Friday, May 29, 2009
UBER
These days are the days of uber uberment. People write that they are uber-excited, uber-ecststic, uber-delighted. This idiomatic prefix is beginning to bore me. especially when I am consistently confronted with it by people with the claim of personal originality. Fad following fellows fostering fragmented follies. I jest at the uber-coolness it must be in certain circles to glom on to a catch phrase and claim it as one's own. These phrases so totally awesome and wicked for sure are radical and to the max that one can no way talk to the hand thinking outside the box following seven habits with purpose till they are in denial over any fatigue of originality and crash realizing they are not the sharpest tool in the shed. Of course, that is just my opinion of the use of the newest vernacular fad as I try to remain uber-original.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
సౌల్ beautiful
Waiting strangely twisted emotional
Love completely capture me
Walking listening fainter cries
What this feeling makes complete
And I know
The beauty in her soul
Stunning calmly conversation ending
Words with meaning fill my head
Restless dreaming through the night
Renting sheets upon this bed
I feel her
The beauty in her soul
Anticipating waiting silent debating
Frustrated at what life has become
Unending mortal supernatured
Trying to put this lust to rest
Still I need
The beauty of her soul
Lucid love affair of endless matter
Hearts joined yet uncomfortable
We could make this love so happy
Still jealously in discontent
Can you see me
Any beauty in this soul
Love completely capture me
Walking listening fainter cries
What this feeling makes complete
And I know
The beauty in her soul
Stunning calmly conversation ending
Words with meaning fill my head
Restless dreaming through the night
Renting sheets upon this bed
I feel her
The beauty in her soul
Anticipating waiting silent debating
Frustrated at what life has become
Unending mortal supernatured
Trying to put this lust to rest
Still I need
The beauty of her soul
Lucid love affair of endless matter
Hearts joined yet uncomfortable
We could make this love so happy
Still jealously in discontent
Can you see me
Any beauty in this soul
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Dormat souls ready for spring
This prayer is for you it is a revelation of the resurrection given to me by God this week may it bless you as you consider His work within all unseen things.
May The LORD bless you today in all that is done, in every word that flows from your heart and in every word that penetrates your soul. May you be reminded of the beauty of the Fall yet never be discouraged by the work brought on by Spring lest ye become as dormant as winter wood that seems to never bud, so that you may flower when God changes the weather in your life. Be reminded that inside that dormant vessel, sometimes 'neath mounds of snow God's metamorphosis is taking place...is taking place for the Harvest!
May The LORD bless you today in all that is done, in every word that flows from your heart and in every word that penetrates your soul. May you be reminded of the beauty of the Fall yet never be discouraged by the work brought on by Spring lest ye become as dormant as winter wood that seems to never bud, so that you may flower when God changes the weather in your life. Be reminded that inside that dormant vessel, sometimes 'neath mounds of snow God's metamorphosis is taking place...is taking place for the Harvest!
front porch of my soul
I cannot get inside why I have not seen the rage nor have I felt this pain outside no love that stays in vain inside the place I cannot reside. And suddenly the darkness rises all the pain in wetness lies still waiting for the door to open I remain outside. Who is this I long to question who is the owner of the residence who cauterizes me from wisdom as I am kept outside. There is no further in my pursuing to deeper quest for what abides no more I long to see the madman who waits for me inside. I have too long awaited anger and love has left my side I grope for relief from this wager while still entrapped outside. What does the soul have in the center while thoughts and dreams show their demeanor what answer is there no one wonders while we all remain in superficial existential artificial lives. Still struggling on the doorstep to my soul awaiting all that never takes hold offering some insight to others reaching goals alone and waiting I wallow in lack of my control. Having not the power to lose the simple plot I die within my diligence and delight within my plight
prayer blessings
A granting of Blessings
Drawing near to God is a life-long endeavor that should at no time be conducted without the realization that through prayer this is made possible. Often when Christians are overwhelmed by the burdens of this world their thoughts end up with a realization that a drawing near to God is what is needed in their life, yet they struggle with depression, doubt and fear that this burden of “acceptable” sin in life will somehow keep them from a closer relationship with God. A misconception of the nature of God and sin is that God cannot tolerate sin. Quite the opposite is closer to the truth—sin cannot tolerate God. Sin runs from God trying to drag His creation with it, but there is no escaping the presence of God. This is where the struggle of man’s existence truly dwells. God is light and sin is trying to hide within the shadows from His presence, but from the presence of God there is no escape and only when we stand and face God with our sin in hand does He fully address our sin and alleviate it. This is the blessing of prayer.
