Veteran’s Day One arm, one leg Needs help, won’t beg Veterans’ Day; A nervous jerk Nightmare dream A muscle quirk. Veterans’ Day Red, white and blue Courage, purity A soldier for you. Veterans’ Day Olive stained with blood A gaping wound For national good. A day of thanks of a different kind Alone or crippled, maimed or blind A day that gave its joy to its brothers A veteran, a sacrifice, of life for others. |
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The Deception of Victory
Everybody likes to win. But does winning make you a better person? If your candidate wins, does that make you a more caring person? Does it make you a better parent to your child, a better spouse or friend? Does that increase your honesty and your integrity, when no one is looking? Does it make you more responsible with your finances, your spending, saving and wisely investing your money? Does your candidate winning make you kinder to others and more tolerant or understanding? Does it mean that you know and practice the truth? Somehow, when we win we think everything will be fine. Doesn’t matter if it is a sports team or a political candidate. When we win, it feels like there is someone there taking care of us and our concerns and that we are on the right side. We suddenly feel personally justified. We tend to feel like the hard work is done and we can relax. But in reality, we are who and what we are: human beings with human natures that demand continuous and serious attention and hard work no matter who we root for or who wins. The hard work is not attaching ourselves to the right group or the election of a leader or a party. The hard work is being honest, admitting our faults, accepting responsibility for our actions, making apologies, fixing our mistakes, doing the right thing, and understanding and appreciating even those we consider our enemies. The really hard work is humility. Especially when we have "won". Bad things in life emerge from individual hearts. Mine. Yours. Not collective parties. We really haven’t won anything until we’ve won control over ourselves: our thoughts, our attitudes and our actions. So keep working. A circle is egalitarian. There are no high or low points. There are no divisions between sides. It is unified. One. Perfect.
A circle might be a good model for community. Equality among members. No one higher or lower than another. No divisions between them. It forms a picture of people sitting, facing each other around a common center. At the center is Christ, God the Father. Like children sitting around a fire. As the Father speaks, the various members of the circle express his heart. Circles are smooth and seamless. A circular community would lack protrusions of officials and professionals. Each member would be recognized and fully respected as a child of God. That kindred fact would be the highest quality and highest qualification of the circle so that all other secondary attributes would be invisible and unquantifiable. But circles are sedentary, static, boring. A circular community might well give rise to great apathy or tedium. A spiral is a 3 dimensional circle. It is a circle that grows and goes. It is slinky. It has direction. It is progressing from one state to another. A spiral might be a better model for community. It has all the attributes of a circular community, but it is moving. The body of Christ, or, community of Christ, is a spiral. Jesus said that it does not have titled leaders. (Matt. 20 and 23) The leading parts of a spiral draw along the following parts without demarcation or division. What goes before seamlessly affects what comes along after. This is a picture of the rich relationship between God’s children, ungoverned by human design as they move through the world. Slinky. More could be elaborated on about this but why? The spiral is less elaborate and beautiful in its simplicity. So I let these words trail off to be whatever part of God’s spiral they are for the benefit of all. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied.” Jesus.
