A mate with cellulitis

Dear brother, heard the news the other day,

and thought to see you in the ED ward

this afternoon, when I went up to pay

a visit to ol' Bruce where he's been stored

for now - the Rehabilitation wing;

but Gary, your ol' mate, met me and said

that though he was just then a-visiting,

he hoped to take you home to lay your head..

Oh God, please make your healing touch on Graeme,

and by your spirit help him to en-trust

himself into your hands, as he who came

to herald God's Good News, though he might bust.

His life within this world was not the end,

but like a caterpillar or tadpole,

it was an aspect, meant to apprehend

a starting point, to move on from, not goal.

And so that prayer of blessing* that John prayed;

that Gaius' body might clearly reflect

the kind of living growth that is not stayed,

but fruitful, growing, changing, with respect

to life that's not just mortal, meant to die,

but swallowed by God's immortality,

a body made of spirit, though not shy,

but able to DO food, be seen, and see.

And able to walk right through space (& time?)

at least in time, to do what must be done,

that's indestructible. That sounds sublime!

At least it sounds to be a lot of fun!

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* "... Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, just as you are progressing spiritually." 3 John 1:1‭-‬2 NIVUK

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family's calling .. ("Come home. Dinner time!")

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Both apostolic & prophetic kinds

of callings still require full living from

a grateful cle/ar spirit - one which finds

itself enamoured by the God who’s won

one’s loving, full allegiance, 'coz this God

has proved to be hospitable at core.

God made the world, and then made space for what

is moving, running, spinning, breathing, more

or less alive, and needing space to “be”,

and grow and multiply, and shrink again,

while ready-ing to move dimension’lly

both off & on, down, up; and out and in.

Another thing that helps to calibrate

is that, like icebergs, only one tenth shows

above the water-line; that is our fate

as servants of this God, who sees below

appearances from this ol' world's view-point;

if transformation is to show on top, 

it will be 'coz it's foundations appoint-

ed keep transforming - that might never stop.

And then the diff'rent seasons in our lives,

will call for diff'rent emphases while still

developing our calling in that slice.

We cannot be homogenised, like milk.

Prophetic folk go telling the truth that

reveals what’s really going on around,

by naming what’s unjust, what leaves folk flat

from lack of love (thus purpose can’t be found).

Apostles though, more like ambassadors,

are sent to move in other places where

their culture, customs, humour, & their laws

may be quite diff’rent; hostile or "don’t care."

And both communicate more by their acts -

the drama they participate in here.

But sometimes words can clarify the facts,

and lead the horse to water …... by the ear.

While prophets pull off blinders that we’re used

to living with; apostles magnify

eternal life and culture, that are fused

together - and they gather those who've died!

And both of these may be called to go fast.

For this, they might just have to go “alone”.

But if they’re called to go far (or be last),

they’d have to go with others. Chew that bone.

So outcrops of God’s kingdom - embassies,

are necessary so to give the feel

of how God’s kingdom works, and how God sees

us: “Well belov/ed children!” - that's for real!

And when that love extends to those unknown,

it's name is “justice” - when they’re not yet "friends".

God's children, when they live like this, windblown,

live on God’s breath. God's presence makes amends.

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good woman

We love you  lady, and your goodman too,

as well as that  small bundle that's so dear.

And how good are the kindly things you do.

Just holding up your head, and drawing near.

After math ...

Oh God please help this bloke, whom you love dear,

to be an open book to you, the seer,

the knower of all things, who sees quite clear.

And to reject the images that sneer!

...

Green (rule of) thumbs

 

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Because at core you love; that rule of thumb

that we think sounds so good, applies to you;

at least to me it seems that it's not dumb

for you right now; but not yet for me too.

Just do whatever you would like to do!

Whatever seems right in your eyes, to you.

If you desire a thing, it's right and true!

If it comes to your head, that is the clue.

But since in this here state, I am a plot,

a garden bed, been planted with some seed,

and plants are growing up, and showing what

plants show of herbal nature; plant, or weed,

I am unfinished, and, there's rubbish stuff

that seems ok at first, but as it grows;

apparently an enemy, who's tough,

or thinks he is, because of what he knows,

has planted seed, to be a weed, confuse,

to muck up plans, to ruin hopes, to lose

the right to joy, shalom, and love, to use

this opportunity to prove a point

of law, a "legal loophole" that exists,

exploiting as a "devil's advoc-ate"

some chance that courtroom politics enlists

to win a battle of ideas, a spate

of chances so to fight, to lead the pack,

to win the argument, the hearing, here.