It is within the act of prayer that we stand before God examining our sinful nature and expelling the individual sin while gaining understanding of the cause and affect of sin. Too often one attempts to shrug sin off and leave it in the shadows while conversing with God only to return from prayer to sin. The dog returns to its vomit time and time again. This is why so many spiritual retreats wear off so quickly after they are done. A few months go by and all that is heard is how much a return to that setting of prayer is needed. We treat sin as a pet that is tended to by our neighbors or coworkers in our absence—once returned from the retreat we may try to train sin to behave better in our lives, but the truth is we should have taken it with us and let the vet put it down. Sin is the portion of our old self that is dying within us while destroying us.
Prayer is our defense! Accountability in prayer is our most valuable asset. Now not only are we to stand before God and be purged of sin by His power, we are to stand before our brothers and sisters and recall what blessings God has granted us in His presence. These times of confession and relief are to be open and confidential yet liberating. There should be no hindrance in prayer, no holding back in our accountability. Casting off fully what we once were and putting on a new righteousness that is not of self but of community. This is the full completion of Kononia-fellowship with a purpose. We are to be before God with every burden, knowing well that Christ has made this possible and the Holy Spirit has led us to the throne. The aspects of God combined to the Shema-HEAR there is only one God and we are His people! This is the call that we are to go boldly into the light of His presence, allowing Him to purify what we cannot do apart from Him. That we are to return to this world with the cleansing of God and, continuing in our confession, proclaim what God has done for us—This is the Blessing of Prayer.
Drawing near to God is a life-long endeavor that should at no time be conducted without the realization that through prayer this is made possible. Often when Christians are overwhelmed by the burdens of this world their thoughts end up with a realization that a drawing near to God is what is needed in their life, yet they struggle with depression, doubt and fear that this burden of “acceptable” sin in life will somehow keep them from a closer relationship with God. A misconception of the nature of God and sin is that God cannot tolerate sin. Quite the opposite is closer to the truth—sin cannot tolerate God. Sin runs from God trying to drag His creation with it, but there is no escaping the presence of God. This is where the struggle of man’s existence truly dwells. God is light and sin is trying to hide within the shadows from His presence, but from the presence of God there is no escape and only when we stand and face God with our sin in hand does He fully address our sin and alleviate it. This is the blessing of prayer.
It is within the act of prayer that we stand before God examining our sinful nature and expelling the individual sin while gaining understanding of the cause and affect of sin. Too often one attempts to shrug sin off and leave it in the shadows while conversing with God only to return from prayer to sin. The dog returns to its vomit time and time again. This is why so many spiritual retreats wear off so quickly after they are done. A few months go by and all that is heard is how much a return to that setting of prayer is needed. We treat sin as a pet that is tended to by our neighbors or coworkers in our absence—once returned from the retreat we may try to train sin to behave better in our lives, but the truth is we should have taken it with us and let the vet put it down. Sin is the portion of our old self that is dying within us while destroying us.
Prayer is our defense! Accountability in prayer is our most valuable asset. Now not only are we to stand before God and be purged of sin by His power, we are to stand before our brothers and sisters and recall what blessings God has granted us in His presence. These times of confession and relief are to be open and confidential yet liberating. There should be no hindrance in prayer, no holding back in our accountability. Casting off fully what we once were and putting on a new righteousness that is not of self but of community. This is the full completion of Kononia-fellowship with a purpose. We are to be before God with every burden, knowing well that Christ has made this possible and the Holy Spirit has led us to the throne. The aspects of God combined to the Shema-HEAR there is only one God and we are His people! This is the call that we are to go boldly into the light of His presence, allowing Him to purify what we cannot do apart from Him. That we are to return to this world with the cleansing of God and, continuing in our confession, proclaim what God has done for us—This is the Blessing of Prayer.
maturing prayer
The task of prayer
Prayer is the key to a healthy spiritual life. It matters not what religious faith one is a part of or what ones faith calls the act of discourse with their central figure, the communication through various means remains the focal point of spiritual interaction. The Christian faith emphasizes a strong need for developing a stronger life of prayer. A common cliché states, “Do your best, let God take care of the rest.” This cliché misses the call of how Christ aims to develop the lives of His followers. The concept of doing better is sometimes overlooked by our English class’s teaching that the definite top notch is best; however, we will never achieve our best if we are convinced that we are already there. The challenge before us is to do better than we have ever done—while this does not mean we accomplish the best, it does insist that we are trying to outdo what we were previously able to accomplish.
Just as communication between two people matures, so should communication with our creator. The words we use with close friends are not the words we speak with a child; the words we speak in presentation of business are specific to the corporate world; the dialogue in the courtroom is specific to the matters at hand. With these things in mind our prayer life should be at times the discussion of a child, a friend, a petition, and a presentation.
A child is heartfelt one way communication. A child rarely has time or an attention span to wait and listen to the answer. Children rarely understand the answer even when thoroughly explained. Much the same a basic prayer life that does not develop past the pleas and yearnings of a child is very one sided. One may often approach the throne of God the Father with this mindset without understanding the Father’s answer to whatever request we make of Him.
