School teacher

---

God give your girl your wisdom to do well 

the job of helping students there to learn

to work & speak & think against the hell

that we let loose, though f'r it we never yearn.

---

re: Healing & reCreation

Oh God, the one who heals from cuts and scrapes, 

from cold and flues and stitches, knocks and breaks. He's given eyes to see and ears to hear,

and still hangs round… His love ’s what keeps him near.

You do not feed our lust for pow’r - to be

alone within the world, to call the shots.

We have to learn by painful steps to see

with both eyes of the head and mind. There’s lots

of lessons to be learned, at different times,

at different rates by different kinds of rhymes, 

by different folk with different histories,

and different DNA, for you were pleased

to have not One, but many child-er-en,

yet let us learn in parenting so then

we’d have a chance to learn KHESÉD* so when

creative love looks for more conduits, hea'en

can be brought here to Earth in ev’ry space,

by breathing notes alone, with chords as well, 

so notes will harmonize, and no disgrace

will be endured, unless it absorbs hell.

The scars may stay somewhat as records of

(but maybe too, they might just be dissolved -

for there’s no pain) the stories we’ve shared here

on Earth below, might be then very dear.

And when our sight is two eyed - head & mind,

it strikes me that a new dimension might

just pop into our view, and we might find

that we will see your bright face - here all right!

---

Footnotes

*  KHESED is the old Hebrew word for the kind of commitment that “keeps its word - even to its own hurt”, covenantal love, loving kindness, everlasting love, steadfast love. 

---

Recreation of an “Eye”

---

In a difficult time with a good friend, a very important lesson came out of it for me...

---

Oh God we trust your spirit to give eyes

(to us) that see the light of life down here.

We’ll live under your love and won't despise

your discipline. We reach out, coz you're near.

At times we do feel lost, ’coz we can’t see 

ourselves as less than grown ups, and mature;

comparing selves to others ’round we be

(we think), more wise and learnéd - we feel sure.

But in comparison to many Mill-

yen years, we are just babies hardly born,

our list’ning and our eye-sight training will

ensure we start to hear and see one morn-

-ing sooner, or bit later - it will come.

Our Father is both wise and good and can

re-make creation, if that ‘s needed some-

where. He’s the one who talked about that plan!

So I am confident that this will work.

And I would learn from big God how to be

a baby god, who rules with love, no shirk-

-er, but let love compel me  sovereignly.

And in the mean-time I will copy what

I see you doing, trusting you to fix

up my mistakes, “make do” with what you've got

in immature child who often licks

the ground, when I fall down. Do you still do 

that parent thing that loves 

and wants the best..

..and gives your time and focus? I love you,

the first. My neighbour, second. Then the rest.

---

---

SUMmary for humans is not Maths, it is story-telling..

(like about … some Mary, ... or Joseph, or Yeshua! - remember Mary Christmas!)

---

The way to summarise: is not a skill 

that you get to by focussing much on

the skill itself. A de-construction will

leave dead things pinned to walls. No life, or song!

It’s not from 20 Questions that require

the data to be packed as “trivia”,

but stories that are told to help, inspire,

to work in/out-of humans who live here.

And then, “Voila!” we tell it summ’rilly:

a whole three pages told in  thirty sec's.

A living gift of what is called  story.

That sieves out those who’d like to go the next

step with the subject, or just with the one

who told that story (not to show off skills,

but) to move further than where we’ve begun

the story of our lives… just paying bills,

and getting by with food, and shelter, warmth -

or cooling, clothing, as the case may be.

Relationships   are central and they form

the nest where grows in truth - humanity.

Relating comes to us from a great store

re: telling as it is, but not just facts.

Not just by breaking down or 'chunking' more

the wisdom of a life lived and it’s acts.

Though proverbs might be valid as a part,

contributing to “hold”-ing such a thing, 

not tightly grasping, it is still an art -

to carry  live-coals  needs some jug-gl-ing!

---

growing up…

---

My God, I see the kind of bloke I am..

I’m talking more & more, quite frantic’ly.

Not tuning in, expressing what began

in mind of God; a human as would be

if energized by motives of khesed*,

in pure form, an unadultarate.

This type - a model, myth that has not shed

its motives, just enfleshed them. Any rate…

that is not me at all. I’m immature,

and often unaware; and do not run

to you to let you slow down what I’d sure-

-ly do, at once (in showing off - for “fun”,

the world I've put together in my head)

It’s like I’m programmed to show off my wares.

I want to here display, before I’m dead,

a model, ideal world, that I have shares

in, where I might be “worshipped” - as create-

-ive. Acts are harder, so I'd like to make

this world by words I say, hoping they’ll sate

my own desire, quite cheaply; like they’d slake

my thirst for water, to be clean, grow strong.

I cannot carry quite enough for me

alone. I need to stream it out, along

the lines of "Cornerstone". Foundation he!

Enough to build my life on him, in line

with edges he has laid down, and displayed.

His thoughts were thunk, his words fitted in time

with acts that brought the house down as he weighed

on in, and acted fast and hard, contin-

-uously, as he’s waulking, never baulked, 

by what they’d think of him, if he went in

to eat with folk he loved. He rarely “gawked”

in data driven way that’s ignorant,

or agnostic of all the folk he’s with.

I now recall that rich young man: no rant,

just steady look, with love, he’s kin, or kith.

And now, I'm not just burbling these words.

You’ve sat with me, and helped me see the way,

that’s Forward for me now. I think I heard

something that I can follow up today!

ThanX!

(May that ol' rock fall flat on the "me" (that lived alone in the world), and smash it to rock-dust, so that as found-ation he might be built upon (in this brand new creation, being made by your partnership - with me!) Yippee! Make on.)

---

Footnote

d* - KHESED is the old Hebrew word for loyal-love, that keeps its word (to its own hurt), covenant-love, everlasting-love, eternal-love, loving-kindness, steadfast love - which “never ceases”. Not bound by contract, it is the stuff that enables one to fulfill a contract, when it is not convenient, and you could get away with it.

---

Y-OUR speech

---

The animals and A.I. round about

might chatter ‘bout the plausibilities.

In ages past (or coming) we could shout

and know in deeper ways real life that’s seized

and really lived, because humanity

has lived it, on this Earth that’s under hea’en,

beneath that thick blue curtain, which we see

each day that we’re awake to work as leaven.

While we make names, tell stories, and live with..

our Mum. Dad minded kids (while giving space),

contrived to let the scientific myth

have output that could help the human race.

By means of folk who’d take and implement

the insights and the ways that opened up 

like children who walked boldly where wind went 

to part the seas agnostic or  corrupt.

These children came to know within their bones,

and nerves & muscles, sinews, tendons and 

with oxygen in blood (that now atones)

as currency just now - as God had planned. 

So from their lived experience they can

bring meaning to their conversations had.

Their list’ning is a gift, as hand shaken.

And when they speak a word, it’s not too bad!

But as that rock enjoined, they see their speech

as oracle of wise prophet of God*.

Then there’s a kingdom of  priests who will preach/

proclaim the news on feet the King has shod.

