Is less more?
So two days ago I put up a post/blog that was not even two full sentences. This is in comparison to my mormal blogs which are much longer and much more effort is put into them. The funny thing is the two sentence blog was re-blogged and received triple the traffic.
This made me think of God’s economics. What we think or put a huge amount of effort into is nothing in comparison to just sitting at his feet and contemplating Him.
The first shall be blast and his wisdom goes contrary to mans is so evident at times and I still miss it. I guess that is why I’m so glad he’s keeping the books and not me. I know if it were on my effort and works I would fall short every time.
I have a daddy (God) who likes me a whole lot, in spite of me.
He made this world to be in a relationship with me/you. He did this all for me/you.
Think on that today…
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Slow Train Coming
There is a stirring over me this song. There is a conference coming up next weekend and during the announcements at New Day Lloyd Rindels started talking a bout the Mirror with the Word conference featuring Francois du Toit (the author of the The Mirror Translation Bible). Lloyd said his prayer time had been hijacked the day before. During his time with God he said he felt God said “that Zimmerman kid got it right.” For those of you who dont know it, Bob Dylan’s last name pre fame was Zimmerman. The song Slow Train Coming was coming to Lloyd. God was showing him that Francois du Toit was one of those cars on the train a coming. He is literally unknown but the message he is carrying is so important. Grace is nothing new. But its relevance is so important.
I’m going to leave it at that for now.
If you want to register for the conference click here
“Slow Train”
Sometimes I feel so low-down and disgusted
Can’t help but wonder what’s happening to my companions
Are they lost or are they found, have they counted the cost it’ll take to bring down
All their earthly principles they’re gonna have to abandon ?
There’s slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
I had a woman down in Alabama
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic
She said, Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic
There’s slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
All that foreign oil controlling American soil
Look around you, it’s just bound to make you embarrassed
Sheiks walking around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings
Deciding America’s future from Amsterdam and to Paris
And there’s slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
Man’s ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don’t apply no more
You can’t rely no more to be standing around waiting
In the home of the brave, Jefferson turning over in his grave
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
And there’s slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decencyAll non-believers and men stealers talking in the name of religion
And there’s slow, there’s slow train coming up around the bend.
People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it
They say loose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions
They talk about a life of brotherly love, show me someone who knows how to live it
There’s slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad-talking boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothing I could do to stop it
I don’t care about economy, I don’t care about astronomy
But it’s sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets
There’s slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
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Timmy, the Matrix, and Mulan…
I have been going through the Mirror Translation of the Bible by Francois du Toit and have been really appreciating Paul’s thought pattern. I have overlooked Timothy and randomly opened th book to 2 Timothy this morning.
2 Timothy 1:1
The amazing news of announcing this life which is unveiled in Christ Jesus is what my ministry is all about! The promise is a person! I, Paul, am a man on a mission
I really liked how succinctly this was worded. The purpose behind Paul’s mision, his objective was to introduce the man Jesus Christ. What Jesus did to bring back our original identity and redeemed innocence is vital to understand. The moment I started to see it was a watershed moment in my life. My view of Christianity totally changed. He came to restore man expose the laws expiration date. We were created to walk as sons and daughters and as heirs to God. We were not created to be servants but to be in a family type relationship.
Grace is a free gift that God has given to all! It is a matter of stepping into and accepting it. It has already been paid for and given. By accepting his gift he opens his store house. Most people think primarily of salvation but he took not only our sins but all our issues whether it is sin, pain, suffering, sickness, whatever… As a child of my physical parents I was brought into this world to be their son, not there servant. By birth into this family I am a part and take a stake in it. Eventually at my parents death will inherit whatever they have collected and accumulated in their lifetime.
I try to meet with a group of friends that talks about what we are studying or contemplating. We met last night and we were looking at Ephesians 5. Someone started out with verse 17.
Ephesians 5:17
Make his master plan your meditation.
We talked about what this verse meant to each of us. The main theme we came to somewhat of an agreement was keyed into Christ’s sacrifice bringing about our co-death and resurrection giving us the free gift of grace and wholeness of being found in Him. He is the purpose of the gospel. His restoration of our ability to be found in Him is foundational. Before Christ in ones personal life we are walking blindly like zombies. We are alive but no life within. This ties back to the verse in 2nd Timothy that I started with. The promise is a person and His name is Jesus!