I know your love, and will trust you to whack

my weeds out, then collect good plants, and cheer!

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When you can't hold on, let yourself be held..

Many pressures, from many directions threaten to squash a mate.

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Oh, punc, don't let yourself be fooled by thoughts

that your ability to hold to God,

is what it's all about, as though you caught

some fish too big, that might pull you in. What's

the sort of God that Jesus showed to us?

A father, who would spend his treasure full,

and life, with hardly any kind of fuss,

to have you really with him. Heart strings pull.

I thought today of Jesus's deep groans.

And heard the words of psalmists calling out;

"O Lord, please listen to my words, and moans..

Please hear my sighs, when no one is about.

My life dissolves in anguish and in  groans;

my strength is lost from troubles, bones grow weak.

The sounds from my own lips are more like moans.

My words were quiet. I could hardly  speak!

In my distress I groan aloud and am

reduced to skin and bones. I need your help."

I know you don't want me to be a sham.

Please let me be your pup, or cub, or whelp.

So here I am. I'm in your hands I see.

I cannot be the god who made and kept

the universe together. I'm just me.

I'm really glad it says that "Jesus wept".

So please use all these pressures as you would,

if really there was such a God as he,

that's Jesus, said there was, who's really good.

Then I would act as you would have me be.

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The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”  Psalms 12:5 NLT; + Exod 6:5; Jer 45:3; Lam 1:21; Act 7:34; + Ps 5:1; 22:1; 31:10; 32:3; 102:1-22

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What a leader! No fear-seeder!

 

Responding to the comment about some people trying to gain control over others by instigating & maintaining fear in them. 

---

Do not be fearful! 

For He is here, full 

of life immortal,

indestructible;

He who is with us

is carrier, and plus

He's the first test case,

designer with grace.

Pioneer, done it!

No-one has run it -

the race as he just did.

Happy as small kid

in home of his father.

Told us to rather

be glad that our name

bears only his shame.

He went for that suff'ring,

trusting God's buff'ring,

entrusted his life

to one who is rife

with love (& with strife,

- eats it for breaky!)

Though wants to take wife,

Ahh, what the heck, he

can trust in Abba

to fulfil God's will.

He says, "Don't fe-ar!"

So joy, work, rest, still.

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walk-y gawk-y talk-y. Unbaulk-y.

---

TXT2me: Let's go for an exercise-friendship walk, weather permitting, soon.

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Ok. Let's see. God if you please, do lead

us and effect the weather so to make

it possible for us to walk, and read

your mind, since you gave it to us. Awake!

We would be wide awake to you yourself,

and to your hopes & dreams for this ol' world.

Please give us grace from you, the source of health,

& life, & love, where all that's good is curled.

Please make your shalom-thriving, so to be

the case in these few lives that you own here.

And help us to be carriers, with grace,

of it, to all the people we draw near

to in this place that you have sent us to,

and at this time where your big plans have traced

their threads through hist'ry, as you're wont to do.

So even though we've never seen your face

(& sometimes when folk did,  they didn't know),

we find that you have made our minds, and loves,

to see, and know, in other ways that go

much further than when folk could feel the shoves

of crowds who would mistakenly not brush

as each one there was straining to get near,

but in their none-derstanding somehow crush

the others who were glad that he appeared.

So if you want us, Lord, to walk beside

each other here today, please help us to

be tuned into the fun of when you hide,

& seek your heart & mind. Keep going too. ..

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inter view, tomb view, raised view..

A friend who is also a Jesus-follower, is about to go for a job interview.

---

Go well, dear friend.

And do not fear.

For till the end,

God is quite near

who made the world

and all good-ness,

which once was curled

within the breast

of source of life,

and love, and stuff.

God's mind is rife.

You have enough.

For you, with us,

and God, or course,

have more than fuss

and stricture laws;

we have, suffice

to say, it seems,

the mind of Christ!

It shines &  gleams.

Embody who

is there with you,

and be that self,

whatever health,

you feel just now.

Know that somehow,

you may trust who

created you!

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Hospital visits

 Some friends doing hospital tests and procedures today… (names changed to protect the innocent)

---

Oh God, we like this couple. You do too!