Are you thirsty ? Here is the good news for you. Read this first part of Isaiah 55. Notice first who the invitation is for: Everyone who is thirsty. Second, notice that God will make a covenant with those who come. Third, read Psalm 89:20-37 but insert your name where David's was (I left it blank to make it easier). Lastly, believe it, receive it and be blessed by it. New International Version (NIV) Isaiah 55 Invitation to the Thirsty 1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” Here's the covenant he made with David: Psalm 89:20-37 New International Version (NIV) (put your name in the blank and use your gender for the pronouns!) 20 I have found ____________ my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed (him/her). 21 My hand will sustain (him/her); surely my arm will strengthen (him/her). 22 The enemy will not get the better of (him/her); the wicked will not oppress (him/her). 23 I will crush his foes before (him/her) and strike down (his/her)adversaries. 24 My faithful love will be with (him/her), and through my name (his/her) hornwill be exalted. 25 I will set (his/her)hand over the sea, (his/her) right hand over the rivers. 26 (He/she) will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ 27 And I will appoint (him/her) to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. 28 I will maintain my love to (him/her) forever, and my covenant with (him/her)will never fail. 29 I will establish (his/her)line forever, (his/her)throne as long as the heavens endure. 30 “If (his/her) sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, 31 if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, 32 I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; 33 but I will not take my love from (him/her), nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. 34 I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. 35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to __________— 36 that (his/her)line will continue forever and (his/her)throne endure before me like the sun; 37 it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Amen. leave me a comment. Let me know what you think. Thanks Fred I Will Cry Your Name
So now we have this truth to make known, that God is real and is present with us in Christ; that none is lost and all is redeemable. He has said to all and for all time, "Please return! Your sins can never overcome my love for you because you are my child. You are my life, the joy of my soul. Day by day I wait for you to come. I wait and watch the road that will lead you home to me. I anxiously anticipate the moment that I will see your tiny figure appear from around the distant bend. Then I will run to you and wrap my aching arms around you and I will cry your name with tears of joy." I met a servant of God the other day. He told me how he got saved and when he was called to service. He told me all the things he does for God. He told me how many years he had been serving the Master. Rather, he “shared” with me all the things God has been doing through him. He was trying to be humble, but you could see that he took great pride in his status as a servant of God and of his record.
Later that same day, I met a child of God. He told me about his dad. He described what life was like living in God’s family. He told me about the fun the kids had and how they loved each other. He talked about the family business and how everybody from the youngest to the oldest had a part in it and nobody was less important than anyone else. He was excited about learning and growing up to be just like his Dad. That evening I was thinking. I could never remember a religious extremist saying that he was acting in behalf of his Father. I couldn’t remember a terrorist saying “My Heavenly Dad told me to do this.” Or “I’m just carrying out the family business.” It was always "I am God's servant or messenger!" I thought of what Jesus said, “You’re not my servants, you’re my friends. Servants don’t know what is really going on in the household, only partly. But a person tells his or her friend everything he or she is doing.” I thought of the verse in John 1 which says, “…but everyone who believes (in Jesus) has the right to become the child of God…born of God”. I remembered how all the “servants” of God I had met through the years also considered themselves God’s creations, “God created us to praise him” etc. I pondered, “Am I God’s creation or his child? Was I created or given birth? Am I a separate thing like a tree or a squirrel or am I flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, his progeny with his DNA?" I remembered the story of the prodigal son. He came home humiliated wanting only a servant’s job but his dad ran to meet him and restored him to his family. Dad loved and wanted his son. The prospect of actually being a child of God is staggering; me, son of God. I see the incredible intellect and mastery of my Father in the myriad elements of creation. How did he do it? How? Why? To think that this is my inheritance, to be like him, to do like him and to always be with him, boggles my mind. I know service has its place. Kids have chores. But my kids never referred to themselves as servants of dad. They wore my name. They grew up in their house, not the “house of Dad”. It was their fridge, not “the fridge of Mom”. It was our car, not the “car of the Dad”. Some will think this is going too far, but what if I prayed, “Dad, our kingdom come, our will be done, on earth like it is in heaven.” What is the problem with that prayer? Aren’t we, as his children, heirs to the kingdom? Isn’t it ours? Didn’t Jesus say, “Don’t be afraid, little flock, your dad is happy to give you the kingdom!” I really want God’s will to be done. I have prayed that so many times! His will is what I want! We have the same will! (I may not be clear as to what the details are and I may do the opposite at times but I know I want it!) So, “Dad, I hope our will comes true! I hope our family love comes to everyone on earth, just like I have it when I’m with you!” Bitterness is a dead end road. It begins at frustration and twists around and around in anger and depression; finally ending in suicide.