Ephesians 5:14
This is the message of light; Christ awakens you from your intoxicated slumber and resurrects you out of the death trap of enslaved thought patterns.
Jesus, the reality and revelation awakens the zombie man. As we were talking I started getting visions of The Matrix. In The Matrix humans were sedated and put into a communal dream world which they were made to believe was reality. Much like man before Christ (BC). The awakening to the reality of the full ramifications of what Christ’s life and death as a man on this earth will wake one up from this dream world that we have believed is reality. Take off your temporal earthly glasses and put on some eternal lenses. Wake up!
2 Timothy 1:9
He resurrected the integrity of our original design and revealed that we have always been his own from beginning, even before time was. This has nothing to do with anything we did to qualify to disqualify ourselves. We are not talking religious good works or karma here. Jesus unveils grace to be the eternal intent of God! Grace celebrates our pre-creation innocence and now declares our redeemed union with God in Christ Jesus.
It’s a free gift that we don’t have to do anything to attain. We do not have to work for it. Prior to Jesus paid the price with his life. He died to redeem our sin nature. Man after Adams fall was born with a sin nature. From Jesus’s baptism to death om the cross our sin nature was taken for us if we walk into accepting it.
My youngest daughter was watching the Disney movie Mulan. The ending has always been a favorite of mine. In the scene Mulan brings a crest and a sword to show/prove what she had accomplished. But in the end her father could care less about the accomplishments and cared more about her relationship as a daughter. Even though she had achieved greatness in mans eyes that is not I what moved her father.
Fa Zhou: Mulan…
Mulan: [kneels] Father. I brought you the sword of Shan-Yu,l and the crest of the Emperor. They’re gifts, to honor the Fa family.[Fa Zhou drops the sword and crest on the ground and embraces Mulan]
Fa Zhou: The greatest gift and honor… is having you for a daughter.
Did I mention God’s my dad and he likes me ….. a lot!
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Daddy likes me!
Hebrews 3:1-7 TMT
Brothers, in context of our inclusion in Christ, we are blameless; we participate in his heavenly identity. We have become fully acquainted with Christ Jesus as ambassadors and Chief Priest of our confession. Our lives co-echo the logic of God’s eternal conversation in him.
Jesus is proof of God’s workmanship; he exhibits God persuasion concerning us. Jesus is what God believes about us. In Moses we have the prophetic model, demonstrated in his complete believe in God’s purpose displayed in the meticulous attention to detail regarding the construction of the tabernacle.
Yet his fame surpasses the glory of Moses, because the one who designs and constructs the house gets the greater glory.
Every house is an expression of someone’s design; God is the ultimate architect and Creator of all things. (He owns the blueprint.)
Moses took responsible charge of the administration of the Tabernacle as a servant of, and a witness to the prophetic voice.
But Christ is in charge of his own household nit as a servant but as a son. Understand this: we are part of this family; this is our real state not playing a role or doing a dress rehearsal. We are no longer talking prophetically in figures and analogies. We are bursting with confidence. What good reason we have for rejoicing! Our expectation, inspired by its foundation in prophecy, has now come to full fruition.
In Psalm 95:7-11, the Holy Spirit said, “Discern the voice of the Shepherd. Grasp the urgency of what God is saying to you today! (Sonship is the Father’s language [Heb 1:1])
Moses was under the Law and was acting as a servant. We have been called as sons, as heirs. We are not reacting as servants, we are heirs to walk in confidence that our dad has our backs. He stands beside us and wants the best for us/me/you. He has already paid the price of admission. My sin was taken on the sacrifical lamb Jesus.
I was listening to a MP3 by Bertie Brits on a seven hour drive back from Wisconsin on Sunday. I listened to it 3+ times. (I often will listen to things multiple timess to get the message, I might be thuck skulled). He was talking about how in the OT a sacrificial lamb would be brought before the priest. The animal was as innocent as can be, no sin no malice no nothing. The priest would lay his hands on the animal and spiritually transfer mans sin to the lamb. It then would be released into the wilderness taking the sin absolving man from its power. When John baptized Jesus, John acted as the high priest and placed his hands on Jesus. At that instance Jesus became that lamb. In the gospels Jesus comes to people and says things like “rise up your sins are forgiven” and people would be healed. He even said when questioned “what is it to say you are healed or your sins are forgiven? ”
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Wow! As I typed that last sentence I had an epiphany!