---

Footnote

d* - “If anyone speaks, they should do so as speaking God’s oracles." (1 Pet 4:11,  but see vv8-12)

---

Aloha* & Marna*

---

Will we just try to "use" & quantify

the world around about to justify

ourselves as the great bosses who can get

our own way; when we want it? I would bet

that that's the way to squash & scrunch the world 

and help it to be suffocated by 

the ones in charge who only think to hurl 

their power-bolts around. Don't even try

to steward or to care for precious things. 

They only think of "precious" as in "cash" 

or income brought. No birds that fly on wings 

or plants around. They turn them all to ash…

---

Footnote

a* - aloha & mana are words from traditional Hawaii, meaning respectively something along the lines of:  hospitality and participation in stewardship of the world, and the energy, motivation and commitment (given by participation in aloha).

---

Covenant*

---

Let now the offices that Adam bore*

of Prophet, Priest, & King bear fruit as well

in bearing of each fam’ly group. At core

relating as humanity’s no shell

but comes out when we keep ourselves in love;

creative and committed in  “long hauls”

of not just putting up with things that “shove”

into our lives*, though other times they’re small

sometimes they seem to grow, because of us,

our presence seems to make the problem real.

And that’s the way it seems to be, no fuss

can make it disappear til we do feel

things pressing in and entering our lives -

In choosing not to live alone we let

a partnership begin. Husbands & wives

are learning these same things. At least I bet

that those who let love grow between them do,

as rituals allow for them to show

a tenderness and longing for their “who”

they’ll share all life with, and they’ll really know.

A partnership means “withness” in a way.

To partner with creative love itself

is greatest thing that I can do today.

And I will learn to be that kind of “self”.

Oh God, we love your patient presence with

us, in these jobs you’ve given us to do,

and also other times, with kin and kith.

We want to learn companionship from you.

---

Footnotes

t* - the stuff consistently spoken of as the motivation and glue in lasting covenants is KHESED (the Hebrew word meaning covenant love, loving kindness, eternal love, everlasting love, etc). A contract is a “Left Brain” image, or attempt to cover what functions it perceives of the “Right Brain” relational covenant.

e* - metaphor comment: to bear an office is the acknowledgement of an upward connection, that if we hold true to will enable our downward roots to bear and support us in our bearing of fruit in this middle section where we live most our lives - between the heavens and the earth, until we sleep in the Earth from which we were taken and given a heavenly breath.

s* - the ancient home-spun wisdom of James: “ When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence. And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him. But he must ask in sincere faith without secret doubts as to whether he really wants God’s help or not. The man who trusts God, but with inward reservations, is like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one moment and driven back the next. That sort of man cannot hope to receive anything from God, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn...”(James 1:2-12ff)

---

Dig here*...

---

The worst waste is to miss a sign, and not 

see all the good intent that’s been deployed

to help and aid, abbett, against the rot

that creeps to bring (depressed and quite annoyed)

us to our loved ones to blame & accuse,

instead of grateful for the good that’s poured

on us and all around about - infused

in life & love that we have somehow scored.

Thus heaven’s meta for a  spirit world 

that is to be embodied on  Earth too,

and gifts a goal and path, a gate that’s curled

in wall and opens on a diff’rent view.

And Earth was pointing to something much more, 

We want to start where we are “at”, but don’t 

want us to finish there, at least not sure

of ev’rything we are .. , at this moment.

Have you learned how to tell the diff-er-ence 

between a label and a signpost which 

is pointing farther on, beyond a fence,

& maybe still a ways from where you’d pitch 

your tent, or put your campervan up so

that you could sleep the night and then keep on

with tra-vel-ling the way that you will go

to get where sign is pointing. From here - gone!

This is the gift of metaphor to us.

A culture where a sign can still be read

and understood, without a lot of fuss.

At times we can’t be told  -  we’re only led.

---

Footnote

e* - The phrase "dig here" most famously connects to the tragic 1861 expedition of Burke and Wills. When the supply party abandoned the depot camp, they buried supplies and carved "Dig", or “Dig here”, or “Dig”  with a method of pointing (maybe the letters were drawn pointing to a spot, or there was an arrow, etc…?) into the "Dig Tree," pointing to a cache. As I was told in Primary School history lessons, there were two instances when people hoped that the carving of “dig” on the tree would communicate something (to their party, but not to the local Aboriginal people, who could read many more signs & had traversed this land long before, but whose language could not be deciphered and understood as the various signs they hoped  it would  communicate): in the first instance the carving was seen as a sign post telling them what to do and when they did it they found the food, and lived on. This was life-giving and death averting, the other instance was when the same tree was used again for the same purpose months later, but with no additional marks or indications that it was to be seen again as a sign post, in this case they read it as an artifact of their previous saving and missed its use AGAIN as a sign. This instance was life-averting and tragically they died from lack of provisions. I recall this affecting me as a boy, determined to make any signs I left anywhere, to be (able, no, more than that) likely, to be clearly interpreted. (This was edited from an A.I. aided Google Search for “Australian Pioneers & ‘dig here’” to get dates & details, and my primary school history lessons. This story is told differently with different details on different web-sites. But this telling above seems to be in line with most of the facts cited. Interestingly language, is a complex set of signs. Many of their problems were from lack of trust & communication, and Aboriginal tribal attacks for the same reason.  Yet where trust and communication existed, an Aboriginal tracker aided much, & one man, King, was kept alive at the end by local Aboriginal people, who led and looked after him for months until another rescue party found him.

---

stepping out…

---

So look for good to celebrate today,

and talk about within the world around,

and even sing or whistle something (hey!

if that’s not “dis”-ing something sad you found)…

or leave a note, or write a letter of

appreciation when it fits or can

be made to fit. The world is better off

with lovely things or paintings. Be the man (\ A woman)

who highlights what is true, but good as well.

For, we give “airplay” t’what  we talk about,

but maybe think of too; so don’t choose “hell”-

-ish stuff to emphasise, by speaking out,

imagining, and putting thought to plan

how we could multiply more hell on Earth.

I like the leadership of that HUMAN,

or SON of one, who came one around birth.

I s’pose that is the same for me as well,

and anyone within the same boat who

is listening to this song, would soon tell

if this applies to them also, and too!

So singing, playing music, speaking plain,

about whatever things are good & true, 

will help the ecosystem to  remain

& make a better world from what I do,

and choose what I will think and talk about,

but more importantly my acts in Time

& Space (for these are pow’rful, more than shout-

ing, more effective than a perfect rhyme)!

---

Creative hemispheres

o' Earth

---

The right is not what might, it truly can.

But in a sense it’s conscious of what might

(without the sure-ty of mech-an-ized man)

without the strongest power base “in sight”.

For that creative love itself is such

that it is not so concrete as a block,

and anyway its love is very much

explained away by what's left when they’re locked

(away, or in, or) out, by who controls.

And if we think in terms of making things,

and folk to do our bidding, not as souls

invigorated on a spirit’s wings..

We’ll only see the kind of things we do.

And cannot be blamed for our blindness here.

But gladly most of us are here with you,

with hem-is-pheres connected it appears.

And this is what is our saving grace:

right hemispheres connect in with the left

in most of human beings with a face

at front of head-

they’re not yet left bereft!

So even though the way that we relate

to people, and the world around us such

that we may learn to live with and relate,

to ev’ry one (and thing) as very much

a precious gift from one who’s name is love, 

provision, or just providence, (some say)..

