2021-08-24
a ppalling life: families and callings .. ("Come home. Dinner time!")
a ppalling life: families and callings .. ("Come home. Dinner time!"): Both apostolic & prophetic kinds of callings still require full living from a grateful cle/ar spirit - one which finds itself enamoured ...
2021-08-13
The Way one lives as an heir in God's world...
The Way One reigns/ rules/ leads/ exercises authority...
The big picture of REAL authority on God's Earth..
..Is that of loving adult parents raising a child from the one-cell stage (where nothing at all is yet known by the individual human cell, nothing of all human endeavours, knowledge, language, loves, pleasures, & appreciations), till the child is a healthy individual adult woman or man, who might be termed a "friend".
There are no guarantees. Only the possibilities of creative love, which might in fact be boundless. "Guarantees" may be the only things which hold them back.
Perceptions:
God's kind-a authority comes from the creative love, and the loving creativity that is expressed in God's authorship, as the creator of all that exists coming ultimately from no "thing" but (in Einstein's words) ultimately coming from "the mind of God". Not only responsible for authoring the existence of the material Universe, this God is also the author of life.
When I willingly come under God's kind-a authority, I can come to know it, in my bones ...( and then, as Abraham and Sarah found...
I am given (not in a contract, removed from me through the use of a distancing "third-object" like money, but, in a covenantal agreement, calling for "truth", " honour" & "reality", that is close up and personal, as with marriage) God's kind-a authority to lead/ rule/ reign, and bless others God connects me with, or "sends" me to… (all the rest of the world of humans)
Some Corollaries:
Proposition One: Authentic author-ity comes from authentic author-ship.
Proposition Two: Authentic (good quality, work that has integrity and consistency, & has not been plaguarized) authorship (& there is bad … authorship), is motivated by creative love, or loving creativity.
Proposition Three: Authorship & authority can be authentically delegated or shared.
Proposition Four: Authentically delegated or shared authority will involve authentic authorship that is respectful and honouring of its delegated or shared status.
Journeyman's notes:
The way previous generations in Christendom used the term "the kingdom of God", has often led people to a static, concrete, place centred view of the text within the greek writings of the early followers of Yeshua Bar Joseph, who record this term (or its equivalent, with it's Aramaic and Hebrew roots) as extensively used in the mouth of Jesus: "βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ" transliterated as 'basileia tou theou'.
⸂Καὶ μετὰ⸃ τὸ παραδοθῆναι τὸν Ἰωάννην ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν κηρύσσων τὸ ⸀εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ λέγων ὅτι Πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρὸς καὶ ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ· μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ. ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΡΚΟΝ 1:14-15 SBLG … The Common English Bible translates this as: "After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”" Mark 1:14-15 CEB
From the Encyclopaedia Britannica:“Though the phrase itself rarely occurs in pre-Christian Jewish literature, the idea of God as king was fundamental to Judaism, and Jewish ideas on the subject undoubtedly underlie, and to some extent determine, the New Testament usage. Behind the Greek word for kingdom (basileia) lies the Aramaic term malkut, which Jesus may have used. Malkut refers primarily not to a geographical area or realm nor to the people inhabiting the realm but, rather, to the activity of the king himself, his exercise of sovereign power. The idea might better be conveyed in English by an expression such as kingship, rule, or sovereignty.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kingdom-of-God (accessed 13.08.2021@6pmAEST)
Notes from N.T. Wright on the Kingdom of God.
Jesus’ world was filled with horrible Kings & their rules. https://youtu.be/rLiy-WlS9mA?t=2938
He is reclaiming the biblical notion of Kingdom from the psalms…
Often Truth is grasped more by the imagination (love, healings) than by arguments.
If God’s kingdom has been inaugurated, why are things not getting better? https://youtu.be/rLiy-WlS9mA?t=3124
There wasn’t any sort of public health care, or public education in the ancient world…
it was their lives that won over people to be Jesus’ followers.
Jesus often offers an interpretive phrase with his parables: "The 'basileia tou theou' is like…". This can now be understood, not as describing the realm of heaven, or even any specific "realm", so much as the type, or kind of "rule, or reign, or leadership of God", the "way that God rules or exercises his authority. ie. "God's authority over humans is like this…." a pearl merchant, a crop of wheat, a mustard seed, a lump of dough etc… This is an act of interpreting the announcement of the gospel that Mark gives us so pithily twice in chapter one.
Jesus (as recorded by Mark in ch10) makes a big deal about the way authority is used within his group, as distinct from the way it is used, or the kind of authority wielded by "the kings of this Earth")...
This, after two scuffles for prominence and leadership from his disciples.