As the Christian develops a meaningful relationship with Christ, the prayer life tends to open up to a listening interactive discussion. Fellowship with other “like-minded” Christians becomes part of the “norm” of a blossoming Christian’s existence. The seeking experience is no longer for personal gain, but for personal growth and understanding. This friendship with Christ is becoming part of His family, associating with His friends and followers. The Christian at this point develops ears to hear the will of God through prayer, fellowship and study of the scriptures. This stage is the most powerful stage in Christianity, it is at this stage that Christians change and are able to be molded into useful instruments for the Kingdom. These prayers are mostly confidential calls to the position of Christ as friend requesting assistance in understanding the will of God.
The next type of relational prayer comes as the Christian enters into a ministry and aims to set goals for that venture. This is a petition relationship. The Christian in personal time may still share the friendship with God, but here in the devotion to see the current ministry develop, the prayer is seeking God’s specific will through the revelation of success. The Christian studies now with a purpose for the specific ministry while drawing closer to God, yet at times sectioning off from other fellowships within the church. This is the petition to the creator style prayer that recognizes God’s power in the relationship to transform the surroundings as well as the internal condition of the Christian.
The final style of prayer here is the presentation prayer. This is a corporate prayer addressing the will of the people of God in accordance with the will of God. This is a pastor’s prayer. This prayer is done with great humility and struggle as it comes as the formality of all types of prayer, while maintaining the heart of an individual prayer. This prayer is the prayer which is so well thought out that the verbiage seems too extravagant to be being spoken by a human tongue. The Christian in this prayer is often moved to tears for this prayer not only is the base of each Christian’s desire, but in it the heart of God is felt to be moved. The culmination of all needs for each ministry and individual are raised up as if each desire were from God and now were returned to Him that they may be fulfilled. It is in this prayer at the fullness of Christian life that God is the focal point, brothers and sisters in Christ are the petition and self is simply enjoying the pleasure of belonging to this great organism called the Church.
Which prayer is the best? The scriptures tell of us many different ways in which communication to God is made, but the New Testament teachings are probably the answer to the best way to pray—we are to pray in all ways at all times with all sorts of prayers; even as a pastor, one should continue to approach the Father, as an unfinished Christian on should be close to the friend in Jesus, and as a friend one should not be discouraged from requesting the help of the Master. Pray then in this way.
Prayer is the key to a healthy spiritual life. It matters not what religious faith one is a part of or what ones faith calls the act of discourse with their central figure, the communication through various means remains the focal point of spiritual interaction. The Christian faith emphasizes a strong need for developing a stronger life of prayer. A common cliché states, “Do your best, let God take care of the rest.” This cliché misses the call of how Christ aims to develop the lives of His followers. The concept of doing better is sometimes overlooked by our English class’s teaching that the definite top notch is best; however, we will never achieve our best if we are convinced that we are already there. The challenge before us is to do better than we have ever done—while this does not mean we accomplish the best, it does insist that we are trying to outdo what we were previously able to accomplish.
Just as communication between two people matures, so should communication with our creator. The words we use with close friends are not the words we speak with a child; the words we speak in presentation of business are specific to the corporate world; the dialogue in the courtroom is specific to the matters at hand. With these things in mind our prayer life should be at times the discussion of a child, a friend, a petition, and a presentation.
A child is heartfelt one way communication. A child rarely has time or an attention span to wait and listen to the answer. Children rarely understand the answer even when thoroughly explained. Much the same a basic prayer life that does not develop past the pleas and yearnings of a child is very one sided. One may often approach the throne of God the Father with this mindset without understanding the Father’s answer to whatever request we make of Him.
As the Christian develops a meaningful relationship with Christ, the prayer life tends to open up to a listening interactive discussion. Fellowship with other “like-minded” Christians becomes part of the “norm” of a blossoming Christian’s existence. The seeking experience is no longer for personal gain, but for personal growth and understanding. This friendship with Christ is becoming part of His family, associating with His friends and followers. The Christian at this point develops ears to hear the will of God through prayer, fellowship and study of the scriptures. This stage is the most powerful stage in Christianity, it is at this stage that Christians change and are able to be molded into useful instruments for the Kingdom. These prayers are mostly confidential calls to the position of Christ as friend requesting assistance in understanding the will of God.
The next type of relational prayer comes as the Christian enters into a ministry and aims to set goals for that venture. This is a petition relationship. The Christian in personal time may still share the friendship with God, but here in the devotion to see the current ministry develop, the prayer is seeking God’s specific will through the revelation of success. The Christian studies now with a purpose for the specific ministry while drawing closer to God, yet at times sectioning off from other fellowships within the church. This is the petition to the creator style prayer that recognizes God’s power in the relationship to transform the surroundings as well as the internal condition of the Christian.