I think each heart that looks upwards, above

themselves in gratefulness will learn the Way!

---

2) THE NEXT CONVERSATION*

(Jefferson Fisher’s book ch 2)

---

To think and get some realistic goals

about the conversations that come by, 

will take some time of life and playing roles

that show off kinds of kindness that I'll try,

yet still seem far away from what I do. 

I value what that fellow has to say 

and hope it will help me when I'm with you, 

or with my neighbour - if he comes today.

So don’t just think of fixing ev’rything.

Begin with thinking of a  forward step.

And hoping/ praying, even start to sing

of habits that could be built on, not swept

away with any storm in tea-cup here.

So habits of relating that can grow

and let some other goodnesses appear

or take root in the plot of soil we know.

And see it’s not just rubbish soil I find

about the place, but stuff I think is rich

for growing things. What values come to mind -

from time I've spent on Earth so far. A ditch

that catches silt, where things will often grow,

or compost that’s had time to break down well.

Add thought (& prayers) to learn (if not to know)

and ask around, to learn to really tell.

Not telling folk, as though I am their boss.

(Except if I am. Then I s'pose I should

be clear, and still respecting any “loss

of face” I bring to them, or lack of good).

But learning how to tell what will avail

for goodness to grow up between us here.

My gard’ning skills might often seem to fail,

or sheep eat all the shoots that do appear.

No system that is never-failing yet,

a process with priorities that might

help me in this setting to not forget

and be more ready to learn, not just fight.

What’s, if I had to choose, one phrase or word

I need for them to understand of me?

What small step can I take to show I heard?

And what have I assumed that they might see?

(and sometimes I am right, as well as wrong).

And how can I show gratitude to them,

for opportunities to “come along”?

Is there an argument I want to win?

So these might help me set some goals to win

a friend, if not an argument as such.

My values help get there, not to bin

what might help me create, and keep in touch.

---

Footnotes

N* - re-reading; from 15 min into Chapter one to end of ch. Two (goals & values).

---

The Gospel, according to.. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, ... you)

[In the spirit of the sixth point - indigo- below] Choose y-our “own partnership” expression of the “gospel seed” (consider one phrase from each colour of the rainbow ).

---

• Time is fulfilled! Time is up! It’s time! All our best hopes & dreams are coming true! The next step has arrived! Other ( please state:……….)

• The kingdom of God.., the reign of God.., God’s rule.., God’s sovereignty.., God’s way of doing leadership with the children of God.., God’s way to actually move forward (instead of just treading water).., The Way of Creative Love.., Other ( please state:……… ..)

• ..has arrived! ..is near! ..is grabbable! ..is “at hand”! (but is not taking over, is waiting to be invited, is giving you time to join in freely) Other (please state: .. ……….)

• (This is about a partnership. There is a senior partner. You are not the senior partner.) .. Give up your own independent kingdom; Give up your own ways to a better future; Give up your own agendas; Throw in the towel on your alternatives; U-turn permitted/ required; Go back - you are going the wrong way! Other ( please state:……….)

• Take this message seriously! Don’t let yourself procrastinate! Act this out from now on! Keep this announcement as a sign of whose side you are on. Other (please state:……….)

• [Let the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Jesus, the Holy Ghost, teach you and give you words, actions, your demeanour, your own faith, hope, and love to share in partnership with creative love itself, and give you wisdom in choosing any of these colourful points to emphasise or leave out - for the audience you are sent to today.]

• Jesus/ Yeshua,  is the pioneer and the goal, the relationship and the model, the door and the road, the place and the life of the place, the second (and last) Adam, The Son of God, God’s Messiah/Christ/anointed leader, God’s chosen and named Leader of Humanity, the Saviour of the World, the Lord of the Earth, the Great High Priest bridging the heavens and the Earth, and The Prophet whom God would raise up (from among the people of God (foretold by Moses), whom to fail to listen to, would mean being cut off from the people of God.

---

understanding (standing under) God’s leadership is a bit like this:

---

and my relating to the scriptures shows whether, or in what sense… 

“I believe in the communion of the saints”

---

A world where there is room to live and breathe.

A world that is a “tomb”, since God’s own Christ

took sting of death away so we might “leave”

by “sleeping”, yet awake one “day”, surprised!

Creation then renewed because he walked

this way so flowers are strewed where his life talked

in acts as well as words. He went through hell

of crucifixion and folk heard him tell

of his experience, quite candidly

and open up his sense of God to us

so we might know his Dad, as such, so we

might standing on his shoulders, nearly touch

the sky, or heavens, with its mythic host

of messengers who with the holy Ghost

might look with longing at his children here

and celebrate each birth day - with great cheer!

And fill the journal (of our fam’ly) in

each turn maternal ancestors would make;

record as best we can, so we begin

to understand creative love’s own take

on what is going down, or growing up..

..so how the fam’ly gown is worn by pups

and the irregularities that come

from circ’ling in a bright world, just one sun

of many that are over head and too,

stand under our own feet, from long ago.

These scripts record relating that might do

us credit, when relating to who’ll know.

---

to honestly honour a person’s recount in a passing culture..

..  in light of our own (also passing) culture

---

Our lives are set to grow us up. Impacts

of cultures & economies conspire

as servants of creative love to tax

un-fam’ly* at a rate that is much higher.

Heuristic that might mimic (gifts to care)

for immature, unloving creatures which

are hardly hearted* but think they are "there",

assuming that their currency’s the pitch

to spiel, or play the game (like cricket?) on.

To keep up with the science of the times;

to follow culture’s choice of worth, and song

that will be used as current in power lines.

And when I hear the voice of a young bub

across the walls or under floor at home,

recalling too, the process to grow up,

involves a lot of suff’ring, pain, and stone-

stone-walling of our own agendas and

unsurity about our own needs but

some insight into others round, who stand

quite near, when we learn how to press their butt-

ons; on or off. This gives us insight to

the person we are living near to see

how taking them, their frailties now into

account, not to control, but so to be

relating to them as another bod

on Earth, as neighbours in this neighbourhood.

I have to listen to them not as “God”

yet as someone who might reflect some good.

---

y* - Taking note of the evangelist's record of Jesus’ words to Peter: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free.” (see Matt 17:24-27); and to the teachers of the law “ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’(Matt 8:10-13), and Matt 13:36-43..

d* - the heart, for our culture, being the seat of love in our metaphors and myths; where a human is seen as (or at least talked about) as one who has known love, and who lives in it, and has  become a lover themselves.

---

In Part* -

ner-ship*!

---

Give space within my life for God to act.

To make our partnership be real in me.

So go beyond the token stuff in fact.

And let God help, and then use eyes to see..

and ears to listen & to hear the thoughts 

that come, ide-as to build love and light.

What’s true and honest, say only what’s caught

somehow within the web of what is “right” ..

That’s right relating, as I would be “done 

by” - keeping my own word to my own hurt!

And trust my “father” to bring joy* to “son”,

and let his word to me hold weight, not blurt

out some religious piety to prop

up power structures, for some little man.

We’re talking of creative love’s unstop-

pab-le incessant work (since time began).

And work with all my might and mane to join

in, where I can - to make a difference here,

within the stuff where I can choose, what’s mine

to bring to table, thus make it appear.

And treat the partnership, this covenant

that Jesus spoke about, as real and true.

