true-LORE ….

---

A movement, a growth, a way to relate,

a life that is lived, as it’s stepped.

A dance that is done, gymnastics gyrate,

high-jump that is made, lament wept.

A knowing that grows (not static and set),

by choices all made “on the hop”.

Or maybe more like a friendship that’s yet

to BE thrown out - it’s never stopped.

It’s kind of alive, it’s thoughtful & kind,

a live-band that’s playing tonight.

They’re not quite the same, each time that you find

them, for they get better (- or fight).

The one thing that stays continually HOT,

the thing that remains, ain’t a THING.

So flip in your mind, a God calls the shots

for you must enact what God sings!

And you will get tired, and you will get scared,

and might make a fool of yourself!

You’ll certainly feel as if you were cared

for, you’ll be allowed to grow wealth.

And riches can be stored up all the days,

in bank that can never get rupt-

ured, coz, as you see, dependable ways

have practices never corrupt!

And always there is a deeper true-love,

or friendship that’s solid & true.

It’s not “of this world”, it’s come “from above”.

It starts to re-make me & you!

---

What a partnership…

---

---

That lady knew what Dave was looking for;

she understood his heart, right at the core.

She knew also his weakness, so did God,

who let her be his partner doing what

they could, to save Dave from taking the law

into his own hands as avenger for

his own name, and his honour. Not entrust-

ing self into the hands of God, as must

a true man who would not avenge himself

but trust his life to God, and too his wealth.

Then David saw the way that she had made

and changed his mind, repented, as she bade.

And God “stepped in” or consequences came

as they are wont to do (might not be blame),

but just the way God’s world responds in kind

to causes with effects that still remind

one of a sort of judgement here and now

God’s Universe might make before the bow

at end when all the actors show on stage

and we will have a chance to jump off page

out of the story, into life that’s large-

-er than what we now act in. Not to barge;

but in a way a birth is just that thing -

a coming out, show off, a revealing..

And some have said the World itself awaits

for when this in-between time ends, abates,

and baby God's born of Yahweh himself

come out, and can hop down, from “off the shelf”.

---

1 Sam ch 25-27 + 

“I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants 

– but let them not turn to folly. 

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, 

that his glory may dwell in our land. 

Love and faithfulness meet together; 

righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and

righteousness looks down from heaven.” Psalms 85:8-11 NIVUK‬

“Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's children. For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, “Father! my Father!” God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children. Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory. I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. All of creation waits with eager longing for God to reveal his children. For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope that creation itself would one day be set free from its slavery to decay and would share the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth. But it is not just creation alone which groans; we who have the Spirit as the first of God's gifts also groan within ourselves, as we wait for God to make us his children and set our whole being free.  Romans 8:14-23 GNBUK‬

---

Every effort.. (2)

 

---

Well, thanks for help against the cynical

that is evoked by mindset that is left

from mechanising all that’s personal,

manipulating, grasping, and bereft

of meaning, purpose, insight that sees whole

big picture that surrounds us in this world.

We would evoke the mindset of the soul

whose right insight sees more than flags unfurled

yet understands the meaning of the plight

of tiny people here with monsters round

about, there’s nations, entities which might

soon crush us if the antidote’s not found.

The anti-dote to anti-christ mindset

(the one that loves each mechanism/law

yet as a tiny self, can quite forget

the reason we are meant to be here for),

is simply be a human learning from 

who's higher up than us, a God in fact.

To see what’s good, and speak it out anon;

not for myself, or maybe just plain act

it out, the first chance that I really get,

with all the energy he works in me,

the spirit of this Christ sufficed. You bet!

To help us act, and learn, and turn, to see.

And his method of ruling is to serve

as parents do their children whom they love.

It is no power play, they need their nerve,

to stick to what births good, & not just shove.

---

“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence. [4] Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust and may become participants of the divine nature. [5] For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge, 

[7] and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. [8] For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For anyone who lacks these things is blind, suffering from eye disease, forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. [10] Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. [11] For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you. [12]  Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. [13] I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, [14] since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. [15] And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.  [16]  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” [18] We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. [19]  So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” ‭2 Peter 1:3-5, 7-19 NRSVUE‬

“Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him. [39] She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’s feet and listened to what he was saying. [40] But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her, then, to help me.” [41] But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, [42] but few things are needed—indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”” ‭Luke 10:38-42 NRSVUE‬

---

every effort...

 

---

Well, thanks for help to learn to work against

the cynicism that comes from what’s left

of mindset that’s evoked by my neat fence-

says made (both in and out) to see things kept!

When I will choose to be relation-al

instead of just contractual, and say,

and act like gracious courtier and smell

like Jesus did. To follow in his way.

With help from him, his spirit come to Earth,

to be embodied here in tent of skin,

a tabernacle (tent) or temple worth

more than I ever could carry within.

The mindset of the right that’s not my “own”,

but rather one that owns me more than I

can ever own another one, this “bone”

that’s made to make connections close and pry-

vate but with deep affections and effects,

as spoken of and meant for humans being

or maybe more “becoming”, no neglects

but holding true, and being held, seeing

that I am learning from the very best,

and utilising friendship’s help to grow.

A trainer who’s a friend, can also test

to help me come to see, and then to know..

the ones who knew me before I knew them,

the parents who were brooding over my

small cot, and put the effort in so when

I grew up, I would have the will to try.

