dozen matter ..

---

What does it matter, what folk think of me?

(and whether they think I'm valid or not)..

The most important thing is that there be

some indication that there is no rot

within the life of Christ, he's conquered death,

decay, corruption, all uncleanliness,

& that the news gets out, with any breath

that's breathed by humans being more or less

in tune themselves with that news. Heralds all,

who are concerned with truth, so I've rejoiced.

Yes, and I will continue, that's this Paul,

provided for by Spirit of God's Boy

such that along with your own prayers, I know 

that what has happened here to me will turn 

out for my own deliverance. I hope 

& eagerly expect that I won't burn

with shame, but will have courage with each breath

so that as always Christ will be in me

exalted in my body's life or death. 

To me, to live is Christ himself my Liege;

to die is gaining (more - not life that's lost). 

If I'm to go on living bodily, 

this will mean fruitful labour - with a cost

If it was mine to choose, I could not see..

I'm torn between the two: depart and be 

with Christ, which is far better; but it is 

more helpful for you that I bodily

stay here; convinced of this, I know that this..

this option is for me, just now, I'll stay, 

then will continue with all of you for 

your progress and your joy within your faith-

ful friendship (a response to his, what's more)

so through my being with you here again

your boasting in the Christ - Jesus will sound

out more & more till it abounds & then

whatever happens, your conduct around

God's world would help to sound the gospel here

it will proclaim the Christ, so here or there

I'll know that you stand firm in the one Spir-

-it, striving as one for the faith we share

in gospelling, without in any way 

allowing fear of those who would oppose.

This is a sign to them that you'll be saved

& they will be destroyed – by God's impose.

For you have been here granted on behalf 

of Christ, not only to believe in him, 

but also here to suffer, not just laugh

for him, since we'll all struggle, then we'll win.

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But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:18‭-‬30 NIVUK

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RESURRECTION LIFE & its pre-curser* ..

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The way forward that I do now perceive 

for my neighbour, and his neighbour (hmm... me).

Oh God who is both love and creator

please waken in me now, and more, & more

responsive love to all that's shower'd on me

instead of vicious circles, viciously

en-gouging for the getting of revenge

while hurting all the innocents who wend

just near enough (their way) to me and mine

that cross-fire will wreak havoc all the time.

I see now that my way, apart from love,

would force my hand as though t'were in some glove

that wouldn't let me .. pick up things alone

(like cards, or tiny objects), use my phone.

I'd have to take it off, gauntleted glove,

if I'm to find the way that's from above

& let my skin again touch skin, with love

(which must itself fly in, like sky-borne dove),

for I'd have walled me in, and covered up,

for shame had gotten tentacles on me,

or else its fangs had pierced, injecting muck

along with deadly poise on track to be

the walking dead, in truth - who cannot die

unless a second, or third death can giveto

some way to undo all this work that I

a god (without your wisdom's care to live

and grow more life and love around me too)

would do. I'd like to learn that trick from you!

I know, within my bones, no 'trick' will do;

his resurrection life^, I will run to!

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*   the last word in the title [pre-curser] is meant to be spelled this way. To allow it to evoke 3 meanings: a) the concept of a necessary prerequisite [precursor], b) something has been spelled wrong! & then c) from the world of spells and curses, someone who cursed before, or was previously against (maybe wronged, and then wronging in return) [a previous curser]

^  resurrection life, is the kind of life that fits all the best hopes and dreams of humanity (can still use food and drink, but doesn't depend on them). It was understood to only come at the end of life, after death. (It still holds true: it's precursor is death, our death - That's why Jesus came and took up a cross, to teach us how to take uo our own cross (even daily). Jesus is our first instance of this death to living by our desires, and this life, and promises not to be the last! - he is determined to bring many little brothers and sisters, mothers etc. (family) into it too. The seed of this, which is the seed of God, is in me too. Yee har!

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GOOD!

 

---

"Good Jew? I do not know if that's a thing?"

- a fellow said, as he heard of the man.

"Good Nazarene?" - another's whispering

back to a friend, as he tells what he can

of this man who's distinctive, certainly.

A carpenter, a brother, and a son. 

A neighbour, and a subject, he's a free

man, but in occupied land, where he's none

of those who use what power they can get

to make the others look more up to him.

Yet in a sense, his destiny's to let

all look on him, held high, on scornful whim.

He's held in high esteem by tiny group

of those who side with who the GOD picked out,

as good man, good teacher, "Good job!", the scoop

was "Well done! I AM S O  PLEASED!" He's no lout.

Not on his own adventure, self-made man.

He lives as under good authority.

He's learning to do all the good he can,

while simply trusting THE GOOD GOD, unseen.

Yet not "unknown", for intimately he

is open of himself, his hopes and dreams,

and ignorances too, he needn't be

the one in charge. He has a god! It seems

he calls him "Father", "Papa" or the like,

and he suggests we call him that ourselves.

He's known to be a good teacher. I'll hike 

on through this world like him. Picture of health-

-y human, son of Adam, Re-al Man.

The kind of person God would see and say

about him, like ol' Job, "Good!", for he can

not live alone, apart from God one day!