And bounce on it, in fact (not just to rant)

to bring it into being here in you.

And it might be quite diff’rent for some one

who’s diff'rent to me (and some people are)!

So not to replicate some other’s fun

but learn to be this self that’s made this far.

---

Footnotes

t* - “now we know in part, and now we see God’s bigger possibilities in part… now I know in part, then I shall truly know in the same way that I am truly known.” (1Cor 13:9,12)

p* - as alluded to in the last sentence in the footnote above, the partnership (truly knowing as I am truly known)  of God and his children, or God and his wife, (or for another picture: the Right Hemisphere & Left Hemisphere of the human brain) in the job of allowing the world to exist, be populated, and to thrive, in multiplying, planting, tending & caring for (overseeing, naming,  talking about, & considering) the world seems to be the biggest theme of the holy scriptures, and the end goal of all the rest of history, and the core means to make known, and reveal his glorious goodness  to the heavens and the Earth.

y* - joy, though, is a movement of a whole being in such a way that we must choose for it to experience it in full. In fact the Apostle Paul names it as one of three things that God is constantly willing for us to experience: “Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. For this is God’s will for you, in your life in union with Jesus Christ.” (1Thess 5:16-18)

---

1) THE NEXT CONVERSATION*

(Jefferson Fisher’s book)

---

Reminders from my father up above

have come to me the last few days. I hear

what he is saying, teaching me, so love

can be extended from me far & near:

A focus when I'm in a conversa-

-tion, on the person - to relate to them

as neighbour in God’s world, by what I say,

and how I say it, yes, more how and when,

and even more by what (& how) I DO..

which emanates from WHY I’m here at all.

That simple adage*, lived by just a few

and focussed on God’s chosen one, no small

or insignificant, unhelpful thing!

And then* explored by those who’ve found what works.

The lack of which I’ve seen in what I bring 

to conversations, when I am a jerk.

So here’s the next few steps in exploring

the way of truly human ones on Earth:

• Note my own body’s cues and how they string

      along the folk around me since my birth.

• Then take the time to get my head back straight 

      to purposes I am committed to.

• And let my curiosity relate

     as wild beast might to each and ev’ry cue.

Be willing to rule systems I am in.

To tell them where they can get on, and can’t.

And take the ride I’m given with a grin,

& though I get amazed, don’t get alarmed!

---

Footnotes

n* - re-reading; & up to 15 min into Chapter One (Never win an argument)

e* - probably (in my estimation) from Jesus Christ’s next oldest little brother (Mark 6:3) James, from the book by that name, James ch 1:19-27, as summarised in the starting sentence: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone of you should be quick to.., slow to .., and slow to.. .”(verse 19)

n* - by people like Jepherson Fisher, in ways like he does in this book

---

the ghost of a chance ..

.. the Next Conversation*

---

I do not want convers’n to torpedo

relat’n to the person or to veto

the next conversation I’ll have with ’em

or chances for formation of a prison

for parts of me that should not be let out 

in fact I see my “needs” might free a lout

to try manipulation of folk ’round -

instead of conversation which I’ve found

to be a two-way street, where people meet

and learn to take their turns, while neither spearns

the other, nor their mother, (though in truth

she still might send a shudder .. & forsooth

she might be rather cagey, and asuage -y

to offspring of her womb to them en-tomb

’ny part of them, though God knows when it’s need

is obvious, and clearly now the deed

that should be done, though could not come to mind

for folk who’d learned (as butter’s churned) to find

their joy in what’s annoying those who’re blind,

or “diss’n” folk who’re missing undefined

and “hard to put to words” training as kids.

We have to train the turds, the billy-lids

that are ourselves, it’s hard but help is on

the way, & I can say I’d pay belong-

-ing as the only force, of course, that might

(not will), let people grow as plants to light,

to energy that can be used to fight

against the “death”, that don’t do breath - the blight!

---

Footnotes

*n - I’m thinking of the brilliance in the focus given by the simple title of “The Next Conversation”, by Jefferson Fisher (about 6 hr). Before you even get to any of his brilliant advice on ways forward: considering “What do you want them to know?” & what he says about the pause (or breath), which I perceive gives me time to process the question and allows me then to be affected by the still, small voice of the “Right Hemisphere” that allows me to relate to other people, rather than to simply control them! 

---

my

dear brother*…

---

Be really quick or active here to hear,

so “Listen” is the word we’d often use

to cover actions that might be what’s near

to those intentions, and what follows through

somehow in manifesting in this world

the kind of things that are shown in a life

that’s lived on Earth (where we’re all sent, or hurled),

exemplifying heaven - in this strife.

The active part of list’ning might be stretched

to cover asking questions which allow

us then to hear much deeper, once we’re meshed -

relating with some trust, and grace somehow.

Along with really hearing, then belongs -

remembering, recalling to our minds

the stuff that is disclosed by who responds

and thinking, seeing options that love finds.

And slow to speak might not mean to speak slow-

ly; maybe it’s the time between our thoughts

and then when they get worded on the go*,

to acts that might communicate of sorts,

in which case it’s the time to let the right-

hand hemisphere of our brains (which relate,

instead of just use data in a fight

to gain ascendancy, control, or bait) -

to give time to reflect, for wisdom’s way

to influence, inform, and then affect

by choosing what to do (and spesh’ly say),

instead of anger’s loss of true respect. 

---

Footnotes

s* - “... So, my dear brothers and sisters, get this straight. Every person should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”(NTFE; + see James wep1:19-27)

o* - think of  The Next Conversation, by Jefferson Fisher (about 6 hr); “What do you want them to know?” & what he says about the pause (or breath), which gives time to process the question and allows me then to be affected by the still, small voice of the “Right Hemisphere”! 

---

Leading hand

---

To lead out of love means learning to serve.

And,”being the leader” means being first,

and leading the treck by having the nerve

to do what’s worth doing, undoing cursed

procrastinating, fear of the unplanned,

& “keeping control”, as though that’s your need.

One’s leading displays what they understand,

and also who. It’s letting the seed

develop & grow up - here in God’s world

by choices made in settings that you’re in

while part-ner-ing (right where & when you’re hurled)

displaying grace that covers all the im-

maturity and failures, & the falls,

the losses & the lacks and missing marks. 

The love that hopes and plans and acts in all

all circumstances - & gives grace to sharks, 

evolving them to mammals with a heart

(a seat of rule for love over the whole..

..whole body, and the sea where it might start).

And leading is self-evident to soul

that’s been awakened, now with spirit’s heart

that brings along the oxygen in blood,

‘coz breathing has begun, at least in part.

A leader helps you stand against a flood!

And leaders call you to cover their back,

& help you clarify where you have lacked,

yet will not just give up, send you off track

just so they’ll be more seen as who's uncracked.

---

Waif or Ward?

or..?

---

Our breaky together is postponed: Ok. Hope to see you either at work or next week.

---

Oh God of all humanity who's kind-

-ly made us up, and would be making still,

if we would open eyes to be not blind

& find the grace that’s in your eyes* to fill

us with your own aims, dispositions and 

then partner with us in your making of

continued growing, in our understand-

ing and our habits of list’ning with love..

..to make these foetal children here (of yours)

to grow to be no less than like your Christ.

