worship two “ultimate pow-ers”?

“Devoting one’s life to one’s g*d” is “Done!” -

almost determined. We're hard-wired for it -

propensity we continue to do.

Even for hedonists (living for fun),

or atheists proudly declaring “God’s  s h i t!”

I see it in me, maybe you do too,

the av’rage Westerner looking for Mun-

Mun-knee, or  Mun-day; Time off; now we’ll fit!

You try to fill all of it up, in a cup,

seeking to “balance”, you end up choosing,

which one’s on top or foundational to bring

the others, and will, (if not now, at the end)

pay out a wage, or at least dividend,

all that your in-vest-meant - hoped to achieve.

If my g*d is good, I start to believe,

for me things will go good, and I will receive!

My small brain’s so concrete, that I soon find

my mind is doing laps to hold and bind

the one Controlling Principle, so that

I still can carry on, (& chew the fat)

& still get something done, even when blind..

Can I worship two all-encompassing, ultimate pow-ers, which claim ultimate allegiance?

Can I be a loyal follower of both?

Only if one is subordinate to

the other, or until what they both ask

for’s contradictory, then I must take sides.

---

How could you worship two gods at the same time? You will have to hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't worship the true God while enslaved to the god of money!! Mathew 6:24. (PM Version)

A mate's a year older!

How old today ol’ David R U now?

This annivers'ry of your birth back then,

when you came into this world here somehow,

then somehow people cared and helped you when

you were so helpless, couldn't even feed

yourself, or clean yourself from dirty muck,

or talk, or walk, or understand, or read.

I think you've come a long way now ol’ buck!

Been looking at some people like that who

we're quite unable to fix up their plight*

& thanking God for what good's come to you,

that’s even with those hard times there last night.

And glad to know that you have one so big,

in mercy and in skill to grow you more,

who’ll follow to enable you to “dig”

and understand, and do your work that’s core,

yet won't be satisfied with appearance,

but wants a deeper inside work done well,

to this end he’ll do more interference

to save you, and your family from “hell” -

for “hell”’s a rubbish dump for all that won't

let heaven transform it to be full grown,

mature like God’s Messiah, so Dave don’t

think anyone arrives without a groan°.

Another day clicked over, 'nother year,

and less than five hundred will add one more.

Oh God, help David to help on and cheer

all those he has responsibil’ty for! ^

---

*  Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’  When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.  Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no-one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’. Luke 17:11‭-‬19 NIVUK

° Yeshua groaned more than once, e.g. Mark 7, Mark 8, & Hebrews

^ firstly, himself as a “son of” his “father” the one God has christened “Leader of Humanity”, then his wife, his daughter, and any others he is blessed with who will depend on him.

..sort a daughter..

Well, Hannah-Charis, a gift upon gift

of one who listens to all that would lift

up, build up, gardening, growing the truth’s

own way, enlargen-ing, loving what’s couth.

And thus would she speak out, and truth be told,

creatively leak out, more good than gold,

such stories to “be still”, AND “open up”,

in ways both magical ('coz they erupt

and prod on, moving, enlisting more  thought)

but also soothing (or hiding) what ought

be hidden, or unspoken, as did he -

Messiah, or “the chosen”, whom we see

then acting out the meaning of his word

and telling little “dreamings” - quite “absurd”

(but really very skillful to empow’r

all lovers of Truth who’ll do love this hour).

In other words his kingdom’s pow’r is love,

which helps for ev’rything come from above

to be shown up, appropriately in time

for even nails and ropes can be sublime

when love looks up, and trusts the One who’s true

so we can now, through dusty mirrors view

what makes life in this world be less like “doomed”

and worth the while as curled here in this womb

we grow as embryos as yet unseen

in bigger world where goes and comes our dreams,

and Jacob’s ladder wisely is used well,

to save us from disguised living in Hell.

Victor'yah's - triumph over all ...

