united and untied

So we are now united with God’s Christ,

that’s Jesus, once from Nazareth up North

of Bethlehem, or Egypt, it’s suffice

to say he lived these places here on Earth.

And if it's true to say that we abide

in him, and he has found abode in us,

we’ve given him addresses where he’ll hide

until his coronation comes and busts

up all our “pow-ers” and “authorities”

and puts this world to rights in his own WAY,

and that is not (like them) to “take” and “seize”,

“Not so with you” we hear him turn and say.

Instead, whoever wants to go high up

in God’s establishment, must first go low.

It’s like volcanic ash when it erupts,

it’s come from underneath, from down below!

Whoever wants to be first must be slave

of ev’ry one he wants to lead in love.

For God’s Messiah didn't here “behave”

except to serve, life “offered up” above.

We were all once without God, without hope,

but now we have been brought near by his blood

(him giving up his life, so  we could cope)

our Noah & his “ark”, within the flood.

For he himself has brought us life & peace.

He brought us close together now, as one.

His body on the cross, has now released...

and iron-curtained walls have been undone.

---

We are now united with Christ Jesus. We were all once without God and without hope, but now we have been brought near to God by the blood of  Jesus Christ, for he himself has brought peace to us. He has brought us together as one, in His body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that once separated us. Ephesians 2:12b-14. (PM Version)

Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’. Mark 10:42‭-‬45 NIVUK

---

sh o u ld e r in' pain...

Woke up with incredibly painful shoulder.

---

Oh God, please heal your daughter's shoulder now,
and let her stress be moved to be on me.
We take that yoke of Jesus on, somehow,
expecting you will save and set us free!

We take his yoke, and ask for wisdom too,
to come from you, the heavenly kind one,
to show your great good life, by what we do
in that humility that's from wisdom,

that first of all is pure; then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, merciful,
with good fruit, and impartial (not shoving),
sin-cere-ly sowing peace and reaping full...

Help me to shoulder this load from my girl,
please give her rest for she is blessed by you,
(help me to bear what I can, then unfurl
and cast my cares as flags that show you're true).

---

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ...  the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.  James 3:13‭, ‬17‭-‬18 NIVUK

On the WAY...

On the WAY visiting Penny Barringham’s body, before/as/after the ventilator stopped!

---

And Penny if you're right about that man,

that one who came to earth as we have come,

for a short visit, seemed it was unplanned -

& “accidents do happen, don't be glum…” ...

so, while I'm flying in this plane right now,

I re-a-lise that I might still “beat you”,

in putting off this body, so somehow

I can't be too sad yet, that you've won through

the finish line (I say this with some jest -

for this race is endurance, not so much

competing, it’s more doin’ “pers’nal best”,

for ev’ry member’s “incomplete”, as such…

we're more like embryos - yet to be born),

so “finishing”, though true enough to say,

does not catch the full story when we've gone

from here, into whatever comes our way -

before we're given body number three

(our first one lived within a watery world,

and breathed and ate and drank through our belly-

& all through umbilical chord, I'm told!).

So if that story (you bet your life on)

about that bloke (who did the same it seems,

and bet his life that God’s love was more strong

than any other pow-er, ends or means) ...

well if it’s true that God raised him to be

a “grown up” just like “Abba” (God of gods),

I’ll trust him to raise you, and to raise me,

and bet my life, like you, against all odds!

…

live & die

Just heard ... that your dad died near the end of last week.

---

This life is fragile.
God's good grace is strong.
Enter single file,
out before too long.

Here as embryos,
very immature,
this is where one grows
to let self be lured

as a tiny seed

(not much like the plant

or the flowers freed)

just the life extant,

to be planted whole
in these soft brown earths,
lose our ev'ry goal,
gain a universe!

trip up..

Bless you two. We're on the road.

---

God make this trip a good thing for these two
please, 'coz you do this kind of thing each day,
and you made them, and they're reflecting you,
and that's the kind of thing you'd mean, and say.

those who make ...