In fact, the kind of likes we have at all,

are probably inherited from you.

And probably your "likes" are not so small

as even what are largest likes for us!

Please make our Fredrick and our Mary, both,

to be right there, amongst all of the fuss, 

a blessing, that will demonstrate your trōth.

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remember me

 Message from friend: "Bad dreams etc, please pray." Some do.

---

Amen, amen. Oh God, we know no things

that run or swim, or slide, or skip, or stand

or crawl, or move about, or glide on wings

can ever separate us from your hand

of love, because the whole bang lot depends,

the past, the present, and the  future too,

upon creative love of God who sends

out all existence, by his choosing to.

For he's who keeps alive, in his own self,

as one imagines things within one's mind.

And he's who understands sickness and health,

the source of Good, from whom it is defined.

And we as God's own children miss the face

of Father/Mother of all life that is,

as unborn babe when in it's hiding place,

within it's mother's self dain't feel her kiss.

So we rejoice that in these tri-als now,

along with all our fears, that wear us down,

we may recall you who is boss and "Wow!"

As we sit here "with you" we hardly frown.

And so we would remember, as you told

us to, when we share food and drink with those

who are our fam-i-ly, with faith that's bold,

who don't shrink back, but stand against their foes;

so we recall, our father, Jesus Christ!

It's you & he, we'll trust to so provide

our needs, down here in womb-world. This suffice;

untill we "see" you, on the other side.

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The intonation of Motivation

Some friends went on an adventure with God...

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Well off they went to seize the day up North,

to take an opportunity or two,

this couple were determined that  their worth

was not determined by what they could do,

but more by just responding to that love,

bestowed in wallops everywhere they went;

to be a kind of hose attached above,

to let that vast supply out where they're sent.

And thus the scent of Christ is spread on Earth,

where death, disease, corruption now abound,

and even in our bods, for what it's worth,

some of those stinky things can still be found.

For all of us on Earth now are still babes,

developing accordingly as things

go, for each babe is diff'rent and behaves,

& grows in diff'rent ways as their life brings

quite diff'rent opportunities and options,

yet many babies still grow up it seems,

become parents, or take on adoptions,

so somehow it can work, and life still teams!

But life that's "from above" is growing too,

and what a privilege to see it do

its magic in folk like ol' me, and you,

transforming mortal life to what goes through

the death of this mere mortal bag of bones, 

through willingly  embracing pain & death,

and following Yeshua as his own,

his spirit innervating ev'ry breath.

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The blessing of questing

A problem, or uneasiness arises. A doubt concerning how things are presently moving forward, or at least the way to move forward. The possibility of delusion, or gullibility, or simply a group of people being mistaken. Maybe an awareness of inconsistencies or irregularities. A fear that this whole system might not be whole, or complete, or universal... as it was previously taken to be. Maybe a sense of powerlessness. It gets to a point where things can't keep going on as they are with any sense of integrity.

A questor has been born, thrust, mostly, unwillingly, out from the protective bubble they have previously inhabited, into a larger, scarier world.

My prayer is: 

That this questor would be able to clarify "their problem" and in the process of digging around it and under it, in order to get to the bottom of it (as much as they can, given the constraints of human existence - dependency, time and ignorance, not to mention the added difficulties given to those of us in the West  of commodification & individuality  etc), find one day that the process of pursuing reality has done its work in them and they have grown

from 

• a less-examined, sub-culturally biased, individual belief - that holds to a closed set of doctrines, 

to 

• the increased maturity of an examined, honest, owned, open in a new way to the critique and counsel of others, kind of personal belief that holds to, no, more is carried by the living truth itself,

and the new way of living in the world that comes with that growth. (That's when the real fun ramps up)

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The way forward for one particular questor in question, appears presently to me to be:

• See the records as being trustworthy (enough) to be able to validly hear the claims and perceive the life and message of the man Jesus (dubbed the "Christ" by his followers), who lived 2000yrs ago, as a peasant carpenter in the days of the Roman Caesars Augustus & Tiberius.

• Work out whether they (the questor) will (start or continue to) follow this man, Jesus; as a way to fulfil their own purpose in being created by the Creator - the Most High God, and again claim Jesus as God's anointed Leader of Humanity (Christ), and set themselves to listen to any other ways of seeing and being in God's world, that Christ (in this new way of now knowing him and being known by him) might now ask them to take on. 

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