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (PM Version)

We triumph over all things through God who has made us to be more than conquerors, and His demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything. Romans 8:37 (PM Version)

I can do all things
that God calls me to
through the Christ, who brings
strength and "power to do",

for love is that pow'r
that has no ending,
fusion more than our
dynamite (for mending),

and is Victor'yah's,
triumphs over all 
things through Yesua
(who may look quite small,

but whom God has made 
and us with him too -
Caesar's in the shade
compared to what he'll do)

much more than conqueror.
He's demonstrated
love is our gloria,
(not over-rated)

over everything!
Hallelujah God.
May your bright reign bring
honour to your nod
approving your King!

thanks to God...

Give thanks to God the true lover and friend,

the hea’enly source of all that is good here,

his son, our Adam, Pioneer, will send

away our enemies and also fear!

This source of faithfulness and loyal love,

whose faithful love continues and en-dures

forever, for it’s like our sun above

compared to firewood - it gives, & ensures

that energy for living is around,

since all the “fuel” down here has it as source.

So in a sim'lar way we now have found

that every detail of our lives he pours

his goodness into, even those quite sad,

where unjust things occurred, with choices made

by self opinionated, jealous, mad,

folk who did not do anything God bade.

And if we let him work his way with us,

and side our will with what it is he weaves,

to multiply his great good purposes,

we find his joy gives strength, our body breathes.

And Jesus keeps on saying "Come to me,

that’s all of you who burdened are weary,

and carry heavy loads, and I will see

that you get rest, just see that you believe,

and don't let fear become your motive force,

our God is great, there's nothing his power can’t

accomplish, for his understanding flaws

all others. For he heals each shattered heart.

---

Give thanks to our great God of the heavens!
His faithful love endures forever!!  Psalm 138:26. (PM Version)

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives are continually woven together to fit into God's perfect plan of bringing good into our lives - to them who love God and who are called for his purposes.  Romans 8:28. (PM Version)

The Joy of the Lord is our strength!! Nehemiah 8:10 (PM Version)

Jesus is saying "Come to me, all of you who weary and are carry heavy loads, and I will give you rest." Mathew 11:28 (PM Version)

JESUS said  "DONT BE AFRAID- JUST BELIEVE"! Mark 5:36 (PM Version)

How great is our God there's nothing his power cannot accomplish, he has understanding of everything. He sets his stars in place, calling them all by their names. He heals the wounds of every shattered heart. Psalm 147:5-3  (PM Version)

two lots of two brothers

Remember that old tale?
Maybe, just a fable,
One man went to help,
While his brother was unable.

'Yes,' was one's reply, who stayed,
His father said, 'please, come',
The other who said 'No',
Was more the father's son.

C.C.U.

---

‘What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.”   ‘ “I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.   ‘Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go.   ‘Which of the two did what his father wanted?’ ‘The first,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.  For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.  Matt. 21:28‭-‬32 NIVUK

---

A story of two brothers,
You might have heard it told,
It still seems very true,
Though it might be very old.

One brother brought his best,
And gave it to his dad.
His father said, 'Wow, son!,
This makes me very glad.'

The other brother sneered,
'Cos what he brought, it's true,
Their father didn't like,
Even if he'd gotten two.

It's sad that in this story,
The ending isn't good,
One brother killed the other,
Guess which one you think would.

'Oh, son, what have you done?!',
Their father was quite sad,
'I warned you that your anger could,
Make you do something bad.'

'And, now, I'm very sorry,'
And, his dad began to cry,
I have to send you far away,
So noone else will die.'

I think he learned his lesson,
That boy who killed his bro.
Father, help us all to learn,
In anger to be slow.

C.C.U.

---

*I wrote this one, thinking about the story of Cain and Abel, in the book of Genesis, in the Bible.

bring completion thus

Oh GOD you give me strength & energy,

and dextrousness, and flexibility.