Blessed are those who make peace, for they will be called the children of God. Mathew 5:9 (PM Version)

The Lord God is a strong tower, those who run to him are safe. Prov 18:10

---

Blessed are all those 
who love & make peace, 
with fingers and toes
and smiles that uncrease.

Who see that vision,
long for it to be,
act with precision
(and too, sloppily)

-what ever it takes;
what cost to our pride,
all cakes that it bakes
will help folk inside

help folk to eat meals
- in others' houses..
It's giving appeals
(even its rouses)

to the best they've known,
helps true friendship grow,
keep on till it's grown
and folk really know

each other, by name,
true names keep coming,
God's children - no shame
naked, and running.

The Lord God is a(h)
very strong tower,
who runs to him are 
safe. Oh Yes-you-are!

time now?

Is THIS ‘the time’ now? IS this THE decade?

Could this be kairos time? Maybe this year?....

Are we there yet? And what of THIS  today?

And do you think this month .. the time's appeared?

Does time "arrive", or is it "arriving"?

Or maybe growing up brings a “new day”?

Is time fulfilled only when love’s driving -

or in the driver’s seat, and all’s ok?

The prophet’s mythic words spoke of “The Day

of The Lord” when he would act to bring

sure judgement and his justice in a way..

that showed him on the side of underlings!

Some folk thought that that meant now THEY’d be boss!

The problem was they thought in terms of what

the king's of this Earth modelled, to bring loss

to enemies, and “make them” - as despots

have done all the world round, and throughout time.

We needed a new paradigm of care:

a shepherd like boy-David was, sublime,

who’d go against a lion or a bear,

not thinking of himself, to keep alive,

but trusting self to God (the “greater boss”!).

Yeshua came announcing, ‘Time’s arrived’,

not ‘Time is up!’, then he lived on a cross, ...

and called his followers to “follow suit”:

not ‘clubs or diamonds’, more like ‘hearts and spades’

we will rejoice and now be glad to boot!

This is the day The LORD, our Lord, has made.

---

This is the day The Lord has made; We will rejoice and be very glad in it!! Psalm 118:24 (PM Version) [part of the  Ascension Psalms, sung before, and during the Passover celebrations in Israel, maybe even the hymn they sang on the way to the garden after their last Passover]

The day of the Lord is near, the day when the Almighty brings destruction. What terror that day will bring!  Joel 1:15 GNTD

Blow the trumpet; sound the alarm on Zion, God's sacred hill. Tremble, people of Judah! The day of the Lord is coming soon.  It will be a dark and gloomy day, a black and cloudy day. The great army of locusts advances like darkness spreading over the mountains. There has never been anything like it, and there never will be again.  Joel 2:1‭-‬2 GNTD

The Lord thunders commands to his army. The troops that obey him are many and mighty. How terrible is the day of the Lord ! Who will survive it?  Joel 2:11 GNTD

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.   But all who ask the Lord for help will be saved. As the Lord has said, ‘Some in Jerusalem will escape; those whom I choose will survive.’”. Joel 2:31‭-‬32 GNTD

Thousands and thousands are in the Valley of Judgment. It is there that the day of the Lord will soon come.  Joel 3:14 GNTD

Howl in pain! The day of the Lord is near, the day when the Almighty brings destruction.  Isaiah 13:6 GNTD

The day of the Lord is coming—that cruel day of his fierce anger and fury. The earth will be made a wilderness, and every sinner will be destroyed.  Isaiah 13:9 GNTD

How terrible it will be for you who long for the day of the Lord ! What good will that day do you? For you it will be a day of darkness and not of light.  Amos 5:18 GNTD

The day of the Lord will bring darkness and not light; it will be a day of gloom, without any brightness.  Amos 5:20 GNTD

The great day of the Lord is near—very near and coming fast! That day will be bitter, for even the bravest soldiers will cry out in despair!  Zephaniah 1:14 GNTD

“But before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, I will send you the prophet Elijah.  Malachi 4:5 GNTD

the sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood, before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.  Acts 2:20 GNTD

For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night.  1 Thessalonians 5:2 GNTD

you are to hand this man over to Satan for his body to be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.  1 Corinthians 5:5 GNTD

You also must be patient. Keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord's coming is near.  James 5:8 GNTD

But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that Day the heavens will disappear with a shrill noise, the heavenly bodies will burn up and be destroyed, and the earth with everything in it will vanish.  2 Peter 3:10 GNTD

the earth will be set on fire!

