A bouncing off - Isaiah..

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I said, “There is no hope for me! I'm doomed 

'coz every word that passes through my lips 

is sinful, and I live my life entombed

among a people whose whole language slips

into decay, "corruption" - speech of ghosts.

And yet, with my own eyes, I've seen the King, 

that's YaHWeH Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts

of bodies, feathered, furred, fired, finned, & winged!

 

This Lord, then sent his messenger, who touched 

my lips with burning coal from holy flames

and said, “Your lips, now guard your speech so such

give guilt no gangway, no foothold for shames” 

Then hearing too, began to come to me,

I heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send now? 

Who now will be our messenger? Who'll see

our message gets across to them somehow?” 

I answered, “I'll go! If you'll now send me!” 

So he told me to go and give the pe-

-ople this his message: “No-one just "can see"

or "hear" at will; no matter how you be

much listening, you will not understand. 

No matter how you look, you will not know 

what's happening. These things are in my hands.

They'll get alone; those whom I deem to show.

Then he said to me, as my messenger, 

you are to “Take the minds of these folk, dull, 

whose ears are deaf, whose eyes are blind - can't hear,

or see, or understand. As brutes they wull

be trained to turn and come, & If they did, 

they might return to me and then be healed;

and hear, and see, & know the secrets hid

in plane sight, and in hearing, un-concealed.

I asked, “How long will it be like this, Lord?” 

He answered, “'til the cities ruined are

and empty — 'til the houses they afford-

ed … uninhabited, with doors ajar.

...

— until the land they think their own, is waste. 

I'll send the people far away and make

the whole land to be one that's  desolate. 

If ten percent remains. They too will shake,

and be destroyed; like gum tree cut to stump 

Yet from a stump new startings-up can come.

Begin again, for God's folk are a lump

of dough with living leaven in, among.

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I said, “There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes, I have seen the King, the LORD Almighty!” He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, “This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven.” Then I heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?” I answered, “I will go! Send me!” So he told me to go and give the people this message: “No matter how much you listen, you will not understand. No matter how much you look, you will not know what is happening.” Then he said to me, “Make the minds of these people dull, their ears deaf, and their eyes blind, so that they cannot see or hear or understand. If they did, they might turn to me and be healed.” I asked, “How long will it be like this, Lord?” He answered, “Until the cities are ruined and empty — until the houses are uninhabited — until the land itself is a desolate waste. I will send the people far away and make the whole land desolate. Even if one person out of ten remains in the land, he too will be destroyed; he will be like the stump of an oak tree that has been cut down.” (The stump represents a new beginning for God's people.) Isaiah 6:5‭, ‬7‭-‬13 GNBDC

Israel is no stronger than Samaria, its capital city, and Samaria is no stronger than King Pekah. “If your faith is not enduring, you will not endure.” Isaiah 7:9 GNBDC

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Sorting out "in house" family problems within God's big family..

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From memory, Jesus didn't say to go

and talk with any brother (have things out 

with him) "if he has sinned." (though James did know,

as did ol' Pete*, from life what love's about,

& said if someone's caught up in a sin, 

and somehow then a brother pulls him out,

it can cut off a legion of unclean,

unhelpful spirits, and hush things that shout.

"If he has sinned against you" - have things out.

I'd quote the passage in Matthew and say 

that this is what our Lord said he's about.

This can't be just machine'ry that we'd pay

for, or a company-policy type thing, 

but it's the style of Jesus' "little child-

ren", so I wouldn't use emails that ding

or texts that can be "evidence" though chilled 

(or maybe more like - "chillingly") - unless 

you had to. Try that old "knock on the door" -

to make a time that suits (not just to  test),

or else for the same reason, a phone-call,

handwritten letter/ card, is more the style 

of brothers/ sisters of our Lord Jesus.

And, once you've done it on your own (he smiled:

"well - just the two of you", and he sees us) 

then if your bro's won back, you've  really won!

- And if he's not won back, don't just repeat.

It seems he's for increasing stakes, for (fun,

and) likelihood of working on the street.

So when you have already gone & done

it, as your father Jesus said to do 

(that's with no back up) - if you have not won

you should "go with a brother", just you two…

Desired outcome or purpose is the same:

to win your brother back. And to my mind

important thing about the outcome/ aim

is don't let less-ers slither in to find

your purpose, or your aim/ desired outcome,

has been shrunk down to lesser hopes, for you

to "win a brother back" is God's hope, some-

thing he'd be glad to see you try to do!

