Monday, August 04, 2008
Atlantic City
I got sick swimming in the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic City. The money, the whores, the drink, the garabage, the strip clubs...little sin city. My sickness reminds me of my sin. Sin is sick---soul sickness. I loath myself. If it is not for God's grace there would've gone I.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Love, fire---burn me out.
Song of Solomon---A dangerous book...read it, if you dare. If you want your heart to burn you, to consume you with love, the hope of love, the ideal of love, then read it, and you shall indeed be "sick with love" (Song 2:5).
I will elaborate on the Song of Solomon, chapter 8 in particular.
Below is my ideal of love; it is how I will pray in relation to the love(r) which God sends me:
When God descended on Mount Sinai he came in fire (Ex 19:18). "The mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven" (Deut 4:11). Love, avows the Song of Solomon, "Flashes forth flames of fire, the very flame of the Lord" (Song 8:6). Love burns to the heart of heaven, for God is love. "The very flame of the Lord." Love is the very flame of the Lord--the very flame. Love is a coal from the altar of the divine. Love between a man and women. Love which, though marred by the fall, can be restored by Christ's grace. Love flashes forth flames of fire.
I cannot and I will not settle for any thing less than love, than a fire that burns through me and into the heart of my lover. She will be my fire, my flame of the Lord. But does anyone hope for this love? Does it last? (If and) When married, I will pray to this God of love, I will pray for fire, I will pray that he flashes forth on me any lover his very flame. The same love that the Trinity contains. That love teaching that Christ poured upon the disciples on the journey to Emmaus, their response: "Did our hearts not burn within us."
How can the audience of Song of Solomon then not say, "Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!" (Song 5:1). "Be drunk with love", "I am sick with love (Song 2:5)", "the very flame of the Lord." I'd rather be single for 1000 years than find a love less than what Scripture displays to me. I want the love to burn me out, to make me sick, die, and be resurrected. Yes, an unreasonable hope between humans. But as I burn in Christ, perhaps he will grant me and my lover a spark, a flame from his throne, from himself. If he grants me but a spark it will be a love of force, power, and delight, reaching to the heart of heaven. Be it only a spark, this love is the very flame of the Lord. And thus the love is sufficient if only a flash, for our Lord is infinite, and that is all.
I will elaborate on the Song of Solomon, chapter 8 in particular.
Below is my ideal of love; it is how I will pray in relation to the love(r) which God sends me:
When God descended on Mount Sinai he came in fire (Ex 19:18). "The mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven" (Deut 4:11). Love, avows the Song of Solomon, "Flashes forth flames of fire, the very flame of the Lord" (Song 8:6). Love burns to the heart of heaven, for God is love. "The very flame of the Lord." Love is the very flame of the Lord--the very flame. Love is a coal from the altar of the divine. Love between a man and women. Love which, though marred by the fall, can be restored by Christ's grace. Love flashes forth flames of fire.
I cannot and I will not settle for any thing less than love, than a fire that burns through me and into the heart of my lover. She will be my fire, my flame of the Lord. But does anyone hope for this love? Does it last? (If and) When married, I will pray to this God of love, I will pray for fire, I will pray that he flashes forth on me any lover his very flame. The same love that the Trinity contains. That love teaching that Christ poured upon the disciples on the journey to Emmaus, their response: "Did our hearts not burn within us."
How can the audience of Song of Solomon then not say, "Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!" (Song 5:1). "Be drunk with love", "I am sick with love (Song 2:5)", "the very flame of the Lord." I'd rather be single for 1000 years than find a love less than what Scripture displays to me. I want the love to burn me out, to make me sick, die, and be resurrected. Yes, an unreasonable hope between humans. But as I burn in Christ, perhaps he will grant me and my lover a spark, a flame from his throne, from himself. If he grants me but a spark it will be a love of force, power, and delight, reaching to the heart of heaven. Be it only a spark, this love is the very flame of the Lord. And thus the love is sufficient if only a flash, for our Lord is infinite, and that is all.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
He has brought desolations
Psalm 46:8, "Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth."
Come check this out!
The Psalmist appears to have this tone of voice. "Come, behold the works of the Lord." He bids us view the power of God's desolations worked upon the earth. "Come, behold the works of the Lord." Emphasize it. What does he want us to see? He wants us to see "how he [the Lord] has brought desolations." Who has brought the desolations?--Answer: THE LORD!