So Jesus said- "I’ve come to set the earth

aright, to burn the cancer at its core.

Irradiation that will kill such blight

as self improvement - only wanting “more”.

As surgeon cuts with scalpel round a mark

that indicates a cancer coming on,

or burns a growth that burgeons in the dark

that’s stopped responding to feedback 'ere long.

And all the body may burn with that fire,

it’s just the cancer will be hit most hard,

for only it lives on it’s own desire,

it bows to no one higher in the yard.

This fire, this passion, burns up all that's fixed

upon itself, and what it wants to do,

for that will lead to boredom that is mixed

with self destruction, for no end’s in view.

“And how I long” he said “for it to blaze”

that’s both - destruction of that zombie life,

and also love for God and folk. He prays

for enemies, his love has grown that rife!

---

Jesus said- "I have come to set the earth on fire.
And how I long for every heart to be ablaze with
this fiery passion for God." Luke 12:49 (PM Version)

unfailing love

O God, how precious your unfailing love
where all mankind can find a hiding place

under the shadow of your wings - a dove

with eggs, or hen with chicks will often grace-

ously give warmth to babes, or shade from ill

(the heat of sun or fire, or hawks approach).

Keep trusting in the Lord and do what he’ll

be glad of, he's not wanting to reproach!

He’s looKing Jesus said, throughout the earth

(just like he did at first, when “saw 'twas good”)

for what is good and true, and right from birth

is willing to renew, as just he would,

till they are right again in his own eyes.

So fix your heart, oh people, on this God,

his word has brought to you each good surprise,

his word to you brought land on which you've trod,

his promises securely made and kept,

are food for feasting on,  his faithfulness

is what allows you to have soundly slept,

when as a child you trusted him to bless

and strengthen and rejuvenate through rest.

Faith motivated Abraham to leave

home, thus obeying God's call in this “test”

to then discover “his” new territ'ry -

that’s offered for his sons to inherit.

He left with only God’s promise and word,

and this was counted out to his merit.

So Abraham stepped out, in faith. He heard!

---

O God, how precious is your unfailing love.
All mankind can find a hiding place under the shadow of your wings.  Psalm 36:7 (PM Version)

Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes. Fix your heart on the promises of God and you will be secure, feasting on His faithfulness.
Psalm 37:3 (PM Version)

Faith motivated Abraham to obey God's call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in faith.
Hebrews 11:8 (PM Version)

not yet - full groan...

Oh God, we are so weak, just embryos.
we don't know how to speak, you do, who knows.
But maybe just a groan ... that's what he did...
and we're still not full grown, just little kids,

or "lambs", we are to you. But if that's so,
our shepherd is our ewe and ram we'll grow
to be like, since you are our Dad (& Mum)
who gave us your life's are-bundance (and some).

(un)sure ...

Today, around lunch, the hospital staff called my mate and one of his sons, who was there, in to a meeting. Two other friends happened to just be in town and visited then, so my mate graceously asked them in too. They were told that my mate's wife's brain has kept swelling from the broken eye sockets and face and back of the head, and  it's looking less likely that she'll live. They've just taken her off all sedation while retaining the breathing help, to see what her body does. She (Penny) has also been a friend, like an older sister, to me too.

---

God, help my mate as point-man for us all
who will one day lose contact with Penny
for even "little whi-le"'s don't seem small
we frail and needy folk don't seem ready.

But thank you for the music of her laugh,
and her determination to be true

to what love means towards the “other half”,

while using what she has - reflecting you.

And mainly it’s a guess that in this place

of pain and fra-il-ty, we feel a bit

of what you feel in your pain and disgrace

for giving your good gifts to little “nits”...

