NOVEMBER 12, 2016

“To be in Christ -- that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you -- that is sanctification!” 
― W. Ian Thomas

EZEKIAL 1-3

1He said to me, “Son of man,^a stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

3He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.(2:1-3) 

HEBREWS 9

14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,^c so that we may serve the living God!

JOURNAL 

Over the last several years I have read numerous books, articles etc regarding the ancient ceremonies of rights of passage. While these were mainly done for boys becoming men...there definitely is a noticeable absence of this in our culture. While I do believe baptism is way of formally acknowledging our salvation and emergence as followers of Christ, I know that at least for me...there has been a missing element.  

The missing element is that this emergence is to symbolize a change in objective and pursuit of the believer. Life is no longer to be about mere survival to fit into society and community. Life is to take on a new objective which is to live life pursuing God's call and in obedience to him. This is radical. The call itself has to be a turning from seeking the world and instead seeking God and his direction. It can no longer be about what we get but rather what we can give. It can no longer be about righting wrongs for ourselves but rather about righting wrongs for others. It can no longer be about our individual achievement but rather the collective redemption of others. 

This process first starts though with the self in our own mind and heart. It is here that God calls and it is here that we must choose and answer that call. It is here that we must first surrender to the spirit. From the internal comes the pouring out of the spirit to others, into our community and world. However the spirit and the manifestation of that comes first within our own soul. 

23Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

PROVERBS 4:23

NOVEMBER 11, 2016

“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.” 
― Martin Luther King Jr.

LAMENTATIONS 3-5

14The elders are gone from the city gate;

the young men have stopped their music.

15Joy is gone from our hearts;

our dancing has turned to mourning.

16The crown has fallen from our head.

Woe to us, for we have sinned!

17Because of this our hearts are faint,

because of these things our eyes grow dim(5:14-17) 

HEBREWS 8

I will put my laws in their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

11No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

12For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”^c

JOURNAL 

God desires to restore and be our God. We are created to know him. When we know him we are redeemed. Joy is restored to us. We know longer exist just to exist, our eyes are filled with the power of the creator of the universe. The energy radiating from us is the same energy that created the world and that raised Jesus from death. 

This is the answer to everything I am searching for in my life. It is greater than all the wealth of the world. It is greater than any honor or earthly relationship. This is why we are called to surrender our lives...because until I surrender I do not have room for God. For God does not desire part of my heart...he desires it all because he cannot contain part of my life, he must have it all. 

31“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

LUKE 14:31-33

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

LAMENTATIONS 1-2

19Arise, cry out in the night,

as the watches of the night begin;

pour out your heart like water

in the presence of the Lord.(2:19) 

HEBREWS 7

23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely^c those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

JOURNAL 

The image of Christ interceding for me is really overwhelming. To see Christ standing in my place...accounting for my deeds, taking on my failures is really hard both intellectually and emotionally. This is how and why we are "born again" for instead of our mother protecting us and standing for us while we were in the womb...we transfer that hope and protection to Christ who now stands for us and protects us. It is after this that we are born again into the world. Born with power, love and a discipline to seek, follow and obey God. 

3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^a ”

4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^bgives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^c must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^d

JOHN 3:3-8

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

“Stay hungry, stay young, stay foolish, stay curious, and above all, stay humble because just when you think you got all the answers, is the moment when some bitter twist of fate in the universe will remind you that you very much don't.” 
― Tom Hiddleston

JEREMIAH 51-52

 1Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 2He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. 3It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence.(53:1-3) 

HEBREWS 6

10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

JOURNAL 

The day after...I stayed up till 3:00 am and then got up at 5:30. I am a little disoriented and tired, grumpy and pretty much want to just go to bed. I watched the two concession speeches and also watched Donald Trumps acceptance speech last night. On the surface I was moved by all 3. I really got the sense and the feeling that this is no longer about either of them and that they truly are working as servants of the people of this country. 

Then I go and get on social media and still the arrogance, hatred, haughtiness and outright rebellion on both sides makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. To see people just take on this type of in your face...we won...we are better than you attitude is so disgusting. Why should I expect othewise? I guess I am just a dreamy eyed idealist who believes that the best in us happens when we work collectively with those who are different and with whom we disagree for the common good. I really believe that and scripture commands us to do just that. It tells us to be loving, humble, kind, selfless, and a servant of our fellow man.

How does that message get so used and twisted by people who claim to have given their lives in obedience to God. How is it possible to find such pleasure and satisfaction in wanting to destroy people and see them hurt, while acknowledging that we are sinners saved by grace.  How can those two frames of mind exist? 

Reality is that I face it in my own heart and soul everyday. It may not look the same but it occurs when laziness and avoidance substitute service and sacrifice. When I choose to ignore doing things that would bring joy, service and love to others and instead choose to indulge in things that only bring comfort to myself. It is still all a version of sin and selfishness of which I must always know is lurking in my heart and soul. 

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 

1 TIMOTHY 1:15-16

NOVEMBER 8, 2016

“Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” 
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

JEREMIAH 49-50

6“My people have been lost sheep;

their shepherds have led them astray

and caused them to roam on the mountains.

They wandered over mountain and hill

and forgot their own resting place. (50:6) 

HEBREWS 5

7During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

JOURNAL 

Election day. There is so much angst, fear, excitement, passion that today just feels pregnant with life. I never thought of it in this vein. But it's so true that this day brings to the surface passions, beliefs and the spirit that actually created this country. Yes there are arguments and ridiculous statements and people are funneling their hopes into two humans who by nature are flawed and full of sin.

Yet on the other hand their is something divine about the passion. At least people care...at least apathy does not rule the day. At least people are willing to make statements and take stands and offer opinions.

It is pretty fascinating to read these words in Hebrews and how it was Jesus' "reverent submission" and that "he learned obedience from what he suffered". That this made him "perfect" and because of that "he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him". So obedience through suffering is what made him perfect. 

Therefore it is no different for us...we become "perfect" through our obedience in suffering. We can claim eternal life through this path...it is both humbling and a bit daunting, yet he has already traveled this road and will never leave us as we walk the road God has for us.

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

HEBREWS 29:11-13