Ask yourself,
Why is it you can believe in forgiveness from sin (salvation) and not healing?
Dude! According to Jesus there should be no difference! Oh Mylanta! OKAY! More on that later
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I’m going to try and get back to my original thought but my bunny trailism is kicking in.
He walked the last three years of his life in a physical body here as that sacrifice culminating at the cross. His death brought about the full circle of redemption feom the cursw of the law. He brought us back to our original identity in Him. He adopted us as sons and daughters of God. We can now walk with boldness and confidence in him as heirs. Parents don’t want to raise servants but children who walk in relationship with them. They want to raise minnie me’s, someone to carry on in their footsteps. They want to be able to say “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. ” God wants the same for us/me/you. I foresee heaven as a place where I am in relationship with my heavenly daddy. I don’t see myself or anyone chained in place with a harp worshipping him all the time. I see an eternity of continuous relating with him.
Did I mention he’s my dad and he likes me ….. a lot!
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A coin left at Walmart
Romans 5
V1 Righteousness by faith realized means unlimited friendship with God; this is the ultimate conclusion of the Gospel. Jesus Christ is the legal authority of our testimony
V2 He has welcomed us with open arms and reinforced the fact that our access into this grace-gift is guaranteed by faith. We stand fully established in grace while we boldly rejoice in all that God’s opinion communicates and anticipates for us.
V3 Our joyful boasting in him remains uninterrupted in times of trouble; we know that pressure reveals patience. Tribulation doesn’t have what it takes to nullify what hope knows we’ve got!
V4 Patience pproves legal tender; which buys more positive expectation.
V5 This kind of hope does not disappoint; the gift of the Holy Spirit completes our every expectation and ignites the love of God within us like an artesian well.
V6 God’s timing was absolutely perfect; humanity was at their weakest when Christ died their death.
V7 It is most unlikely that someone will die for another man, even if he is righteous; yet it is remotely possible that someone can brave such devotion that he would actually lay down his own life in an effort to save the life of an extraordinary good person.
V8 Herein is the extremity of God’s love gift: mankind was rotten to the core when Christ died their death.
V9 If God could love us that much when we were ungodly and guilty, how much more are we free to realize his love now that we are declared innocent by his blood?
V10 Our hostility and indifference towards God did not reduce his love for us; he saw equal value in us when he exchanged the life of his son for ours. Now that the act of reconciliation is complete, his life in us saves us from the gutter-most to the utter-most.
V11 Thus, our joyful boasting in God continues; Jesus Christ has made reconciliation a reality.
I was walking through Walmart last night (late) looking for a grill to prep for a Mothers Day cookout. My grill of eight years has finally corroded into uselessness. My brother in law (Zachary) was with, his goal was to find A/C refrigerant for his car. We were in the automotive section and I had found a stack of silver metal cans of refrigerant. I noticed something odd about one of the cans. Upon closer inspection there was a larger silver coin. On one side was a copy of the 10 Commandments and on the other was a salvation message. I posted a picture of it above.
Here is my blog…
How probable is it that the coin or tract hits its mark? Historically I have apprehensive about tracts. Most have a fire insurance mentality, turn or burn, get out of jail free feel. I first gave into God at a little back woods Pentacostal church in Wisconsin. I was probably in first grade. My parents brought my brother and me there to see “A Thief in the Night.” A movie portraying the rapture. At the end of the evening a little old gray haired lady pulled my brother and me up to the altar. I was young and brought up Lutheran to this point. Between the movie and the old lady urging and twisting my mind about the need for fire insurance I made a commitment.
I had no idea what I had done or what it meant, all I know is I had just had the HELL scared out of me, literally! But guess what it didn’t stick very well. My family started attending a home church. The pastor ran a bible book store that was actually the front half of the house and they lived in the back. There were just a handful of families and we met in their living room on Sundays. I was a kid and church didn’t mean too much to me. I was only in it for my fire insurance. I was scared of hell. My paradigm was to show up, don’t break the Sabbath. I would strive to be good and always fall short. My falling short brought guilt and self condemnation. I would then strive harder. It became a pattern. High school was the worst I felt bipolar or schizophrenic in my Christianity. I was one person in one group and another in other groups. I was always looking at my Christianity with a mentality of the coin pictured above.
