kingdom of God is at hand, and we are invited to live in it.

If I swear allegiance to this Kingdom, where apparently the dream of God is that it be on Earth as it is in Heaven, then that has implications for how I live. If I pledge allegiance to the USA, it means I should not sell secrets to China. If I pledge allegiance to the Kingdom of God, then I cannot see how I can lend aid and support to the powers that oppose it, such as consumerism, militarism, class disparity and xenophobia.

If I act hateful, or in fact, less than loving to my neighbor, I have denied the resurrection just as surely as my selling state secrets to China denies my allegiance to the USA. I can wave a flag all day, but if I am acting against my country, you can hardly call me a patriot. And I can believe whatever you want about what happened that Sunday morning, but if I am not using what power I have to help God bring the Kingdom into fruition, to help make it on Earth as it is in Heaven, I don’t expect you to call me a Christian.

Makes Sense to Me

The Heart Life

Sunday, March 27, 2011

My devo was about the heart this morning. It basically said that God gives us a new heart when we invite Christ into our heart. And it is with this new heart that we live the free abundant life in connection with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and with ourselves and with our fellow man.

So, first we invite Christ into our heart and he does His thing: cleansing, purifying and sanctifying; then,

We do our part by:

Doing the next right thing and practicing living a life in ways that are opposite of the character defects that we identify in the fourth and tenth step (self examination); and by,

Getting right with others by making amends as directed in the eighth and ninth steps.

And then I live a tenth step life when I:

"watch over my heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23); and,

"listen, my son, and be wise, and direct my heart in the way of God (Proverbs 23:15), and

"fill my mind and meditate on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse (Philippians 4:8), which is,

more practice, and is,

living fully, resulting in

God's glory as man fully alive.

Amen.

Spring Break II

Hamp and I had a good time chasing falls in Tennessee and winding up our jaunt in the Sipsey Wilderness. We started out freezing cold and ended soaking wet. All in all a great venture was had. I love being out and away with the bone just cruising, chatting, and not knowing what comes next.

We found Cummings Falls outside Cookeville, TN and it was beautiful:

 Next, was Falls Creek Falls in middle TN and it was even more impressive (to me):

Last but not least, this is a short clip at East Bee Branch in the Sipsey Wilderness Area. We were camping at Ship Rock on the Thompson Creek trail section and had hiked about 4 miles from camp to here - the Bee Branch - the place with the giant poplar tree and great falls. I was a tad bit surprised there was not more water running in the falls but they were still beautiful and the water was plenty wet and cold.

What a beautiful creation You have have given. Thank You. I pray that I am a good steward of all You give.

First morning

This is our first morning in a state park in TN. We got here late last night (typical) and had no idea where we were or what the place was like (like life if you think about it).

We both froze our butts off, me especially, in 30 degree weather and with a busted zipper on my bag and unable to zip it up. I think after 25 years I'll have to break down and get a new one.

It's kind of weird: seems like I've hit an age or point in my life where things are worn out and have to be replaced: car, sleeping bag, and perhaps most importantly, old ideas. As my friend Adele recently reminded me: it ain't an old idea if you're still thinking about it, and especially, if you're acting on it. She's a wise owl.

Here's the bone still snoozing away:


Another:


Yum, breakfast:


Now, it's time to cruise.

Thank you God for all my blessings you have given me. I pray strongly for the people of Japan and hope that good things can begin to come about there after that devastating tsunami.

I love you.

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Location:Edgar Evins State Park Rd,Silver Point,United States

Spring Break 2011

The beginning...




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I Love This

The Gratitude Dance

I love this:

A Self Centered View of the Steps

Man I'm grateful for sponsors and folks with good sobriety sharing their simple experience, strength and hope.

Back to Basics: The 12 Steps in One Day

What a day. What a week. I do feel like the blocks have been removed and we actually touched this week.

I have had a great day going through the Back to Basics 12 Steps in a Day.

And earlier this week when You revealed the source of my resentments and fears that go way back to when I was just four years old to the experience of going through the steps in one day. I definitely have had a spiritual experience this week; actually two.

Wow.

God. I am so grateful.

I pray that I will just love You, my family and friends, and others - especially those that are hard to love - and that I will live out that love by being of maximum service to you and the people about me.

I give all of me to you - good and bad - to take me and do with me what You will. I pray that You will remove from me all of my defects of character which stand in the way of my usefulness to You and my fellows. Grant me strength as I go out to do Your bidding. I love You so much.

thank you.

thank you.

thank you.


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Happy Birthday Bob

Santa Jesus

I'm shamed to say that, if truth be told, far too many of my Christmases were spent with this attitude.