We gladly now en-list ourselves because

your life grows in us. His life has sufficed!

- to you, because as Peter said, he heard

you speak from heaven, saying - you were pleased

with him*, & since we’ve followed, quite absurd-

-ly, wonderf’lly we’ve joined him on his knees

before the Father (of good   Fatherhood)

and with him, in him (as foetus in womb)

we’ll grow till we “come out*”, just as we should.

As Jesus came out of that Easter tomb!

And even now, in Christ, we hear you say

to us the same words that you spoke to him,

(not “on our own*” - we need not live that way

again). We share it all - the bright, the dim!

And soak in your good grace all that ensues - 

that we are sons, are children of you true-

ly, and that you are pleased with we who do

for our part live this way, teamed up with you.

---

Footnotes

s* - as the old King James Bible’s translation of Gen 6:8 in its euphemistic way says of Noah, that he “found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

m* -: (if “Mark” has indeed come to us because Mark (translated then) wrote down the gist of Peter’s exhortations to Jesus’ followers) Mark 9:1-13; 2Peter1:16-19.

t*  - Romans 8

---

follow ..

.. the thread

---

Oh God I heard of how you work with weak

and trembling & bewildered folk who seek

to cover over shame, but they can’t speak 

in public. They aren’t honoured much.* It’s bleak,

until I think of you. You love to sneak

about invisible to us, and tweak

things for all who invite you; being meek,

when partnered with you, they yet hear & peak

and leave room for your word to them. They reek

& smell of Christ, himself a sticky beak

for acts of God to copy (not to eek 

out life alone) - quite sim’lar to a geek

he’s happy with a help that’s slowly leaked

by - (not so much the thunder) - bray or squeek!

---

Footnote

* - “Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary

Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. [2] Very early on   , inSunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. [3] On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” [4] But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. [5] When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, [6] but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. [7] Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” [8] The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.” (Mark 16:1-8 NLT )

---

turn, turn, turn

our turn, to return…

---

Oh God, I’m learning how to love a girl, 

as boy does as true husband in this world.

Your gifts seem far too precious to be hurled 

about to people who have evil curled

within them. I feel love’s creative sight

& touch, and hearing, smell, & taste, as might

be justified, but only in the light

of promises as precious as your right

and just and merciful prom-is-es to

de humans who accept them, & renewed

in inner selves (as body is by food)

then learn to walk on holy ground un-shoed.

Thus ruling - as a good king, serving well

the Earth and it's inhabitants who dwell

within, and over, under it to smell

themselves like YaHWeH GOD. His story tell

in ev’ry choice they make, in ev’ry deed

they’ve done, & ev’ry word they speak, to bleed

their life of love back to the ground (their steed)

and thus to give. In fact it is their need!

For kindly kind of life that mirrors him

who gave us this small gift (that’s not so dim!)

is meant to be returned. We learn to swim

when air-clothes are dismissed (they cramp each limb).

But that is not to stop our lessons in

bending, blending in his love (not sin*),

to show (not tell, in “words”) our way as twin

to God’s own way* across the seas. No FIN.

---

Footnote

n* - sin is used with its original broad meaning of anything that simply misses the mark (of all best hopes, plans, and good wishes)

y* - “In the beginning… the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from (spirit of, breath of) God swept over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)

‘He alone stretched out the heavens and walked on the sea as well as the earth’ [Job 9:8].

“Solomon, in the Jewish book of Sirach, spoke of Wisdom: “I encamped in the heights, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. [5]  Alone I compassed the vault of heaven and traversed the depths of the abyss.” (Sirach 24:4-5 NRSVUE)

“Your way was through the sea, your path through the mighty waters, yet your footprints were unseen. (Psalms 77:19 NRSVUE)

CF Jesus passing over the lake , instead of swimming through it, or walking around it (Mark 6; Matthew 14; John 6)

---

Aligning …

---

Dear fam’ly of the Father & the Son, 

and Spirit sent by both t’be embod-

-ied in the set of acts which will have won

at “end of this time”, clothed in us and shod

in each and all of this one family!

It’s Pete who said that all God’s promises

are precious for they bring to you and me

the very nature of YaHWeH* who says

that God’s delighted to use weak, fragile

immature and incomplete critters

to further his own purposes, to smile 

on his creation, gath’ring what’s dispersed,

dispersing what’s been gathered - as he wills.

And it’s the will of God to honour HIM 

the human who kept close through all the spills

of life on Earth, both glorious and dim

at times, as this HIS story moves and more..

Our neighbour over road told me this last

twenty four hours what transpired before

[when we saw him ‘n’his neighbour (in the past)

a-talking out the front, with cut of trees(?)]

He said “Let’s say of past, ‘Good-bye’, ‘Be-gone!’ ”

And start afresh in present time.” And squeezed

each other’s hands. And then the man went on

to share more pers’nally some weaknesses.

The best may not have finished up the job

as yet, but I see this as sign that says

new WAY (of Jesus Christ) has somehow lobbed

into the camp of tight defences and

that there grenade might soon blow up road blocks.

Let’s keep on asking heaven’s court to stand

and join us so that both join with his flocks

in showing off the truth and life, and way

of Jesus, God’s anointed leader who

bore all the discord of our lives that say

that life is not worth living - It’s all poo!

Well God, for this one’s sake, your chosen (Christ!),

may this man lower, and his lower three,

be blessed by life, and love, and not demised,

till your good will is real-ised in each knee.

---

Footnote

H* - YaHWeH (the only God who IS God) is the personal name of the one Jesus of Nazareth called “Father!”, and whom this father said of Jesus “This is my beloved son. Listen to him!”, Peter who heard that voice from heaven said later to other followers of Jesus: “ He has by his own action given us everything that is necessary for living the truly good life, in allowing us to know the one who has called us to him, through his own glorious goodness. It is through him that God’s greatest and most precious promises have become available to us men, making it possible for you to escape the inevitable disintegration that lust produces in the world and to share in God’s essential nature.”(2Peter1:3-4)

---

Answering before Listening,

is folly & shame*

---

Dear God, please help me (thanks for help so far)

to learn by observation, not spruiking.

In words of James (who’s Jesus’ next brother)

“..be quick to listen, slow to speak a thing,

and slow to anger* (though I might still need

to get angry, but it should take a while)”.

I’m wond’ring what he meant by using “speed”

words: Does “quick” here refer to accent, style,

or time that’s taken to initiate?

Or does it mean a living kind of thing? -

where movement might be linked to time and state,

as passage through both time and space may bring*,

or else a movement responsive to will -

[and ours is not mature, or fit, quite yet,

for ruling worlds. And it won’t be until

we come out of this womb. But then I bet

our training will be solid till we can

be fit to rule the angels - and this world. 

And then we’ll listen better than a man

or woman could today, wherever hurled.]

That quickly, even actively, takes on

the list’ning mode to ev’ry -thing and -one,

we might request to uncover what shon

out light & help elucidate. Begun,

it might keep on (thus call for us to speak,

but here speech is the serving kind of stuff)

(not as the final judge who can't be tweaked

by past & future); wise & full of love!

---

Footnotes

e* - Proverbs 18:13

r* - (James 1:18-27)

g* - as the ancients considered the planets to be living (wandering) entities, if not metaphors (or icons) for them.

---

If I spend time with God, I'll just get sick.