Both wisdom and perspective come from you,

communication, story, sense of hu-

mour, you're our armour, tower to protect,

delight, and joy, creative to connect,

capacity to hold, and carry out,

desire to be both bold, and marry “doubt

full” otherness, and bring completion thus

obedience through suffering lifts dust

from lowest order to the heavens’. Trust

is learned, or grows in dusty soil of earth,

where trial and error must en-roil our birth

and some pain teaches lessons and communes,

appreciated, composts then our  tunes

get coloured, as the sky has different blues.

Yet I love you in ev’ry thing I do,

so, when this mirror is reflecting you,

and hanging out with lover who is true!

My life begins again upon that day,

unlike young Jack*, I would in work do play,

and offer as a gift all I would say!

---

*   “All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.”

here I am

Well here I am my LORD. My life feels  flat.

Or maybe I'm just drained emotion’ly.

Or even that I've been sick. How could that

effect my inside life so, seemingly?

As soon as I put words to that “strangeness”,

I know in part the answer to what’s posed:

I’m built to have a body; it’s “changeness”

gives challenge to live here as not a ghost,

but really as a human (baby god)

who’s always meant to have a body too.

But though a human always is a bod’,

they could still have “authority” in view,

thus I could be affected, yet not ruled,

by physical accomplishments and things.

Thus I'll admit, but yet will not be fooled

to thinking I'm the great God, and my wings

are refuge and protection for the world.

I'll be the baby, who needs help from Dad,

and Mum, who succour and, if truth be told,

help me to grow to take the pain I've had

and that I've still got coming. He’s who said:

“In this world you’ll have trouble” - so be warned,

but then he added (knowing he’d be dead

for three days, and his “sweating blood” he scorned)

“But take heart, for the world I’ve overcome”

And so I do, and trust his bigger view.

But still, I will when speaking, and when dumb,

look up, and open up - my feelings too.

---

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:19‭-‬23 NIVUK

‘A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.   ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’. John 16:32‭-‬33 NIVUK

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body has finished with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:1‭-‬2‭, ‬7‭-‬12 NIVUK

... (bin there..2)

>> Did u throw her passport away .. while she was gone...? (Son)

No I didn't
throw it away;
'cause she did it,
the other day. 

Threw out some junk
(not carefully checked)
but as she "thunk",
God resurrect-

-ed in her mind
(all places checked),
so very kind-
-ly, she'd deflect-

-ed stuff in hand
to stuff the bin
(not fully planned,
as she walked in

to our house) when
we came back to
Oz from 'Stan.
I'm telling you

she searched the room,
she searched our bags,
the car, and whom
we'd talked with. Thanks

to God for his
help to recall
(before the bins
were emptied all;

that very night
they were due to
take up the fight
with Garbos who

were sure to win,
to empty all).
When she looked in,
she cried to Paul

"I've found it here
where I threw it!"
So it appeared
she now knew it

from the other 
side of these things.
Still I love 'er,
see what time brings!

leading us learning to love

God please give grace to these four men (& wives),

who serve us all by giving up their lives,

hours of each week to help us calibrate

this new expression of your life (of late),

as opp-or-tu-nit-ies come thick and fast,

and then demands of local needs aren't past.

Please help them rest in you, in bodies now.

Please help us see how we can too, somehow

make all their work a little less "hard slog".

And save them from just getting on the grog,

or letting any idol replace you.

We love you, and them, God; please help us too.

Handling change is hard

2Bob'sWorth,

I've so respected you to clearly hear

the other side of “argument” or “view”,

and seen God’s love and open-ness come near;

but this seems like a disconnected you.

I see that you feel hurt, and not consult-

-ed, things are changing faster than you’d like,

but if it’s really true the horse has bolt-

-ed, blaming people won't ease up our hike.

For it will only fester and brings pus,

it’s bitter root will not help bear the pain,

your cry did not encourage and help us

to clearer think, or love, or see again.