And he said, with authority that brought

capacity (when listened to, to join),

that folk should "Follow me!" Now that is fraught

with difficulties, same as a Dad with boy

'n girl of his own fam-i-ly. But he

is 'secret weapon' of the good to come,

for ev'ry tiny trusting act, he'll see

and make it to come true, fully - & some!

---

The LORD!

---

To: Who is called by God to be saved, by

strong, wise & pow'rfull action of this  king;

from Jews and any other nations, Christ 

is now the pow'r of God, his wisdom's bling. 

This foolish plan of God involving shame,

& suffering, & death, is wiser than 

the wisest human plans, and God’s own name

is honoured in a way that he has planned.

His weakness, is much stronger than our might.

So now recall that few of you were wise 

in this world’s eyes, or strong, or in the sights

for worldly wealth when God called you. Despised

& foolish things he spesh'ly chose, for those

will show up, and then shame folk from this sys-

tem's wisest ways. And powerless things he chose 

to shame those who are powerful. For his

choice is for things despised by all the world, 

things counted here as not having the goods.

he uses them to bring down, as they're hurled 

the things this world's own wisdom sees as shoulds.

God's little 'nothings' bring to nothing gai-nts

that wear the armour, helmets, shields and swords,

that rail and taunt & boast & flaunt defia-nce!

So no-one can be God's own over-lords!

God has united you with Christ Jesus.

And for our benefit God made him to

be wisdom, freedom, righteous holiness.

As all God's people say, “Our boast is you!” 

---

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:24‭-‬31 NLT

1 Samuel 17:20‭-54 NLT

etc.

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Faith?

 Faith?

---

Your faith, ain't just  com-mod-if-ic-at-ing

beliefs: collect/present, or berating.. 

Since it accesses, then expresses through, 

it also "will transform" your whole world view.

equate your faith with your set of beliefs,

then find your view truncated, flattened out,

but still you'll have to utilize the chief

stands of your saving life rope, & not pout

about its colour, or its mass-prod-uc-

-tion. Is it strong enough to pull one in?

So, "Can a faithful friend be seen as such?"

Then do your part to hold on, as you've been..

doing, in ensuing time since then.

So faith exists, and builds, & grows (or wanes),

organic'ly between two friends for when

each keeps their word, & understands the pains

the other goes through, there's a chance for real

true friendship (faithfulness) to grow in soil;

that is a living crop, at first concealed

in space that's kept between the two, a foil

to just the sameness of peas in 

a pod;

a space where gardens flourish, or could grow.

Expressions must be made, with help from God,

communicating key beliefs we know

our friend, our Master, sees as key himself,

and help our other brothers/ sisters, our true wealth,

to learn to trust themselves our father well,

committed to our fam'ly, 'gainst all hell.

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*  Faith= Belief + Trust + Action

(a mind convinced, a will committed, a lifestyle converted).

"What happened to your faith?" Omen asks Hrathen, [in Elantris…(a fantacy novel by Brandon Sanderson)]

then the narrator comments that "His beliefs, … had been precious to him."

The equating of faith with a set of beliefs is seen in our modernistic tendency to set up belief statements as a way of expressing our faith. Jesus, however had another way of 'seeing' faith expressed.

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partnering with God (thought, word, & act).. outlines a new cov-en-ant or pact..

---

"Yeshua" means Yahweh's Salvation is;

the angel said that he would save from sin!"

And thus the name of Moses' servant, his

own name in Greek was Iēsous. So 'twas in

Septuagint, the Greek translation made

in Alexandria, some years before

the babe was born to Mary, just a maid,

& her betrothed became convinced, what's more!

But in those days they thought of sin not just

as evil that was dark, that threatened good,

but ignorance, or sickness, chaos, must 

include what was a falling short that would

be less than God would shoot for, hope for in

his dreams for what his world could best-ly be.

And in that sense there's much to be done min-

-ute, by each shining minute. See what he

did do, and what the good God said he planned

for all his children so to do - like him.

And as we follow this God's true human

(the son of Adam), nothing 'bout him's dim!

And when we hear: "..he'll save his people from

their sins." That's all the live sins in our hearts

that make a person's life unclean, a bomb,

that ruins heaps of good plans at the start.

I've got not much idea how he did

the kind of saving that he did back then.

But he was slow to anger (flip his lid),

and worked with God, in partnership, as friend!