This has the same function as the parables… their life together IS an enacted drama/parable.
In the NT writings, people are expected to have delved and seen this distinction for themselves. They are expected to have understood "another kingdom", another way of wielding and using authority, the way of Jesus, and the writers are often speaking, not of the powerful miracles and acts of Jesus, not even memorizing & quoting his wise words all the time, but noting the actual coming of, and now this new and living Way of being God's regent or the ambassador or model of this new and living way of wielding humanity's rightful authority on Earth. So we get exhortations like this:
"I, Paul, make a personal request to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ… 2 Corinthians 10:1 CEB (the gentleness & kindness of Christ, is something they pulled out of the story that enfleshes what we call the gospel)
Paul speaking of "the most excellent Way" that makes all human power, knowledge, and insight, useless without it. (See 1 Cor 12:31 -14:26, 1 Cor 12:31-14:26;16:13-16)
When groups of Jesus followers around the Roman Empire started (like Jesus' early disciples before them, the apostles) vying for prominence, power and influence, putting others down, or puffing themselves up, the apostle Paul does not command with any force of compulsion, just the power of a life of love known for what it is.
2021-06-29
God's herald's announcement:
We (the Cornerstone Missional Community in Orange) have really enjoyed the Challenge of Jesus; an "immersive experience" of 4 Shabbats (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) focusing on the life of Jesus. In reflecting on them, especially no. 4, I am currently stating my overall attitude or direction while involved in the challenge of Jesus, as something like this:
- trying "not to tell people" (other than the herald's announcement, unless it is a story), so much, as trying to maximize participants' experience of personal discovery.
(the herald's announcement:
The ancient prophecies of the Maker of this Universe ruling it, well, through Humanity, are in process of being fulfilled.
Jesus of Nazareth, has been picked out and christened as the pinnacle of that rule!
If you are on his side, drop your own methods and your own agendas, use your hands and head like his.
... There are repercussions to your actions, or inactions.)
- flexibility and responsiveness firstly to the spirit of God, and secondly to the actual people sent by God; their present aims, hopes, moods, capacities, and life situations).
2021-06-21
choose your ancestor to lead you..through death & beyond.. into new beginnings* (which "house" of the Sons of Adam?
Jot down some reflections on how you imagine you’d be affected, if you were there with Jesus, seeing him die on a cross… and then appear to you alive again…
Part 1
You ask me to put down on paper how
it might affect me to have been there when
he died at hands of thieves and robbers (Wow!)
when he had only done and said good, then.
And as we got to know him, over years -
he showed his colours clearly to us all.
Sometimes he was frustrated - unto tears,
but never scared or panicking, so small
as I am in pedantic peevishness.
He made allowances for weaknesses.
He looked to God; & prayed for God to bless
his enemies. As he beforehand says
to love your enemies & pray for those
who persecute, & make you suffer too.
He lived his teaching out with calm repose.
God’s grace was on him, always fresh & new -
like morning dew, God’s hesed - (faithful love)
condensed in all his actions & his words,
& they displayed a life lived “from above
our plane of life”; his seemed almost absurd,
so much above mine that I seemed asleep.
But now God’s o-pen-ing my eyes to see
the kind of life & strength that must still keep
the stars up in the sky ’bove you & me;
The sun & moon that give this life it’s strength.
The energy which all life has on Earth
has showed its face, & now become at length
an open secret, truly ours by birth!
* new beginnings brought about in different ways by the two "houses", or "dynasties", of two "sons of Adam".
2021-06-06
Regarding Jesus teaching people ...
In Jesus' life when interacting with
the crowds who came for healing, and to hear
this Rabbi with authority to lift
their heads up high, to know God's rule was near..
Mark writes1 for us a summ-ar-y of some
stuff that he did and said at times like this:
The crowd that gathered round, these folk who'd come
to him now was so large (not many missed),
that he got in a boat, sat on a ledge
in it, out on the lake, while people were
along the shore beside the water’s edge.
Mark told us earlier2 the reason for
this was 'coz there were so man-y who'd come.
Kept folk from being crushed, as groups pushed in.
It helped them order up, gave space (and some
things like - they'd cool down, better list-en-in').
He taught them many things, not one or two,
by parables, analogies, and such
and in his teaching said a word (not new),
that meant to try to understand or touch
the meaning, with some action that ensued.
The hebrew word behind the Arama-
-ic one he prob'ly said, was daily used.
In prayers each eve'ning/morning they would say
this word, in quoting God's word to "his son".
It was Shema, and meant all that above,
But in the Greek of everyday life, one
might say Ἀκούετε3 yet think of "love"
of God, because "Shema" became the name
of that first, great, command they said each day.