The final style of prayer here is the presentation prayer. This is a corporate prayer addressing the will of the people of God in accordance with the will of God. This is a pastor’s prayer. This prayer is done with great humility and struggle as it comes as the formality of all types of prayer, while maintaining the heart of an individual prayer. This prayer is the prayer which is so well thought out that the verbiage seems too extravagant to be being spoken by a human tongue. The Christian in this prayer is often moved to tears for this prayer not only is the base of each Christian’s desire, but in it the heart of God is felt to be moved. The culmination of all needs for each ministry and individual are raised up as if each desire were from God and now were returned to Him that they may be fulfilled. It is in this prayer at the fullness of Christian life that God is the focal point, brothers and sisters in Christ are the petition and self is simply enjoying the pleasure of belonging to this great organism called the Church.
Which prayer is the best? The scriptures tell of us many different ways in which communication to God is made, but the New Testament teachings are probably the answer to the best way to pray—we are to pray in all ways at all times with all sorts of prayers; even as a pastor, one should continue to approach the Father, as an unfinished Christian on should be close to the friend in Jesus, and as a friend one should not be discouraged from requesting the help of the Master. Pray then in this way.
Friday, May 1, 2009
What now
What now should be done at this the turning point of creation into uncreation. What was once a perfect place has come full circle into what must now be transformed into that which cannot be perfect but must exist without perfection or imperfection. Nothing ugly can ever be nor can that which is beautiful. No segregation or congregation in this new form we share. Dead to life and alive to to finaly live. no waking moments or tiresome spans. No time and yet all time, nothing lost, nothing gained, nothing proud and nothing shamed. The most beautiful nothings concieved or contrived the most beautiful nothing imagined. all we know is now unknown all these truths are disproved and we are relieved...not because of some inability to stand behind them, but relieved that they are no longer only truths as the truth blossoms into fact it no longer resembles what it once was, the same is with any seed it exists to become something greater. The longing for that thing is immense and unsatisfied while it remains a mere truth but when it is fact and fortified it fulfills beyond satisfaction.
Knowlege
A problem perplexes me when considering responses to my writings. A difference does not seem clearly made between my personal convictions and my ecumenical beliefs. My positions on the church are separate from my views of personal understanding. What I question may be widely accepted doctrine at times also what I see as undeniable fact may be found by the church to be questionable. This is not an isolated situation, for many who believe have within them the reasoning over the Word.
God has given reason to us which is why I find it at times unacceptable that reason is not used. Instead of reason what is too often found in this world is passion. What is stunning is that passion is often more respected than reason. People passionate to prove or disprove the existence of God have thrown reason out of the argument, for when reason enters one must pursue knowledge...diligently prepare for the battle ahead, not flailing off into the night with a personal flashlight, but waiting for the created sun and preparing for the dawn.
Parting are the thoughts of a savior who has completed the curse of the tree of knowledge and now stands in full view of paradise beckoning to all to eat the fruit is good the price is paid for it and the banquet can begin.
God has given reason to us which is why I find it at times unacceptable that reason is not used. Instead of reason what is too often found in this world is passion. What is stunning is that passion is often more respected than reason. People passionate to prove or disprove the existence of God have thrown reason out of the argument, for when reason enters one must pursue knowledge...diligently prepare for the battle ahead, not flailing off into the night with a personal flashlight, but waiting for the created sun and preparing for the dawn.
Parting are the thoughts of a savior who has completed the curse of the tree of knowledge and now stands in full view of paradise beckoning to all to eat the fruit is good the price is paid for it and the banquet can begin.
Pressing on
What then is our goal? What is it that we should be striving to obtain? Is there truly something better than what has already been given to us? THeses things I ponder as I consider the gift which Christ gave me. Am I not already bound for eternal peace? Yes, the answer is not what else can I earn from Christ, but what more can I do for Him. I need no more reward than what He has already given to me. I am content with the challenges over which He controls my victories. I sometimes get disgusted with the continual looking back by those on this journey with me. The beauty of the cross, the mystery of the empty tomb, or the power of the pentecost. That is what happened it is why we are enabled today to press on toward something better, but it is not the direction we are to be looking. Forward! Eyes front! let us not be over nostalgic in our efforts to be conquerers. If Christ wanted our stories to end at the cross He, having all power to do so, would have ended His story there. Christ has called us from that symbol of death, that end of mortality into a new life. Being blunt is necessary here, Christ got away from the cross we need to follow. Greater amounts of reverence to the cross will not make you more holy, nor will reenacted observences of the tomb. Our only Saviour is Christ! He is not on a cross, He is not in a tomb. He is in front of us leading; His only command is, "Follow."
I press on.
I press on.
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