Oh God, may your love fully motivate

all that is said, thought, done, by this-here man.

Enable love like yours to penetrate,

by washing feet, and serving as love can …

We know that only love would want to do

this kind of thing, that honours in offence.

All others see competitors, but you

love all your children person'ly, so hence,

you only want to gain your sons again

so all your pow'r is wielded under love.

Oh God my love's so small, please grow it then,

and now within this trial where we're "shoved".

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*  My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19‭-‬20 NIVUK

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 NIVUK

Jesus' "third" story about the celebrations when a lost something is found again: Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them. ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him anything. ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” So he got up and went to his father. ‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him. ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate. ‘Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. “Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.” ‘The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!” ‘ “My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” ’ Luke 15:11‭-‬32 NIVUK . The story of the lost son found, starts with these words ‘There was a man who had two sons.. from this start and the story's ending, it turns out that this story, could also be the story of the lost brother found. Although we pick up what the father's wish is…we never find out, in this version of Jesus' story, if that got to happen or not.. will it? We have to look to Luke's second book, Acts, from our chapter 29 and following, to find that out… 

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when parents seem to be losing it

Oh God, we are a sickly bunch, your kids!

We're surely immature and foetal still.

We often seem to blunder, hit the skids

at just the wrong times. Seems we always will,

unless you help us, please to grow some more

to be like your wise (little child) who called

for help within the blundering before

each step, and too within, and stayed enthralled

by your creative love  that brought to bear...

and brought to Earth your wisdom and insight...

and shared creative love's desire to share...

that cared in ways so real they brought delight.

Please help us!

Please help our Mums and Dads, 

who have introduced us to you.

Please help our children, 

whom we're parents to.

Amen.

thoughts on our calling, needs, and desires..

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The deeper joy comes not from getting what we want, or even then in having it [they can seem to promote in human life more like general, surface, happiness, but they can almost as much, actually lead to depression and anxiety "when I get what I want, it is not what I want", C.S. Lewis' conception of Joy, being a deep and wondrous longing for something you don't actually get - yet. Like this whole life is a courtship of God and his not yet (but will be, and can therefore be), honourable bride, his new HUMANITY]. But meanwhile humanity really lives not from our (God given) food only, but in what comes from our God's mouth. We really do live upon that intimate connection with you, creative love.

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The things we most desire to do of all

(confusingly) are things that you (Oh God) 

would bless us by "commanding" us or call

-ing us to do them with you, to have trod

where you have trod, while still holding your hand.

While walking, to be present with you there,

what-ever your stand is, to under-stand

as much as we are able, and to share

our ignorance with you, and from you learn;

thus listen when you speak, and still recall

your words as we go on, to dwell on, turn

them over in our minds, let your seed fall

upon them and dwell in them, take root, grow,

within & from & through them as in soil,

or as a bride with groom in afterglow

would cherish their own progeny and toil

to care for their combined offspring, and share

their love and wisdom through the years that come.

And as their knowledge of the other there,

grows with their dreams and understandings, some-

-thing of creative love's nature ensues,

comes out in wanting their child to grow up,

with knowledge of reality to choose

themselves to grow more of creative love.

And future hope (who's best friends with CL),

along with shalom peace (which means to thrive),

and faithfulness to keep each word that shall

come from them to the world, - will all arrive!

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Recall 

• That book by Francis & Lisa Chan: You and me forever … seeing marriage as a temporary leg up to learning to live in love for the next 10 million years.

• The scripture regarding a man looking after his own family/ a shepherd looking after his own flock ( "an church leader/elder.. must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect. For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God? 1 Timothy 3:4‭-‬5 GNBDC/ "So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he made his own through the blood of his Son." Acts 20:28 GNTD; 

• We think that God has taught us (in line with our "all/whole of life discipleship", or "life deep" approach, expressed in one of our mottos "let your natural life be spiritual, and your spiritual life be natural") that our strength is not necessarily in running events (though being willing to if it was needful for the advancement of the kingdom of God, and if there was no-one-else running that event whom we could legitimately join in with), but in being present as children of YaHWeH in the everyday "events" of life, to invite others into them, and to join together with each other in them. (e.g. this week: a birthday party on Saturday, a volunteer from english class texting the teacher that they couldn't make it on Wednesday, someone after a major operation starting at the gym again on Thursday), then praying for and contributing to my household's wellbeing and growth (discussions with my wife, learning the disciplines of discussing non-violently and compassionately, time with my granddaughter, grandson, daughter, & daughter-in-law, doing Thursday night podcasts on paradigms of approaching ancient sacred text with a daughter and son-in-law who are currently sharing our home, or going on an interstate drive with my son-in-law to a sporting carnival, seeing about helping a local builder and another son-in-law with their friends at a nearby town devastated by flooding. Expecting God to bring others around to me, or me into others' lives to do … (whatever good deeds he helps me see, to join with him on, at the time).