A belittling passage for those who question God's sovereignty in operations. He coordinates every action on the earth---even desolations on the earth. This truth challenges faith. It calls us to the floor; it calls us to examination. "Do I believe the Bible?" "Do I believe God would bring desolations on the earth?" I mean for real: desolations? The Lord works desolations. According to the Bible, he does.
Christ took desolation. He became desolate (Phil 2:5-7). He fasted for 40 days and was hungry (Luke 4:2). Satan tempted him. He lived with the beasts in the desert (Mark 1:13). He withdrew to desolate places and prayed (Luke 5:16, 21:37). God brought desolation on Christ. Christ as God took it upon himself to become a servant, a bearer of suffering, an embracer of wrath for the elect. Repent and believe. Oh, save the sinner our Christ and Lord. Save me.
Come check this out!
The Psalmist appears to have this tone of voice. "Come, behold the works of the Lord." He bids us view the power of God's desolations worked upon the earth. "Come, behold the works of the Lord." Emphasize it. What does he want us to see? He wants us to see "how he [the Lord] has brought desolations." Who has brought the desolations?--Answer: THE LORD!
A belittling passage for those who question God's sovereignty in operations. He coordinates every action on the earth---even desolations on the earth. This truth challenges faith. It calls us to the floor; it calls us to examination. "Do I believe the Bible?" "Do I believe God would bring desolations on the earth?" I mean for real: desolations? The Lord works desolations. According to the Bible, he does.
Christ took desolation. He became desolate (Phil 2:5-7). He fasted for 40 days and was hungry (Luke 4:2). Satan tempted him. He lived with the beasts in the desert (Mark 1:13). He withdrew to desolate places and prayed (Luke 5:16, 21:37). God brought desolation on Christ. Christ as God took it upon himself to become a servant, a bearer of suffering, an embracer of wrath for the elect. Repent and believe. Oh, save the sinner our Christ and Lord. Save me.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I am spent
Psalm 39:10
"Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand." This might be translated, "Stop beating me; the wrath of your hand has completely crushed me."
How does this verse square, or factor, in the conscious of the American Church today. In Psalm 39 David acknowledges that God has wasted him. The pain, the emotion, the truth...such a verse heals the wounded soul. At the end of the day David could confess that God caused his pain. David foreshadowed the sufferings of Christ. Christ was spent, the Father spent his wrath upon the son. The son, being in the form of God, very God of very God, reduced himself. He took on the form of a servant, and equipped himself to the sacrifice to atone for the sins of the elect.
"Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand." This might be translated, "Stop beating me; the wrath of your hand has completely crushed me."
How does this verse square, or factor, in the conscious of the American Church today. In Psalm 39 David acknowledges that God has wasted him. The pain, the emotion, the truth...such a verse heals the wounded soul. At the end of the day David could confess that God caused his pain. David foreshadowed the sufferings of Christ. Christ was spent, the Father spent his wrath upon the son. The son, being in the form of God, very God of very God, reduced himself. He took on the form of a servant, and equipped himself to the sacrifice to atone for the sins of the elect.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Delight yourself in the Lord
Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Ah yes, Psalm 37:4...
...this is an abused passage in Scripture. The Church has used it to mean this: love God more, and the more God will get you. Of course, this "more" has by the Church never meant more of God, but the more God can get you. In our materialistic age, our age (in America at least) where humans are consumers, controlled by markets measured by the NasDaq, the Dow Jones...oh, by the way, what mortage rate you qualify for? Forget your soul, what is your credit? You are plastic, a Social Security number, a percentage rate, and maybe you get a decmial point. I think you get the point.
The Church has bought (pun intended) the world's marketing ploy. We in the Church read Psalm 37:4 this way: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you more of the earthly goods you really want but don't have right now."
Is the Psalmist so foolish to think, that when you delight yourself in the Lord you will then want more of the world's things? Does the man who delights himself in his wife, suddenly want more of her cooking?, or, does he want to taste more of her love, i.e., does he want more of her!?!?
The more delight yourself in God, the more you will want God. Psalm 37:4 translates more like this: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart, i.e., he will give you more of himself." If we delight ourselves in God, won't we want more of God? The more that we "taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8), the more we "feast on the abudance of your house, and you give them [us] drink from the river of your [Christ's] delights" (Psalm 36:8), the more of Christ we will want. When we delight in God, we delight in God. In fact, the more we delight in God, the more we will desire him and desire the world less. So in reality, what meaning the Church has give this verse is actually contrary to what it means.