Such arrogant & rude things you've written,

like that email. I feel ashamed - and mad,

that asking no good questions, you’ve bitten,

and snarled at those who've loved and helped. I'm sad.

The grace of Jesus Christ to those who've worked

to help and serve you (and your fam-i-ly),

when you've been “bumped” appears not to have lurked

below the surface, but hell’s fires ... (James 3)?

For love, that poem says ain't arrogant,

or rude, or keeping records here of wrongs

another does; it prays they will repent,

they're already forgiven. 't suffers long.

So God, how can I help my brother now.

He might have offered to put on a “do”,

and work to help cross-pollination, “Wow!”

and pray to help us handle changes too!

I think I'll have to leave that all to you,

since he’s your boy, and you know how to spank,

to bring us to our senses, with ensue-

-ing sense of humour. Sometimes yours seems rank!

I s’pose I could just let him read this miss-,

-ive, letter, to him from the likes of me,

and if you choose to speak to him through this,

then I'd be glad (for you are who makes free!).

But if not, and miss-understandings come,

I guess I'd like for you to help me love,

and model that communication from

the heart of you, our Father, up above.

---

Psalms 133:1‭, ‬3 NLT: How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! …  Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.

1 Corinthians 13:1‭-‬13 NLT: If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

James 3:5‭-‬18 NLT: ... the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

---

Albert’s (leadership) email to team members

Dear members. At our last leaders’ meeting, we decided not to have smaller specific retreats for all of …(our movement). Local communities are more than welcome to organise something if thay’d like to. They have been excellent and we have really appreciated the fellowship they’ve offered, but we’d like to allow regional areas to decide more what gatherings will best enhance their community and the way they serve the people around them

Bob’s (older person, been around for many yrs) response:

Just another step towards trying to break up … (this whole movement), remove the long history, and reduce the chance of learning new things from each other on how to forge a new direction in our core practice within our local teams!All the more reason to have an alternative association, to help us all grow in ... skills from each other - other than only by direction from the top!
"History repeats itself because we almost never learn from History

---

in his grief, a godly brother ..... models thoughtfulness for others

Ok....my brother Neil. You're like our bro.
the Emp'ror of the Universe he is
the Leader of Humanity, you know
what he is like, as you made it your biz-

'n'us to serve, as he sought not his own
will, but to see that others be shown love,
and thus to know as we are really known.
You know your help has come from God above.

God, you have often done it that way eh?
You helped old Peter to put two and two
together to get four and not just three,

yet unobtrusively, not “make”, but “woo”.

confidence in ..

We have this kind of confidence at heart,

because of our trust in this God through Christ.

Yet we don't see ourselves (when seen “apart”)

as capable enough, we don't suffice.

Our strength, our competence  is not just sourced

(because he made us up - long time ago)

in God, as though we now are all (of course)

grown up. It’s more like Mum, and embryo!

Or Dad, and then his tiny little son,

who grows to be a man by watching all,

and listening, sharing life (both sad, and fun).

But this Dad doesn't need kids, big or small!

He has another categ’ry called 'love-

ing-kindness’ (Hes-ed is the Hebrew word).

Because he’s bless-ed overall, above

all others, he’s for giving quite absurd-

-ly like a mum who feeds from her own breast

her newborn babe, devoting focussed will.

Her body gives both food and drink that’s best

to help her babe grow up and so fulfil

the hopes and dreams that God had there in mind

the possibilities that must be trained.

And so a trust, surrender of a kind,

is needed after all that we have gained.

Resist your independent “self-abort”,

and you will find decay and rot will flee.

And let your parents clean you (as they 'ought' -

if love were true). So, come close, “taste” and see.

---

We have this confidence in our hearts because of our trust in God through Christ. Yet we don't see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, but our competence comes from God and him alone!!  2 Corinthians 3:4-5. (PM Version)

Surrender to God, resist the devil and he will turn and run away from you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. James 4:7-8 (PM Version)

---