“He does not heal at all” is my big stick.

---

My God, my God, my biggest fear is that 

You might abandon me (as Jesus cried*!)

He faced that fear himself, and though not glad,

expected to be answered - other side…

and did not flinch at the experience, 

but let that Psalmist* speak for him as well

as of his own life, and it's weary-ance

(not “Ev’ry day feels further from the Hell…”

… we brought into the world with choosing snake

as mentor, just because he could be seen

(no questions still remained, that then could make

us humble and still learning inbetween.)

But God, on other hand does not appear

so, always showing self to outside eyes,

or even heard (by us) with  outside ears.

He looked through metaphore, did not despise

the lowly physical, but vaunted it:

his own ident’fication “Son of Man”

or “Son of Adam” - spirit haunted it

as weak, or immature, a leader - banned

from Garden of delights, with God - on Earth.

I s'pose those kids* had felt abandoned there,

as Cain accuses God’s discipline, worth

those words “My punishment's too much to bear*.”

And God, as gracious Father, stigmatized

as never wanting to provide or give

mentoring to his children, dramatized

in parables, and ev’ry day he’d live:

“If you have ears to hear, then use them now*” ..

..(& hear the deeper meaning underneath!)

“Don’t you have eyes to see*?” He said, somehow

entrusting wisdom that just God bequeathed.

This second “Son of Adam”⁶, unlike Cain,

a murderer from jealousy and pride,

was murdered as those motives lived again,

and showed another way than “run & hide””.

He trusted discipline of God as good,

and not “too much to bear” (unless alone)

and as was said by Jesus, he “could

do nothing by himself*” - he will atone!

---

 Footnotes:

d* - on the cross at the end, he cries out “with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Mark 15:34; Matt 27:46)

t* -  the Psalmist who wrote: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?...”(Psalm 22 in the Bible Jesus would have memorised, & then chose to live by)

s* - i.e. Adam & Eve, billed as completely innocent children of God, at first, who then listen to a talking animal instead of YaHWeH-God, to follow the world-view of.

r* - Cain’s words to God (Genesis 4:13)

w* -  (Matt 11:15; Mark 4:23; Luke 8:8)

ee* - “Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and fail to see? Do you have ears and fail to hear? And do you not remember? …Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”” (Mark 8:17-18, 21)

de* -  as did Adam & Eve, after choosing Snake’s way, instead of obedience to the will of God, as expressed by God’s word to them : “They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. [9] But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” [10] He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:8-21) 

f* -  e.g. “I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” [27] They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. [28] So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. [29] And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” (John 8:26-29 )

---

Some One’s Psalm

[Paul, with stories from Beth & Bevan Walker, Annabelle & Matt Walls (& Arthur), and Katrina the lovely]

(20 May 2026)

---

Today my Dad & Mum flew down to stay

for one week here in Orange, in the cold,

from coastal place that’s called  Runaway Bay

in Northern Sunshine State. “We’re getting old”

they say, “But don’t get old yourself…”

Mum said that this day started off with stress;

she packed a larger “port” as nightly elf. 

An early start, and then rested as best

she could in plane while travelling quite fast.

Their neighbours drove them to the plane at first,

and baby Arthur screamed  with them at last.

And then we sat and talked, till we might burst…

We talked about a sleep-in for the morn- 

ing following, coz some people were crook

who’d normally join for breakfast after dawn.

And little Orange ear-plugs they both took.

They wandered down the back steps, to arrive

at studio for visitors and such.

And took the code (by text) to get inside,

A fam’ly’s set to teach us very much..

but specially ‘bout the love that goes beyond

our own world, to include someone (not us)

and care for them as if they had belonged

here with us. Sometimes that means making fuss.

And then I s’pose it’s letting love-light grow

as indicator of another way

at odds with what our culture seems to know.

Then God with his own fam’ly’s on display!

---

the Anterior Cruciate .. Lament

(not quite ..)

---

For pleasure of mere movement in the wind,

the joy of moving fast and turning quick,

on top of that the game that won't recind,

sheer strategy, and courage to the brink,

creative - bringing options fresh released,

& skilful in dependability:

these gifts are exercised, thus not decreased

through  games with all their physicality.

Competitive sport covers all these well,

so I would like to thank YOU - for it’s real!

But now recall it sometimes brings on hell,

with injuries that can take months to heal,

or maybe leave with loss, or lack somehow,

and that is where a bloke could today be 

if in a game of soccer with some pow’r

he ruined all that’s helpful in his knee.

And he might hope for healing yet again,

and therefore his direct pain might decrease,

but still there might be other kinds of pain

and lacks that feel like there’ll be no release.

And that is where things are for my friend Sam.

He’s thought, and still no options come to view.

I feel for him, for YaHWeH (the I Am)

hears cries and comes up close, and pers’nal, too.

And so a groan comes out, turns into prayer,

as with that deaf/mute man* they brought to him

and looking up, we speak to his leg where

it bends (or doesn’t): “Open up - that limb!

---

Footnotes

n* - (Mark 7:31-37)

---

appendix -

-itus

---

God, pour your love on this one, (y)our daughter.

And thanks for each who helped, as supporter..

And all those who just had a chance as well

to join with “your will for your world” - ('gainst hell),

to make it heavenly by choices made

to represent your truth & love as bade

by you when you made humans in the shade

of your good mentoring (before way-laid -

by us who've looked to snake to learn/ to teach

us how to live with wisdom and to reach

out with two hands to partner with the love

that's given all good gifts come from above....)

Your healing comes to us from deep inside

each body you have given us to hide

creative love in action in this world;

and those folk joined with you, where they were hurled

by Providence who has provided well

a world for us to care for and to dwell

in, so to learn co-operation too

(with providence itself, &) me and you,

so parents, children, neighbours living near,

and others from afar who might come here..

Co-operating in a partnership

to learn to see another's win or slip

as way to join with them and multiply

the goodness in this world, so bye and bye...

(not "buy & buy", as money’s entity)

we'll even grieve with anger and pity*!

---

Footnote

y* - e.g. “Jesus was angry as he looked round at them, but at the same time he felt sorry for them, because they were so stubborn and wrong. Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it became well again.” (Mark3:1-6)

---

Camera.. Action!

(Script)

---

Well things are happening around me now.

Before “words” come to me, I start to see*..

that I'm to learn to watch, to look, then bow

in recognition of the good ’round me.

To honor good in all the ways it should 

be honoured as appropriate in that..

..that time and place and instance where it could

be then expressed, embodied on this mat…

material and energetic place,

a concrete model of what’s come to mind

of YaHWeH GOD, who IS (existence Ace),

where we are meant to model, and to find

all goodness, since it’s woven secretly

into the fabric of the Universe,

then learning to extend it more, to be

co-opperators (not just some perverse

young operators of machinery, 

who play with the controls in ignorance)

apprenticed under one who made for me

& you, designed this whole she-bang (not chance) 

to now be finished - with his kids once grown

up, so to join in with the fam’ly trade

of building (& then helping with a groan

or two - as sign of processing what’s made, 

or being formed around us, in between

us, & within us, as we join with the

terrific purpose of our being seen

on this stage, till we have that final meet-

ing with Producer and Director who

will look at all our acting up till then.