Thus many nuances might come from same
word: listen, see and understand, obey.
Mark follows this with stories, likenesses,
that Jesus’ used about events around
but treating them as metaphors he says
"These things are like the rule of God, I've found."
He seems to see this life as picturing
the deeper things, dimensions still untapped.
He'd finish urging folk to "get" these things.
‘Your ears were meant to hear, they're not just slapped
on side of head, to hold some bling upon,
or hang some shades that make you look real cool,
so use them for their prime'ry purpose son;
or in the end, you'll really be a fool"
then Mark continues telling us his ways,
by summarizing with this statement now:
“With many similar parables he sáys
God's message to this people, so somehow
they might be hooked, and come to hear and see,
and understand, and stand under the rule
of such a one who made and loves us; we
might know that love, instead of being fooled.
Then Mark spells out his method without doubt,
and says what he has shown us just before
"He didn't say a thing to them without
a parable. But.." there was something more ..
"when he was on his own, alone with his
own students (or disciples, as they'd say,
I'd prob'ly use the word "apprentices"),
he'd help them understand - to tell, his way!"4
Mark 4: 1f & similarly Matthew - in chapter 13
Regarding Jesus' teaching to the crowds, Mark (ch 4, & similarly Matthew - in chapter 13) writes for us:
“The crowd that gathered round him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! …"” (Mark 4: 1f)
Mark follows this with about 5 of Jesus’ parables (about events and happenings in everyday life around them) which finish with commands, or encouragements to listen, like: .‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. (v9,26-26)’ then Mark makes this statement:
“With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” (Mark 4:33f)
2021-06-05
..take the story IN..
If I will not take up that story of
real Life & Liberty, and live it out
then I will end up living for myself
right here within this culture, I don't doubt.
I see that as I hear this story well
(I mean by that: "imagin-a-tively"),
Each story works as puzzle, that will tell
me something more about my life, and me.
But not in categ'ries all iron clad,
it's more suggestive, and with beckoning.
It offers options that i might have had,
ways of responding that i might now bring
to table, in negotiations soon.
It gives a chance to me to think, & see
life from the vantage of another room,
to understand my life objectively.
So as I see myself pictured in this-
here story I just heard - identify;
I let it's strength and wisdom hit or miss
me, and let out a smile, or hmmph, or sigh.
And if i take its medicine, and its food,
and drink, into myself, it starts to own
me, if that's not too candid, or too rude,
'cos culture comes through stories. Thus it's "shown".
But now I see that I must also make
it mine, as son or daughter of this one
who saw his life fulfilling God's own "take"
on ruling well, as Adam's flesh and bone.
2021-06-01
Following Messiah*
How do I tell Jesus' stories to people I meet this week?
Following Jesus's method, not just his words!
- Look up! - to the mountains, and to the heavens. Where will my help come from?
- Look out! -at God's world around me. Notice what happens, & what is happening.
- Look at them, the people God has sent me to, and sent to me. And look into their eyes, with his love.
- Expect God to give me a story from this world of his, for this child of his, to be his gift for them, and
- Tell it to them, then, & there!
How do I tell the stories of Jesus
to people whom I meet today, this week?
I tried to learn the stories that seize us,
that he told, or about him. Give a peek
of these, to folk I meet with, in this place -
the other side of Earth, and some time hence.
I saw tonight, that those stories should grace
the ears of those who ask for what things meant -
so, they have caught a bit, and ask for more.
Those stories from the gospels are for me.
Reposit'ries, and birthright, they're my store.
I need to follow him more, now I see.
And as he told his stories, to those folk,
by using stuff from ev'ry-day life then*,
evangelists who followed him, too spoke
in stories, of that life lived among men.
So when I follow, not just words, but ways;
I will look up, as Jesus did, himself.
I will look out upon this world, this space,
and get to know it well, to speak with health.
Then I'll look in their eyes, to let the love
of God himself - look through mine into theirs,
expecting God to give me from above,
a story for his children. He who shares.
He is the one I'll follow. So I'll tell
what stories he gives to me for their sake,
both then and there. The stories will do well
what Jesus knew they could - bring folk awake!
* Regarding Jesus' teaching to the crowds, Mark (ch 4, & similarly Matthew - in chapter 13) writes for us:
“The crowd that gathered round him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! …"” (Mark 4: 1f) Mark follows this with about 5 of Jesus’ parables (about events and happenings in everyday life around them) which finish with commands, or encouragements to listen, like: .‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. (v9,26-26)’ then Mark makes this statement: “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” (Mark 4:33f)
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