Side one:
The Law, the Ten Commandments, the weight of these drove me into guilt
Side two:
For all have sinned and fallen short…
The wages of sin is death…
I was bound by the law and felt condemnation for not crucifying the flesh well enough.
The fire and brimstone message seems to bring out a temporary change but I want a real heart change. My conundrum, how to evangelize and make real change. Seriously if I was told a positive slant and learned of his grace and love and his heart towards me… I wonder how much less bandage and retooling I could have forgone. I have had the epiphany of his heart towards me and his love and grace poured out from before those three words in Genesis “In the beginning…” looking at Jesus as the pattern son, I don’t recall a mention of him pulling out a Chic Tract or the Four Spiritual Laws. I see him relational.
I’m asking your opinions and thoughts on witnessing. Let’s start a dialogue.
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The ups and the downs, does it matter
I was at a early morning prayer meeting and it normally starts with a couple songs pumped out of the computer. Today Lloyd chose some oldies.
° This is the air I breathe
° Glory to God in the highest
I’m not going to hide it. I am going through some really rough times in my personal life right now. I had a really hard night (last night). I had to choose to get up early and go to the prayer meeting. My head was definitely not in doing it. Every ounce of me was saying “go back to bed.” In all honesty the only thing that got me out the door was the thought of getting on my motorcycle for a morning drive. Well I got up and showed up at least physically. The songs that were played got my attention.
You are the air I breathe made me start to think about what or who is my source. I have been going through Romans and Ephesians and a key statement is “In Him” throughout the books. I look to you as my provision. My soul longs for your affection your heart.
Then Glory to God in the highest made me contemplate well what about the “lowest?” I feel like I’m in the lowest right now but God I give you the Glory even in my lows. That was a minor epiphany. Glory to God in the highest or lowest of times.” It’s easy to do when all is good but what about the lows? I am not moved or should I say I’m choosing not to be moved by what my circumstances are around me. My life is a mess on multiple fronts it would seem how I react makes a huge difference in the outcome.
Romans 5 :3 (TMT)
Our joyful boasting in him remains uninterrupted in times of trouble; we know that the pressure reveals patience. Tribulation doesn’t have what it takes to nullify what hope knows we’ve got!
Philippians 1 :21 (NIV)
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.
Because of you, I live in you not in me. If I choose to live in me call it game over. I will always fall short. You’ve never had one bad thought about me. Your heart for me is to receive your affections.
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Bunny Trail O ‘ Grace and Adoption (ii)
In church today a older gentleman shared a snippet that follows or strengthens a post I wrote last week.
The gentleman told how he had been at an early morning prayer meeting. When it was over he had a couple hours before church. A few people asked if he wanted to go out and get something to eat and spend some time together. In his head he heard a small voice saying “but I want to spend some time with you.” He listened to the voice and went solo to McDonalds. After eating he went and sat in a parking lot in his car. He prayed asking “but God I don’t get it, why would you want to spend time with me?” The response he he heard was “you don’t get it that’s correct. Think of your grandson Cooper, does Cooper have to ask that question? He gets it because it is what it is.”
Sonship in a right relationship has no need to ask “why do you want to be with me.” Children understand the relationship with their parents. They know they are loved and accepted without having to be told.
With that personalize it, and internalize that epiphany. The God of the universe created you not for servants or minions, he created us to be sons and daughters.
He sent his Son to bridge that connection or transformation from just an organic being to an eternal son.
If you haven’t read the first Bunny Trail O’ Grace and Adoption (i) ….. .
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Two Defining Views (ours & God’s)
Earlier this year, my senior pastor, Lloyd Rindels, prophesied that 2013 would be a “year of breakthrough.” I thought I knew what “breakthrough” meant, until I looked it up & found there are two different definitions for the word:
“BREAKTHROUGH” 1. an act or instance of breaking through an obstacle. 2. a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development. Whoa, that second one really struck me!
One of the greatest “breakthroughs” you can have in your life is to allow God to change how you view everything about yourself and your life–from YOUR perspective to HIS perspective.
Because doing that–living from His Perspective–will forever, change the way you think about yourself, the way you think about God and the way you think about life in general. Discovering what the Father knows to be true about you, as Paul says in 1 Cor. 13:12, “TO KNOW, AS I AM…
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