• Look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs:  do I think I need to eat? Well, much more than that lovely, useful, (God-given) gift of daily bread, I need what comes from the mouth of God for me at this time and place. Consider Yeshua's words to Martha, and to Bartimaeus.

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A - cause, interests, affairs, work, will, … of creative love.. (Yahweh/ Yeshua)..

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To folk who had a covenant with God:

that's not through Moses, but a better lead-

er, Joshua his follower who trod

in his footsteps, true follower who'd heed

not his desires as though they were the way,

but word and will of God, as though he's known

much better than our thoughts or what  we'd say

apart from him - as though we're on our own. 

I hear Ambassadorial words to

some followers of Jesus in folk's homes, 

way back at the beginning in a few

big towns like Rome or Corinth. He said "None

of you should be a-looking out for your

own interests, or to please your self. You're styled

to seek the interests/ pleasure of the more;

the building up of others round God's child.

For Christ has modeled for us how he'd save:

he didn't please himself. Instead, (as the ..

the scriptures say:) he listened like a slave

(who's taught, to pick up hope, patience, and e-

e-ncouragement. And may our God, himself,

the source of these, enable you now raised, 

to have his own approach, the life, the health

of Jesus Christ our Lord, so God be praised!

The Lord says if you treat his words and ways

as sacred treasures, and do not pursue 

your own interests on any holy day;

so that no idle words or deeds ensue,

(so holy time and space might grow 'till the..

the glory of the Lord quite fills the Earth,

and knowledge of our God & Father be

the right of ev'ry human at their birth.

As our anointed leader sent out his

Apostle (think Ambassador) to all

the Kingdoms of this world) he took up this

same way of dying/ living/ standing tall: 

"Now, the important thing is that your way 

of life should be as the gospel of Christ 

requires, so that one common purpose plays

out, one desire comes out of all your lives

together for you're fighting for the faith-

fullness which partners this announcement of

the rule of God through Christ. He is no wraithe

he's living in his people, not put off.

So as was said to Joshua himself:

Don't be afraid of all your enemies;

and always be courageous, for your wealth

is stored in lands beyond, behind all these.

And even your obedience to this 

will be a proof to them that they will lose 

and you will win, because God gives to his..

his children all the rule of Earth. This clue's

quite built in to the story at the start.

He won't rule Earth through pet, or through machine;

the privilege of grieving in our heart

through (not only believing) suffering! 

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Footnotes for PART A

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To the people of God's new covenant: None of you should be looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others. ..1 Corinthians 10:24 GNTD

We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, “The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me.” Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus, so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:1‭-‬6 GNTD

In the days of the Old Covenant that God made with Israel the nation, (which, because he cared for the whole people (society, body, soul, and spirit), involved many field, cloth, food, & disease laws, & laws on clean and unclean, and training in a specific model of building a people of his own, within holy time and space - the  sabbath; then he sent his covenant enforcement mediators, the prophets, to that covenanted nation, and this is what one of them (Isaiah)  said to those under that covenant with a land given to them, and the Sabbath laws to be kept by them for the people and the land:

The Lord says, “If you treat the Sabbath as sacred and do not pursue your own interests on that day; if you value my holy day and honor it by not traveling, working, or talking idly on that day,...  Isaiah 58:13 GNTD

On Zion, God's sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil. The land will be as full of knowledge of the LORD as the seas are full of water. Isaiah 11:9 GNBDC

I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me. Hosea 6:6 GNTD

But the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the LORD's glory as the seas are full of water. Habakkuk 2:14 GNB

Paul, Jesus the Christ's Apostle of a new covenant with all the nations (think Ambassador, of the Kingdom of our God, to the Kingdoms of this world) to a small group of Jesus' loyal followers in the model Roman town of Phillipi: 

"Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel. Don't be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win, because it is God who gives you the victory. For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him. Now you can take part with me in the battle. It is the same battle you saw me fighting in the past, and as you hear, the one I am fighting still. Philippians 1:27‭-‬30 GNTD

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