Decisions will be made ’bout me and you:

Will we be picked for next production when…

the stakes get higher, viewers - many more.

So, starting now I am a viewer first,

but then I am an actor, singer for

this musical, with music fit to burst

this tiny little heart with joy & grief,

emotions must be just appropriate,

to plot-line where they frame, or bring relief…

We're in this First Production ’t any rate.

---

e* - copying YaHWeH GOD who “saw that it was good”, seven times in Genesis One.

---

But wait…

There’s more!

---

Background:

After a difficult Tuesday, I did what I needed to to process it (e.g. yesterday’s blog). Then set myself to live the next day (Wednesday) dependent on creative love, not my own independent resources. And shared my need with those who asked, and asked for prayer. At the end of the day I texted this to some mates: “Men, thanks for your prayers .. it was a beautiful day today... God stepped in and helped heaps. Thank you brothers for joining with me. Thank you God for your help in handling the difficulties and my forgetfulness etc... very “looked after” I was!!”. And this came out:

---

Oh God you helped, the atmosphere was great,

the setting - with two other adults there

with attitudes of helping, not of hate,

capacities honed sharp to show the care

that those kids really feel and understand,

& step up to, to do their very best,

along with do-able assessment planned.

Disruptions were disrupted - and the rest 

was “his-tor-y” (this morning), as they say. 

It felt like bits of heaven opened up.

Creative love itself involved today

itself in the classroom of this “young pup”.

And I am linking help effective from

yourself in ways as obvious as this,

to my inviting you in prayer (and song!),

‘n’the “body” joining with, not taking piss..

And for the chance to work like this in part-

-ner-ship along with you, I’m very glad!

But something makes me long for more, the art

of conversation as I walk, and gad

about the place, responding to their needs,

& opportunities (& threats) as well,

not just on outside, growing plants from seeds,

but inside, with my own “electron shells”.

My own subjective sharing of this life,

my feelings world, and motives, images.

I think I see how ev’ry bit of  strife

was tuned to, like your son in scrimmages.

It took my all, and knowing too, the game.

Expecting help along the way, and fun

that will involve my going past what sane

& “normal” life calls for. I had to run!

Not thoughtlessly, as frantic person might,

but joining in with much more than the norm.

And thus I would live all my life - in sight

of you, my God, my Father, through each storm.

Filled with the spirit of creative love, 

to try to make it manifest down here

that Earth reflect the heavens up above.

The very sea turns blue*, it would appear!

---

Footnote

e*  - not the “blue” of depression, but the regal blue of ancient cultures, also appreciated by flower lovers and bower birds.

---

Invite to come!

---

God give us wisdom from yourself to share

in ways that are appropriate and true,

that mirror you "the God who is still there”,

though these days yet we find we don't see you.

---

feelings before facings

(pre-face*)

---

Conceptions which are underlying for

our further understanding here; as such

Ontologies are central if we’d more

relate in ways that grasp, but do not clutch.

The purpose of our grasping-well affects

the way we use, and interact, and know.

The ways we interface and share reflect

the kinds of stuff appropriate to show

and tell within these times we learn & teach

and form each other, maybe deform too.

Re-forming right-relating here with each -

as much as it depends on me (& you).

Affecting our Epistemologies, 

our Pedagogy, Ethics will flow on..

Communities that practice truth will please

not power-mongers, but folk  who belong

to such communities that listen well, 

yet do not lose their voice by doing so;

in fact their service - fighting all the hell

that thoughtlessness does spawn, will go to show

and tell those stories, of the others here,

because we’re tuning in to their own speech

or lack of it. Acts make options appear,

creative, they make space for all & each.

And tuning in ourselves to deeper things

that colour all our acting, speech, and thought:

the hidden wholeness & 

imaginings

we wake up to bring more than what we brought.

---

Footnote

e* - Reflecting on the Preface (entitled “Recovery of Community in Education”) to the Paperback Edition of Parker Palmer’s book “To know as we are known - Education as a spiritual journey”, which was first published in 1993.

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In this world …

... you will have trouble

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God, please give wisdom to your young child Ian.

And help him in his weakness to look up

to you his father who knows how he's been

and still may ask him to drain down that cup.

And help me not to battle flesh and blood,

but spirits that rule by default for they

affect the options we see: sky, or mud! -

curtailing contexts, even what we’d pray.

So help me please to see the way you do,

to understand priorities as you

do, with the kind of options that you view,

because your focus is much broader too… 

For those two students I taught this past week,

who didn't show respect, or quickly lost

the bit they had; please help their lives so bleak

to come in touch with power of Pentecost..

And I as carrier of that strong wind,

those tongues of fire that speak of your good works

do set myself to not flail or recind

the unction you set on me; he who lurks(!)

And even if I fall, and body dies,

I set myself to trust you in my grave,

and crucify that part of me that tries

to justify myself, or else to rave

about my rights, or else capacities,

as though I were a God by my own right.

A joke, to think that ev’ryone should please

me. I would please the one who’s “outa sight”!

---

Practice

 being Godly

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It's not the thinking of good thoughts* alone 

that makes me good (as even man may be*). 

Just speaking of good words don’t flesh the bones

of glory, honour, immortality.

There must be actions in this world, but not

just once or twice*, the flukes of happenstance.

And there must be intent to get to what

has baited humans through the years: The chance

of seeking honour, glory immortal-

ity by doing good repeatedly,

till it’s our character, habit settled,

and by this, programmed into us steadily.

This is the way YaHWeH has chosen to

now partner with us in creating more

reflections of him-self in me & you:

his love’s creative discipline gets poured

around the place by creatures on themselves.

Authority of him, is shared with us

to make a creature who can work for health

somehow by ways that act more than they fuss.

Appearances are NOT what “floats his boat”! -

unless we think “appearing on the stage”,

but there's a set of “skills” to learn (by rote),

till our whole selves are able to engage

in acting out the part he’s picked for us - 

to re-present creative love itself

in all the settings of a life that does;

to show an instance of a life with health!

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Footnotes

ts* - though the process clearly does involve choosing to “think about what is good” (Philippians 4:8)

be* - “a good man, full of the holy spirit and faith” (see Micah 6:8; Acts 11:24; I Tim 3:8, 2 Cor 1:12; Gal6:7-10; )

ce* - (see above footnote, with emphasis on “all of life” or “in every way”) & this sort of passage: “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he (God) will give eternal life.”(NIVUK, with italic font (& bracketed but) added by me for emphasis (& clarity); Rom 2:7)

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(T)hankering

This hankering for recognition which

I find is deep within myself, inside; 

I’ll recognise, and name. It’s like a twitch,

or ‘tick’, or stutter. Not to be denied, 

but not to be the focus of my life.

My life is like a lens to focus on…

not me, but “good-ness”, in “good” times & “strife”:

good things to recognise, to think upon,

to give thanks for, & then good works to do,

because they’d help not me, but this cosmos,

where God has put me, at this time - where you

& I affect folk here for good, or loss.

I now recall what Pete*, or was it Paul*

said in the scriptures that we read today,

“God is my witness*” and too these words fall

quite nat-ur-al-ly, as a way to say

that this is really true, not “for affect” -

to garner praise or well-wishing from folk. 

He lived his life before the one who checked

him out and judges ev’ry Sheila/ Bloke.