In review: the Church has understood this verse to mean that if you delight in the Lord, the Lord will give you more of the earthly stuff you want. In reality, the truth is this: if you delight yourself in the Lord, YOU WILL WANT LESS OF THE EARTHLY STUFF you thought you onced desire. In fact, you will suffer the loss of all things to gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-10, 11-14). We will pick up our cross with joy. We will go outside the gate and bear the reproach that he endured (Hebrews 13:12-14). And we will do this because we consider the sufferings of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt (America)" (Hebrews 11:25-27).
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you more of himself.
"Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Ah yes, Psalm 37:4...
...this is an abused passage in Scripture. The Church has used it to mean this: love God more, and the more God will get you. Of course, this "more" has by the Church never meant more of God, but the more God can get you. In our materialistic age, our age (in America at least) where humans are consumers, controlled by markets measured by the NasDaq, the Dow Jones...oh, by the way, what mortage rate you qualify for? Forget your soul, what is your credit? You are plastic, a Social Security number, a percentage rate, and maybe you get a decmial point. I think you get the point.
The Church has bought (pun intended) the world's marketing ploy. We in the Church read Psalm 37:4 this way: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you more of the earthly goods you really want but don't have right now."
Is the Psalmist so foolish to think, that when you delight yourself in the Lord you will then want more of the world's things? Does the man who delights himself in his wife, suddenly want more of her cooking?, or, does he want to taste more of her love, i.e., does he want more of her!?!?
The more delight yourself in God, the more you will want God. Psalm 37:4 translates more like this: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart, i.e., he will give you more of himself." If we delight ourselves in God, won't we want more of God? The more that we "taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8), the more we "feast on the abudance of your house, and you give them [us] drink from the river of your [Christ's] delights" (Psalm 36:8), the more of Christ we will want. When we delight in God, we delight in God. In fact, the more we delight in God, the more we will desire him and desire the world less. So in reality, what meaning the Church has give this verse is actually contrary to what it means.
In review: the Church has understood this verse to mean that if you delight in the Lord, the Lord will give you more of the earthly stuff you want. In reality, the truth is this: if you delight yourself in the Lord, YOU WILL WANT LESS OF THE EARTHLY STUFF you thought you onced desire. In fact, you will suffer the loss of all things to gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-10, 11-14). We will pick up our cross with joy. We will go outside the gate and bear the reproach that he endured (Hebrews 13:12-14). And we will do this because we consider the sufferings of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt (America)" (Hebrews 11:25-27).
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you more of himself.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Reality Grace
We live life and then...
...What does it all amount too...?
Do you live to pay off debt... raise a family...?
Wait, my alarm... I can't forget to set it... it gets me up...
Sometimes it seems so pointless...
But God is so gracious by the pointless he throws us in, in it
we find that he is the only point.
Only one thing is necessary...
OH LORD, make me feel pointless all day long to find the one thing necessary!
...What does it all amount too...?
Do you live to pay off debt... raise a family...?
Wait, my alarm... I can't forget to set it... it gets me up...
Sometimes it seems so pointless...
But God is so gracious by the pointless he throws us in, in it
we find that he is the only point.
Only one thing is necessary...
OH LORD, make me feel pointless all day long to find the one thing necessary!
Friday, August 03, 2007
ooze and endurance
"Consider it all joy..."
When should we "consider it all joy"? James avows that we consider it all joy when suffer various trials (James 1:4-7).
At basic training for Chaplains (which is a gentlemen's basic) I had an abscess on my hip. The pain kept me up one night. I got up at 4:30AM and headed to the field excerise; we would be in the field for two days with no shower. My buddies saw the growth and forced me to go to the doctor. I rejoiced in that affliction (small though it was). I learned to trust and rely on friends. I realized how much they cared for me. They showed me the love of Christ. Praise God for the body of Christ, which is the church.
When should we "consider it all joy"? James avows that we consider it all joy when suffer various trials (James 1:4-7).
At basic training for Chaplains (which is a gentlemen's basic) I had an abscess on my hip. The pain kept me up one night. I got up at 4:30AM and headed to the field excerise; we would be in the field for two days with no shower. My buddies saw the growth and forced me to go to the doctor. I rejoiced in that affliction (small though it was). I learned to trust and rely on friends. I realized how much they cared for me. They showed me the love of Christ. Praise God for the body of Christ, which is the church.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
The Beast We Are
You are a beast. I am a beast. Oh, wait, you don't believe me? Think again---whether you're a pagan or a Christian we must all admit to death we are heading. "I said in my heart with regards to the children of man, that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beast" (Ecclesiastes 3:18).