This road is paved by perpetual rejection and neglect. We all travel this road and we're all part of the crew that keeps it maintained. All fall short of the ideal as God intends. Ironically, the very needs we have indicate the fallen state which deters us from caring which, in turn, creates the very needs we have. Catch 22. An endless self perpetuating wounding. I wish I could say “Come to me if you’re tired and stressed and I will give you rest. Let me be your pastor. I am always available and I will lighten your load and change your road!” But only One can say that in truth, only One has said that in truth. Expecting each other to somehow fix the road we're on just keeps the dead end well maintained. We all are broken and the wounding will continue. But bitterness does not have to be the final road we travel. We all find what we need in God and only God, Father of us all, there at the end of Bitter Road. By trust and faith in Jesus, God provides a new highway beyond our dead end dilemma where the bitter pavement turns to gold in the glow of a new morning. The Teacher said, “Trust the Boss completely. You will never understand this Business without Him. Invite Him down all your roads and He will show you which way to go and give you peace on the journey.” Proverbs 3:5-8 (Fred’s paraphrase) Peace, Fred Touchstones.
In my mind, a touchstone is an event or experience that transcends time and place in which a person is touched personally by the Creator. These moments generate intense emotions and profound thought. I believe they are specific revelations from our Creator of His existence, personality and even, His intent. These touchstones have moved the prophets and poets from of old. The Artist is the touchstone in human form, or at least can be. Artists, like the Creator, communicate outside of linear and categorical order. They speak an organic, evolving, fluid language which is understood by the Spirit. In this way, the artist is essential to civilization. He or she brings the touchstone into a context that is available to all (though no single artist speaks to all people, yet collectively, artists speak to all of humanity). It is through art that the Spirit is awakened and the soul becomes aware of the Creator's presence in and around them. This awareness in turn fosters compassion and understanding as one learns to see the unity in diversity. (Uni-Vers or, as I like to say, "Infinite variety with absolute unity") True compassion and true understanding are the seed bed for peace and obedience to Creator's law as reflected in the creation. Artists have a great responsibility to be what they are. It is not for themselves alone but for the community that they are here. Artists should take courage from this and draw their identity from the One who made them as opposed to reacting only to human input. Art is listening long and deep and speaking wide. An ancient prophet has said "The heavens shout about the nature of Creator and the sky illuminates the work of his hands. Day to day they speak and night to night they teach. Their messages permeate every language and flow like rivers through the whole earth." (David, Psalm 19) The greatest work of an Artist is to affirm what we all have "now and here" as a touchstone, a meeting place for each soul and God. Yeast is good. In Bread.
What is the yeast or leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus says to beware of in Matthew 16? What puffs up a person the same way leaven puffs up a profiterole? What makes a person look, feel or act like something more than they are? Power? Pride? “Knowledge puffs up”, says Paul in 1 Corinthians 8, “but love builds up.” Beware of this leaven, this yeast, for those with true authority among you will be the friendly servants, not those who take positions over you or exercise power over you nor those who take the foremost seats and places of visible honor. Watch out for this in others in your community and refuse the temptation yourself. Build your life on loving relationships and don’t allow impersonal, top heavy institutions to develop and rob you of your strength and dignity. Be significant to each other and share your physical and supernatural gifts as God, our friend, our Father provides. Love, Dad, PaPa, Fred (An imaginary conversation with Jesus)
Jesus, what do you want for your birthday? I have shown you in my word what I would really like; Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Mic. 6:8 Q:Any thing else? J: Well, one thing I don’t want is some meaningless and costly symbolic “gift” that only appeases someone’s guilty conscience. I would be really happy if you gave me your broken spirit; your broken and contrite heart. That’s a good place to start. I won’t turn that gift away. Psa. 51:16-17 Q:How about something more tangible? J: Well, you could feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked or visit the sick or imprisoned. When you do these things, you do them for me, you do them to me. Matt. 25:31-46 Q: Should we give gifts and have parties in your honor? J: Sure, but when you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind… Luke 14:12-13 J: Here’s a couple of parables to think about: Luke 12:16 through Luke 12:21 (NIV) Luke 16:14 through Luke 16:31 (NIV) Q: Wow. So what do you think about the way most