I know that you would not call people that

since in your eyes we're either little “saints”

or else we're agents of hell, worse than bratts,

and either way you won't force hands, or paint

someone into a corner, they're your kids

and you won’t “make” them be what they will not;

you “birthed” them at the start, then opened lids

and taught their eyes to see, ears to hear what

is true, and mind to see what’s not, though said,

and mouth to comment (and help think), then speak,

you won't destroy them, even when they’re “dead”.

You’d rather call them “sleeping”, ‘coz they're weak

and powerless to rise, but if your Word

(which brought the universe about at first)

is heeded, it gives power as it’s heard;

as Penny did, who’s worth “much more”* - at worst!

---

*   “Penny” is not her final (& maybe not even her first) name. Her Father in heaven, has a new name, and much more in store:

...will receive much more in this present age. They will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields—and persecutions as well; and in the age to come they will receive eternal life.  Mark 10:30 GNTD
As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”Luke 11:13 GNTD
“Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one sparrow is forgotten by God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!  Luke 12:6‭-‬7 GNTD
Life is much more important than food, and the body much more important than clothes.  Luke 12:23 GNTD
Look at the crows: they don't plant seeds or gather a harvest; they don't have storage rooms or barns; God feeds them! You are worth so much more than birds!  Luke 12:24 GNTD
...will receive much more in this present age and eternal life in the age to come.” Luke 18:30 GNTD

Jonah's core issue?

(Dis)Obedience to God at the level of action. And taking on God’s heart. His core commitment. His attitudes. All of these together are covered by the Hebrew concept of “Shema” (https://youtu.be/6KQLOuIKaRA) - “Truly listening”, not just to the words, and externals, but to the heart and intent, and then responded to all the way through to action! i.e.  Full Obedience.

---

For if we will not listen to one “new”,

that doesn't mean we don't have a default.

We simply keep on living by the few

ideas that got in just before the bolt:

Ethnocentrism 

So Jonah’s name means “dove”! 

Some “Hebrew thinking” shoves 

such questions to us in 

this story where we've been: 

Is he really “doven”, 

or more like “d’ oven”? 

That's “signalling God’s peace”, 

or “cooking folk”, for he’s  

still cooking plans to fail 

as “change agent avail- 

ing to help folk repent"  

and thus when he is sent 

to Eastward Nineveh 

he sails in quite other 

direction, to the West, 

since he must know what’s best, 

he’ll use his special gift  

from God, to help him shift 

events on planet earth 

in such a way that mirth

is more where he had birth!

To think that God might truly love each group
as much as we know that he loves us now,
is hard to well, get over and recoupe
from. Least of all, we want to take a bow!

reveal, uncover, display, entitle ...

Show me your Way, Lord.

Point out the right path

for me to follow.

Lead me in Your truth.

Teach me, for you’re Gord!

-who’s saved me to laugh

(not just to wallow),

gives hope to the youth!

Caesar, I'm assured

is not quite so “barf”,

his big claim’s hollow

and he’s not so cooth,

His “Lord”-ship is bored,

not worth even half

titles which roll o-

ver his head to sooth.

So Caesar’s replaced

(unless Caesar bows),

“Lord” of all Lords is

(& King of all kings)...

“Imperator’s waste-

ed on him somehow,

someone not Jesus

dain't have what he brings!

“Messiah” has chased

(“Christos” in Greek now)

the titles of Caesars’;

each good person sings

Yeshua has faced

(not even a row)

what titles please us

amongst other things.

Our Father, who’s God

who loved us and in

his wonderful grace

saved us from the bin...

gave us what he's got

by nature in him-

self, we have a place

he thinks we will win.

His hope and comfort

give vigour and vim,

encouraged, he says

we may follow him

Since he can’t fail, what

would strengthen us, in-

spire us to always

shine, and not grow dim.

---

Show me Your ways O Lord. Point out the right path for me to follow. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God who has saved me and gives me hope. Psalm 25:4-5 (PM Version)

May the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. (PM Version)