Not only are we beasts, but, we are only but beasts. That's the Bible's perception. Isn't this comforting. When the day is long, the vomit comes out your stomach, when the periods don't end, when the labido is dry, remember don't get so down, after all, we are but beasts. The fate of man and beasts is the same, as one dies, so dies the other.
In your life and good moments, good times, remember...we are but beasts. Thank you Christ Jesus that you teach me that I am but a beast; what exceptions for mankind do I then need to live up to when I am but a beast. Amen.
Not only are we beasts, but, we are only but beasts. That's the Bible's perception. Isn't this comforting. When the day is long, the vomit comes out your stomach, when the periods don't end, when the labido is dry, remember don't get so down, after all, we are but beasts. The fate of man and beasts is the same, as one dies, so dies the other.
In your life and good moments, good times, remember...we are but beasts. Thank you Christ Jesus that you teach me that I am but a beast; what exceptions for mankind do I then need to live up to when I am but a beast. Amen.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Narcissus killed himself...
Questions and issues about identity go beyond the limits of psychology. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move our eyes to Christ. If not, we will end up like Narcissus. He died while looking obsessively into his own reflection, for he loved to preoccupy himself with himself.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Consuming Fire
"Our God is a consuming fire." The author of the biblical book of Hebrews 12:29 thusly describes Gods' essence. God is a raging inferno of heat, a blazing torch that lights the universe. The author of Hebrews quotes this statement about God from Deuteronomy 4:29 and 9:3. This is striking in light of Christ's death and resurrection. Why?
Moses who wrote Deuteronomy states that God is a consuming fire, reminding the Israelites that they saw God descend on Mount Sinai in smoke, noise, fire, and an earthquake. God's presence shook the Israelites to fear so much so that they acknowledged that if God spoke to them any longer they would melt to death.
Despite this potential to die from God, who is a consuming, the author of Hebrews avers that God remains a consuming. What does this mean for Christians? It means that in Christ God is still a consuming fire. What?
In Christ we will have resurrected bodies in which we will endure and enjoy the heat of God. Think about it. The sun is 27,000,000 degrees at its core---what does that say about God who created the sun. Well, because we are in Christ, who is God, instead of experiencing a melting death, we will absorb all God, all his fiery presence as everlasting joy and power.
Moses who wrote Deuteronomy states that God is a consuming fire, reminding the Israelites that they saw God descend on Mount Sinai in smoke, noise, fire, and an earthquake. God's presence shook the Israelites to fear so much so that they acknowledged that if God spoke to them any longer they would melt to death.
Despite this potential to die from God, who is a consuming, the author of Hebrews avers that God remains a consuming. What does this mean for Christians? It means that in Christ God is still a consuming fire. What?
In Christ we will have resurrected bodies in which we will endure and enjoy the heat of God. Think about it. The sun is 27,000,000 degrees at its core---what does that say about God who created the sun. Well, because we are in Christ, who is God, instead of experiencing a melting death, we will absorb all God, all his fiery presence as everlasting joy and power.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Sojourn and Exile
"All these died in faith, without receiving the promises...having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). Hebrews 11:13 teaches this: If you believe in Christ, your life on earth is exile.
True, God calls us to be stewards of his creation, and to redeem the time. But God also calls us sojourners and exiles on earth. That is tension. Enhance life earth, remember your exile. Love your emenies, hate your mother and father and wife. Be slaves to serve men because you are free in Christ; be free from men because you are a slave to Christ.
All the tribulation, pain, unmet longing, all the disappoints of spouses and the guilt felt when we wrong a loved one, all of life under the cruse is endurable because we have new birth in Christ and are in his love us that liberates us to embrace all agony in our exile.
True, God calls us to be stewards of his creation, and to redeem the time. But God also calls us sojourners and exiles on earth. That is tension. Enhance life earth, remember your exile. Love your emenies, hate your mother and father and wife. Be slaves to serve men because you are free in Christ; be free from men because you are a slave to Christ.