---

“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence. [4] Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust and may become participants of the divine nature. [5] For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge, [6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, [7] and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. [8] For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For anyone who lacks these things is blind, suffering from eye disease, forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. [10] Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. [11] For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you. [12]  Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. [13] I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, [14] since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. [15] And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.  [16]  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” [18] We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. [19]  So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”  ‭2 Peter 1:3-19 NRSVUE‬

---

On Way. Not Stay.

---

One God there is 

one God there be 

one God we’ll take.

’ you come with me?

One God did siz-

sor cut the sea 

and thus did make 

the land to be.

He made some space,

then air to breathe.

The land gave place

for us to weave..

Old “A” & “E”

wove covers, see;

and hid, like me

to feel complete.

They wove their clothes

in garden home,

not quite disposed

to be the “gnome”.

One wove ‘is ‘ome

with others too,

to not just roam;

“stay put” in zoo.

One wove ‘is way

to walk with God

in work & play

was even odd:

‘E-knock, ‘e went,

& so ‘e walked;

re-sponding spent

‘is life, un-baulked.

---

active part

---

---

To live together in a partnership,

is quite a thing to learn, and takes some time.

Intention that's been disciplined will flip

to this new way of living, so it’s mine.

By celebrating* all the good that comes

from partnershipping with just such an one.

And stopping now and then, reminding hums,

or practices like looking up, are fun.

And when I win, then thanking him* for what

he’s done to help me change my habits so

largely that this way of life has got

it roots within the garden of my soul.

And marriage is a model of this kind

of life that makes a partnership with who

connects with us in different ways, we find

that differences are meant to be, and you

and me, can have quite diff’rent “takes” on things.

And you are senior partner in this show.

So learning to curtail my pers’nal wings,

to not run off, and do old ways I know.

While learning too to listen deep and true*,

and quickly*, as the habit of this life,

and let you build a culture that will do

to hold, maintain, respond*, as a good wife

responds to husband's overtures, and let's

him lead*, but offers all that she has got,

with questions*, and the fun of taking bets,

and letting them come true. Letting a lot*.

---

‭*  Psalms 81 :

‭

Shout for joy to God our defender; 

sing praise to the God of Jacob!

Start the music and 

beat the tambourines; 

play pleasant music on the harps and the lyres.  

Blow the trumpet for the festival, 

when the moon is new and when the moon is full. 

This is the law in Israel, an order from the God of Jacob.

When you were in trouble, 

you called to me, 

and I saved you. 

From my hiding place in the storm, I answered you. 

I put you to the test at the springs of Meribah. 

Listen, my people, to my warning; 

Israel, how I wish you would listen to me! 

You must never worship another god. 

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. 

Open your mouth, and I will feed you.

“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not obey me.

How I wish my people would listen to me; 

how I wish they would obey me! …

But I would feed you with the finest wheat and satisfy you with wild honey.”

*  My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ….

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ‭James 1:19, 22-24 NIVUK‬

---

I’m Immature, until I’m “him-mature*”

---

Oh God I feel rejected, scared, & dumb,

quite silly, stupid, lazy and naïve.

And here at length, at last now I have come

into your presence, never more to leave.

This means that I must share the whole bang lot,

of all my sadness, hopes & wishes torn

to bits and pieces that seem all I’ve got,

just left alone, unhonoured and forlorn.

Yet like him I will learn to throw myself,

upon you, with my Weaknesses and Im-

maturities, as hemisphere's in health-

y fine and good connection, share each whim.

Not scared of what will be the other’s thought,

but knowing that they cannot fail to know,

so being first to share, not to be caught

in shame, as though that is their end. “As though+”

is quite a poignant phrase to say, and does

communicate a process going on.

An end in sight, that isn’t clear, with fuzz-

y covering or outlines, not yet strong,

but childlike, with more growth that’s to be had

and at this juncture of development

my choice has place, though maybe grieved & sad

interpretation’s needed, not just spent

against its will. I willingly will learn,

as though this is my place to share the lot

with you, and only you, I will not spurn

your hesed love, I’ll live, “as though I’ve got”.

---

*   “him-mature” is the maturity that comes as a result of a life lived “in relation to him”, the one chosen as “ leader of humanity”, not as a crutch to walk, or glasses to see, but as human brain hemisphere’s are designed with each other in mind. They don’t just benefit from being co-joined with each other, though they obviously do benefit. They are truly and really themselves with each other, and value each other's truth in communication, influence, and real presence to each other. Wow! It’s “as though” I really am a child of God, and “as though” to speak the truth in love really is to speak the very word of God. 

• It’s “as though” I really am a child of God (‭1 John 3:1-3 GNB), and “as though” to speak the truth in love really is to speak the very word of God (Rom 12:5-8;  1Pet 4:1-5, 7-16)

the concept of “as though” [=being treated as if] can be used to build up, or tear down, as part of growth and development into some greater possibilities, or to cover up, thus minimizing any process of growth:

Further references for the concept of “as though” (=treating, or being treated, as if..):

OT

Gen 33:10; 50:20; Lev 25:35; Num 18:27; Deut 2:11,20; 1Sam:20:20;  2Sam 4:6;  Isa 46:5;; 59:10; 63:19;  Ps 35;14; 53:4; Esther 1:10; 

NT

Luke 22:52; Acts3:12; 17:25; 23:15; 23:20; Rom 9:6; 1Cor 4:7,9; 7:25-35; 9:26; 10:14; 2Cor3:18; Gal4:1, 14; Eph 6:7; Col2:20; 3:23; 

2Thess 2:2; Heb 11:27; 13:3; 1Pet 4:12-21; 2John 1:5;

---