And so I think I'll take a leaf from them,

or learn a lesson from the way they spelled

things out, God sees, & knows what I do, when,

and where, with who, & how & why, as well.

Don't think that recognition’s not that good!

That cannot be, unless God’s not around.

But as, in Jesus’s words, God is, and should

be trusted. I’ll walk gladly on (t)his ground!

---

Footnotes

e* - 2 Peter 1:3-11 and the rest of the chapter…

l* - Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:8

s* - e.g. Galatians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:5; Romans 1:9

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Growing

Responsiveness to God

---

Dad, after our brief talk on the phone Sunday Arvo, 

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this morning I read through one of the 20 (?) different things that have helped me get or nurture the right attitude, or mindfulness to tune in to God through a day. This (The Examen) is one, maybe Laurie passed on to us:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/0B-x3YoQ3OQpLM2xMbjBUbHRZTDA/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=100279994004385559468&resourcekey=0-movByCwoDYI-SMYvPRWWpQ&rtpof=true&sd=true

.

Another thing is to kind of be a midwife for them as they look over their interactions with God, to start to develop a personalised discipline or "Way" that is helpful for them at this stage of their journey.. ie. To make or develop good "habits of responsiveness" ( based on the critter they are at the moment, and the critter they sense God wants them to become more of - to spread the life of Jesus more into the world.

Another example for me has been that little summative (& formative) passage of general advice the Apostle Paul says to the Thessalonian Jesus Followers: "Be JOYFUL always,  PRAY at all times, be THANKFUL in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; https://bible.com/bible/296/1th.5.16-18.GNBUK, plus then, the rest of the chapter)...

 I found it worked backwards for me... i.e. when I PRAYED in all circumstances, then I found I was THANKFUL to God for his help and gifts through every circumstance, and then I found I was JOYFUL (about something, even if it wasn't some change of circumstances, but simply the chance to share that part of life with God himself)...

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Lamb & Lager ..

..& the Larger One..

---

Prologue:

Text2me: “…Not sure if this might interest you but we're having a men’s Lamb and Lager dinner on the 23 May. 6:30 at Holy trinity. $20. We'll hear from a local shepherd..”..

Text from me: Thanks brother, I like both lamb, lager, & the larger One. I may have a VIP visitor then, & if so, it probably won’t work. But if not, and if God brings me in touch with someone else who would appreciate company at such an event, I'd love to come.

 

---

GOD, may your people who bear your good name

and image in this town be yours, and its -

as Jesus wept for those towns* and inflamed

their leadership against him bit by bit

so in the end they killed him dead before 

the blocks of their great building were knocked down.

Oh may the people you love love you more

than all the stuff we gain from those around.

Oh grow, please God, some hearts of "flesh" that beat

as your heart does, to beat of diff'rent drum

that helped Him hear your voice out in the street

and at the table where who loved would come.

And may the King of Love who shepherds still

his sheep, and knows each lamb to care for it,

send out more shepherds to this town who will

find needy folk who feel they hardly fit

in set-ups under those who found "their niche",

(by which they don't mean ways to suffer well).

This Christ you sent to us, and too to each,

that we might learn to live "absorbing hell".

Or in the words of those who came around

to follow Him whom you said we should 'hear',

"love covers over piles of sin". They found

forgiveness is for giving out. He's near!

That’s He whose goodness never fails or falls

off just because he doesn’t find his match.

He’s faithful, so he builds; and he will call

and then equip, and also bind and patch.

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Footnote

s* - e.g. Luke 10:13-15; 13:34-35; Matt 11: 20-30; 23:37-39 …

---

What's the RSVP date?

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Inconvenience..

..or Adventure

---

Today the weather’s somewhat colder and

it might just snow sometime the bureau says.

The wind is chilly, and so I have planned

to wear a cap on head, for I can guess

my lunch-time duty will require I stand

out in the weather at the “lower front”.

So here I am in company so grand

as those around about me in this hunt.

This hunt I say, for “Truth (through Knowledge)” here

is hunted down, as gold is sought from ore.

For motivation’s key, it would appear,

and more is found the more it is looked for.

And things are truly looked for in this world

when they are really prized, or treasured in

themselves, or some good function they hold furled

within their nature, or where they have been,

or else because of their relationships 

to other things or people round about. 

So attitudes of honour, care, friendships,

or mis-trust can affect what is found out.

And many things will not be even sought

for, just because our models don’t yet let

those inputs in, so outputs can’t be brought

to match experience we can’t forget.

So sometimes fresh friendship, or love, or hate,

or even pain, discomfort brings me back

to live out in this real world, of late.

instead of just my model that’s off track!

---

Performing chants/ chance

to make a brand new world!

---

Well KHESED-love performs such deeds and words;

such words, and deeds then come to pass as well

the essence of intent before they’re heard

when mouth that formed the word was soon to tell

it out into the world, as spark of fire, 

(or seed of living animal or plant).

Its word speaks of intent and shares its ire,

or joy, or grief, and mind [not emptied out,

but teeming with what might be called desire,

if that means understandings, will, and plans 

to bless all others - creatures lower, higher.]

It starts with keeping its own word. It stands

to reason, and to creativity, to power to create (not just to change),

and understanding as with my kids, me.

It doesn’t help them if I am deranged.

And what en-love-en-ed father, though he be

as evil and mistaken as we are,

would try to “raise” his kids to hinder he

who gave them life? ..He hopes they shine as stars!

And I feel quite unlike that shining self; 

reactive and defensive when pain’s near.

My hopes and spirit, like a willing elf;

my “flesh” is weak to motivate and cheer.

But KHESED-love if you will enter me

and be my breath to take life further in,

and higher up, then I am glad to be

receptacle for your life. May it win!

---

EMOTIONS (as a result of our knowledge)...

..can smudge*, or bear witness to* KHESED-love’s actional communications.

---

To bear witness is not just to speak words

of language made by Hemisphere of brain 

that’s left (when pointing forward) - even birds

and reptiles, mammals might have to refrain

from learning just from sound-wave symbols when

they’re round about, and learn from acts, in fact

some things are best passed down the line again

by dramatised responses. For a pact

can be made that is binding, without words, 

though understanding’s necessary still.

And honour, glory can be seen, or heard

somehow by oft repeated acts that will

display the choices of a life well lived*.

It might be just the lack of fear, or else

the overbearing way the facts are sieved,

and seen in light of threats perceived from hell’s

capacity to taint the whole of life,

and lead to accusations and the like,

instead of questions, which can, like a knife,

cut out our immaturity and hike

on further than the accusations could

go, yet don’t need accuse at all, they leave

that for the ones who answering claim good-

ness at their beck and call. And on their sleeve

they wear emotions, and as humans would

be, they are vuln’rable to claiming judge-

-ment as their right, which may be well ‘n’ good,

when under-teamed with side that doesn’t fudge.

---

Footnotes

e* -  interesting little phrase (“εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς”=“to bear witness to them”) seen in two scenes showing Jesus’ intentions - at least one (the first citation) where his hopes were un-realised (or at least smudged), the second referred to some time in the future (where Jesus’ hopes would be either fulfilled or not fulfilled): Mark 1:42-45 esp v.44; Mark 13:9-11,esp v.9.

o* - see footnote above - second citation)

d* - Rom 2:7

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