All the tribulation, pain, unmet longing, all the disappoints of spouses and the guilt felt when we wrong a loved one, all of life under the cruse is endurable because we have new birth in Christ and are in his love us that liberates us to embrace all agony in our exile.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Christian Eroticism
Christian eroticism. Does it exist? Read the Song of Solomon. Christian marriages (all marriage in general) suffer--and much of that suffering is in the bed (or out of it?). Now I’m a single white male, but from what I hear, one place marriages suffer is the bed. Christians need to recover and discover a healthly view of “Christian eroticism" (my friend Chaplain Matt Temple coined this apparent oxymoron).
Consider this: "Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples for I am sick with love" (Song 2:5). When was the last time you (married person) were sick with love? Is the job a distraction? Is the degree troubling you?
Do you spend more time reading than making love? Maybe you've spent more time wipping your kid than feeling your spouse's pulse at night---alone? Do you spend more time talking baby talk than saying things to your spouse like, "How much better is your love than wine" (Song 4:10).
The last time I drank wine, I felt it. Do you want to feel love like you feel wine? If you don't, honestly, what's the point? If your marriage is boring, a hassle, drudgery? If so..., thanks for the example. Give me this: "Love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave" (Song 8:6a). Give me love stronger than death, otherwise, I'll wait for Jesus' final return.
Consider this: "Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples for I am sick with love" (Song 2:5). When was the last time you (married person) were sick with love? Is the job a distraction? Is the degree troubling you?
Do you spend more time reading than making love? Maybe you've spent more time wipping your kid than feeling your spouse's pulse at night---alone? Do you spend more time talking baby talk than saying things to your spouse like, "How much better is your love than wine" (Song 4:10).
The last time I drank wine, I felt it. Do you want to feel love like you feel wine? If you don't, honestly, what's the point? If your marriage is boring, a hassle, drudgery? If so..., thanks for the example. Give me this: "Love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave" (Song 8:6a). Give me love stronger than death, otherwise, I'll wait for Jesus' final return.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
The day of death better than birth...
Recently a friend of mine (Chaplin Matt Temple) conducted a funeral. He made me aware that the first statement in the famous "a time to...a time to" passage in Scripture is "a time to be born, and a time to die" (Eccl 3:2).
The day of death is better than the day of birth (Eccl 7:2). Of coarse, that depends on who you are. Death comes to all. And that's why the Preacher avows, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind" (Eccl 7:2).
Societies are marked by feasting: from the rich American who snorts cocaine and wife-swaps, to the poor Haitian peasant who after work inebriates himself with moon-shine under the moon light blackness of a sweltering Haiti night.
"Sorrow is better than laughter" (Eccl 7:3a). "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning" (Eccl 7:4a). Are you wise? Go to the house of mourning. That is a philosophical tension in life. Jesus promises to make our joy complete, but he would tell us to go to the house of mourning---for this is the end of all mankind.
The day of death is better than the day of birth (Eccl 7:2). Of coarse, that depends on who you are. Death comes to all. And that's why the Preacher avows, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind" (Eccl 7:2).
Societies are marked by feasting: from the rich American who snorts cocaine and wife-swaps, to the poor Haitian peasant who after work inebriates himself with moon-shine under the moon light blackness of a sweltering Haiti night.
"Sorrow is better than laughter" (Eccl 7:3a). "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning" (Eccl 7:4a). Are you wise? Go to the house of mourning. That is a philosophical tension in life. Jesus promises to make our joy complete, but he would tell us to go to the house of mourning---for this is the end of all mankind.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Leap for Joy
When the disciples "left the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" (Acts 5:41) they vindicated Christ. Jesus Christ taught that those who suffer persecution for his name's sake are blessed: "Blessed are you when men hate you...on account of the Son of Man" (Luke 6:22).
If that teaching didn't hit hard radically enough, he continues his rhetorical radicalizing, commanding, "Rejoice in that day." The holy madness continues with this final stroke, "...and leap for Joy!" Only Jesus could teach this.
And why can the disciple "leap for joy!" when men hate him?---because Jesus promises, "For behold, your reward is great in heaven" (Luke 6:23). Allegiance to Christ means obedience to his command to leap for joy when men hate you for his sake.
If that teaching didn't hit hard radically enough, he continues his rhetorical radicalizing, commanding, "Rejoice in that day." The holy madness continues with this final stroke, "...and leap for Joy!" Only Jesus could teach this.
And why can the disciple "leap for joy!" when men hate him?---because Jesus promises, "For behold, your reward is great in heaven" (Luke 6:23). Allegiance to Christ means obedience to his command to leap for joy when men hate you for his sake.
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