of us celebrate your birthday? I mean, you do like our pageants and special worship services, don’t you? J: Do you really want me to answer that? I don’t want to seem ungrateful. Q: Yes. You are the Reason for the Season, you know. J: Well, OK. Here’s what I think: What do all these “gifts” mean to me? Do I need choirs and pageants and songs and lit up trees? Heck, I made stars for crying out loud and I’ve got more singing angels than Brazil has butterflies! I haven’t asked for all of that. It’s all noisy and dirty to me. I wish people would stop having these meaningless parties and gatherings in my name. Some of this is downright evil. It is a burden that I am really tired of bearing. I hate it when people come before me lifting their hands in prayer and all I can see is the blood of the oppressed and poor dripping from their fingers. If people would just admit their guilt openly so I could help them. They could stop doing wrong and learn what pleases me. I would help them seek justice for the oppressed, and defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow. Isa. 1:10 through Isa. 1:17 (NIV) I really hate and despise all the hoopla around Christmas (Christ, that’s me, right? And mas, that’s being born, right…my birthday. fun.) In fact, I can’t stand most assemblies. There’s no way that I will accept these kinds of offerings or even give them a nod. Take your noisy songs away! Stop with the piano, organ and guitar!Please, just let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream. Amos 5:21 through Amos 5:24 (NIV) Q: Man, Jesus…I had no idea you felt that way. Where’d we go wrong? I mean, this is your people we’re talking about here… J: “My people” are those who do the will of my Father. Matt 12:46-50 There is a whole culture built around my Name and worshipping me, but… 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’Matt. 7:21 through Matt. 7:23 (NIV) Q: Well. What can we do? I mean, I want to get you something for your birthday that you really want, something that will make you happy. What can I do? J: You’ve already got a good start toward pleasing me. I appreciate you asking me. That’s a gift in itself. 15Because I want you to be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what I really want. As far as celebrations, I’ve already given you some hints, so…..18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with my Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to me, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in my name. Eph. 5:15 through Eph. 5:20 (NIV) Q: I think I’m getting the picture from what you have shared with me. I am beginning to formulate a plan here. Would you mind looking at it to see if I’m getting you something good. J: No, I’ve said enough. Just Surprise me. Q: Well, Jesus, thanks for the interview. J: My pleasure Author’s note: The passages from Isaiah and Amos are pretty strong. By reading the Bible we know that God is a partying God. There are all the feasts and celebrations of Israel and then, of course, Jubilee! God is happy and rejoiceful. He is wrathful, jealous and vengeful as well. These latter attributes are reserved for those persons or forces which destroy his intended will and steal away His goodness and truth. (Romans 1:18-21) God’s fed-upness with Israel’s celebrations is not because He doesn’t like people to get rowdy and happy with friends, family, wine and song. But they had turned their backs on God and quit their desire and drive to find God’s purpose for creation, for individuals and for their nation. (Isa. 1:2-4) It is human nature to fall into this behavior. However, the Bible calls us to fight against these symptoms. I think we can make the season more than a “Transaction Day” for ourselves and even have a meaningful Christmas season if we do two things: 1. Continue to make our first priority in life to be this: Understanding God’s purpose for making creation and why He has put us in it. 2. Celebrate Jesus’ birthday the same way we celebrate our own; Think about what he wants and develop a party concept centered on him, the “birthday boy” The Bible has the gift list. (several references mentioned above) God is pleased when people give to those in real need to mark his Birthday. We could be very creative with the party aspect as well. After hearing the same “dreamy” Christmas songs and seeing the same pageants for so many years, don’t you sometimes feel a little like God does in Isaiah 1:11-14? I’m not suggesting that anyone be against what is traditional about Christmas, but if we keep the birthday person in mind like we do for our own birthdays, change will occur. It might just get down right crazy! Something to think about this year. Fred http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/sponsor-a-child?open&campaign=1193512&cmp=KNC-1193512 https://secure1.heifer.org/gift-catalog/heifer.html/?msource=kw2743&gclid=CJKbtJyy_KwCFQcQNAodKm-rvg http://www.mensliveschanged.org/ http://www.victoryministriescolumbus.org/ |
The DoorpostThe Doorpost is written for the family and friends of Fred / Papa / Dad Paddock in response to this admonition found in Deuteronomy 6:6-9: These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door posts of your houses and on your gates and emails.
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