Thanks David.

Jesus and the Nazi

I love this picture but I’m not sure why.

Miss Your Church?

I recently came across this question and simply pass it along:

If your church were to suddenly disappear from your community, would anyone other than its members miss it?

Our Heaven

"God must take away the heaven we create or it will become our hell."
p. 100 of The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge

Wow. That is big. I have mixed feelings about that - to be honest.

God thwarts me in my pursuit of creating my own heaven because He loves me so much and knows that I would be digging my own hell. I really am created to be one in heart with God.

What a lover. What a hero.

I get it.

Thank you Lord.

I love you so much.


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Another hint…

 

Did I leave my heart in…

Man I miss that place.

… you were doing it to Me

 

Matthew 25:31-46 states:

The Final Judgment

³¹ “But when the Son of Man^[d] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. ³² All the nations^[e] will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,^[f] you were doing it to me!’

⁴¹ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.^{[g] 42} For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

⁴⁵ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

⁴⁶ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

The following was published in my church newsletter recently:

WHAT ARE WE TO DO WHEN TRANSIENTS APPEAR?

Occasionally, transients or others in need will stop by **Church seeking assistance. Often their need is real and legitimate. Our consistent response is to send them to **Community Center, which helps churches across the community with such requests. In limited circumstances, we may offer assistance directly from our office if we deem it appropriate.

However, what do we do when transients show up on Sunday [as they sometimes do]? Our policy is to ask the people to come back the next day and go to **Community Center. **Community Center is supported by **Church and is best-equipped to deal with such situations. But again, in limited cases with extreme circumstances, we may offer assistance as best we can.

It is important to remember the Biblical call to care for the poor and needy.However, we are also cautioned to be “wise as serpents and gentle as doves.” Sadly, many of those who appear at our doors on Sunday intentionally “target” churches on the Sabbath because they know church people are “vulnerable.” These individuals often move from church to church, and have well-rehearsed stories of a need that demands immediate attention [“I can’t wait until tomorrow…!”].

Here’s what we recommend you do if a transient person shows up on

Sunday:

• Direct them to one of the church staff

• If they are persistent, walk away immediately

• UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE CASH

Since Jesus tells us that whenever we “did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me,” I thought it would be interesting to substitute Jesus’ name for each reference to the people described in the newsletter. This is how that reads: 

WHAT ARE WE TO DO WHEN JESUS APPEARS?

Occasionally, Jesus will stop by **Church seeking assistance. Often His need is real and legitimate. Our consistent response is to send Jesus to **Community Center, which helps churches across the community with such requests. In limited circumstances, we may offer assistance directly from our office if we deem it appropriate.

However, what do we do when Jesus shows up on Sunday [as He sometimes does]? Our policy is to ask Him to come back the next day and go to **Community Center. **Community Center is supported by **Church and is best-equipped to deal with such situations. But again, in limited cases with extreme circumstances, we may offer assistance as best we can.

It is important to remember the Biblical call to care for Jesus. However, we are also cautioned to be “wise as serpents and gentle as doves.” Sadly, Jesus may appear at our doors on Sunday and intentionally “target” churches on the Sabbath because He knows church people are “vulnerable.” Jesus often moves from church to church with  well-rehearsed stories of a need that demands immediate attention [“I can’t wait until tomorrow…!”].

Here’s what we recommend you do if Jesus shows up on Sunday:

• Direct Jesus to one of the church staff

• If Jesus is persistent, walk away immediately

• UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE CASH

I know the Jesus I’m madly in love with does not want me to be like that.

I so want to live out His Words.

Father, I pray for the knowledge of your will for me and the willingness and power to carry it out.

When Kingdoms collide

Lately I have become increasingly interested (again) in politics. When I was a teenager I was a page for our US Senator and got really interested in politics. However, as I grew older, the interest faded.

I wonder if I lost that interest years ago was because of the rank hypocrisy by which so many of us work and live, especially politicians – we say one thing and do another, ad nauseum. I wonder if that internal/external disconnect created (or touched) a subconscious fear in me that I just chose to avoid.

I don’t know. But as I continue my walk with Him in recovery, fears seem to slip away. Mind you, I still get scared from time in ordinary life – I certainly don’t want to get whacked by a semi while on the highway.

But since the fear of death, or perhaps the fear of what happens after death, has largely gone away, I wonder if this new freedom from fear has unearthed some old passions and desires that God long ago placed in my heart, one of which is politics.

Who knows. But I bet He will reveal that to me in His time.

I look forward to walking that with Him and finding out.

David and Goliath

I love this pic from one of my favorite bloggers, David Hayward:

His blog - the nakedpastor is here: nakedpastor