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From the Septuagint, [the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures made scores of years before Yeshua (Hebrew; Jesus, in English; Iēsous, in Greek) of Nazareth was born] 5th book called by his name: Iēsous (capitalized as ΙΗΣΟΥΣ); chapter 1:

ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν Μωυσῆ, εἶπε Κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ υἱῷ Ναυῆ τῷ ὑπουργῷ Μωυσῆ, λέγων, Μωυσῆς ὁ θεράπωνμου τετελεύτηκε. νῦν οὖν ἀναστὰς, διάβηθι τὸν Ἰορδάνην σὺ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οὗτος εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν ἐγὼ δίδωμι αὐτοῖς. πᾶς ὁ τόπος ἐφʼ ὃν ἂν ἐπιβῆτε τῷ ἴχνει τῶν ποδῶν ὑμῶν, ὑμῖν δώσω αὐτόν, ὃν τρόπον εἴρηκα τῷ Μωυσῇ· Τὴν ἔρημον καὶ τὸν Ἀντιλίβανον, ἕως τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου, ποταμοῦ Εὐφράτου, καὶ ἕως τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς ἐσχάτης· ἀφʼ ἡλίου δυσμῶν ἔσται τὰ ὅρια ὑμῶν. οὐκ ἀντιστήσεται ἄνθρωπος κατενώπιον ὑμῶν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς σου· καὶ ὥσπερ ἤμην μετὰ Μωυσῆ, οὕτως ἔσομαι καὶ μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψω σε οὐδʼ ὑπερόψομαί σε. Ἴσχυε καὶ ἀνδρίζου· σὺ γὰρ ἀποδιεῖς τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ τὴν γῆν, ἣν ὤμοσα τοῖς πατράσινν ὑμῶν δοῦναι αὐτοῖς. Ἴσχυε οὖν καὶ ἀνδρίζου, φυλάσσεσθαι καὶ ποιεῖν καθότι ἐνετείλατό σοι Μωυσῆς ὁ παῖς μου· καὶ οὐκ ἐκκλινεῖς ἀπʼ αὐτῶν εἰς δεξιὰ οὐδὲ εἰς ἀριστερὰ, ἵνα συνῇς ἐν πᾶσιν οἷς ἐὰν πράσσῃς. Καὶ οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ἡ βίβλος τοῦ νόμου τούτου ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου, καὶ μελετήσεις ἐν αὐτῇ ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς, ἵνα εἰδῇς ποιεῖν πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα· τότε εὐοδωθήσῃ, καὶ εὐοδώσεις τὰς ὁδούς σου, καὶ τότε συνήσεις. Ἰδοὺ ἐντέαλμαί σοι· ἴσχυε καὶ ἀνδρίζου, μὴ δειλιάσῃς, μηδὲ φοβηθῇ, ὅτι μετὰ σοῦ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου εἰς πάντα οὗ ἐὰν πορεύῃ· Καὶ ἐνετείλατο Ἰησοῦς τοῖς γραμματεῦσιν τοῦ λαοῦ, λέγων, Εἰσέλθατε κατὰ μέσον τῆς παρεμβολῆς τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ἐντείλασθε τῷ λαῷ, λέγοντες, ἐτοιμάζεσθε ἐπισιτισμόν, ὅτι ἔτι τρεῖς ἡμέραι καὶ ὑμεῖς διαβαίνετε τὸν Ἰορδάνην τοῦτον, εἰσελθόντες κατασχεῖν τὴν γῆν, ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν δίδωσιν ὑμῖν. Καὶ τῷ Ῥουβὴν, καὶ τῷ Γὰδ, καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασσῆ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς,

ΙΗΣΟΥΣ 1:1‭-‬12 GRCBRENT

[In English:

 "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Yeshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying, “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Then Yeshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the camp, and command the people: ‘Prepare your provisions; for in three days you are to cross over the Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess.’ ” To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Yeshua said,.." Yeshua 1:1‭-‬12]

And with the new covenant [more than a year after God's prophet, John the Baptist, has said of Yeshua: "Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn 1:29)]:

Καὶ μετὰ ἡμέρας ἓξ παραλαμβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Πέτρον καὶ τὸν Ἰάκωβον ⸀καὶ Ἰωάννην, καὶ ἀναφέρει αὐτοὺς εἰς ὄρος ὑψηλὸν κατ’ ἰδίαν μόνους. καὶ μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ⸀ἐγένετο στίλβοντα λευκὰ ⸀λίαν οἷα γναφεὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς οὐ δύναται ⸀οὕτως λευκᾶναι. καὶ ὤφθη αὐτοῖς Ἠλίας σὺν Μωϋσεῖ, καὶ ἦσαν συλλαλοῦντες τῷ Ἰησοῦ. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Πέτρος λέγει τῷ Ἰησοῦ· Ῥαββί, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι, καὶ ποιήσωμεν ⸂τρεῖς σκηνάς⸃, σοὶ μίαν καὶ Μωϋσεῖ μίαν καὶ Ἠλίᾳ μίαν. οὐ γὰρ ᾔδει τί ⸀ἀποκριθῇ, ⸂ἔκφοβοι γὰρ ἐγένοντο⸃. καὶ ἐγένετο νεφέλη ἐπισκιάζουσα αὐτοῖς, καὶ ⸀ἐγένετο φωνὴ ἐκ τῆς νεφέλης· Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ⸂ἀκούετε αὐτοῦ⸃. καὶ ἐξάπινα περιβλεψάμενοι οὐκέτι οὐδένα εἶδον ⸂ἀλλὰ τὸν Ἰησοῦν μόνον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν⸃. ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΡΚΟΝ 9:2‭-‬8 SBLG

In English

Six days later, Jesus (Yeshua) took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. Mk 9:2‭-‬8

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