handling biting things

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The handle-ing  of serpents, scorpions - 

and other biting animals (or plants)?.

A thing Yeshua knew, passed to scions,

expecting them to learn to do, perchance

that things like that might still be round down here,

(unlike New Zealand, where none now exist),

and most of the world-over they appear.

To learn from him, I'd like to now enlist.

That epic super pow-er, not for ā

retaliation, or defensiveness,

but to absorb each hurtful, harmful ray

and thus to grow more able, so to bless.

I see I have to keep out of their reach,

unless creative love would throw me in

to test me, to do battle, or to teach

whoever would be learning or looking.

And then, I don't pretend to know outcomes,

except that these will not be harming me;

it's true that they might hurt, or kill, or some

such torture that might not feel comforting.

But in the end, or at the finish line,

that leads into the start of all the rest,

Yeshua showed us some of that sublime

joy that was his, when he had passed the test,

I full expect that, since I trust his word,

each jibe or hurtful bite that comes my way,

will be a part of discipline occurred

for growing me up. That's all I can say.

---

See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Luke 10:19

And in an early addition to Mark, the Christian tradition added various texts to complete what seemed to some to be a missing ending. One edition includes the following:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  Mk 16:17‭-‬18

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Manifesto of "ME"...

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All rights to myself, 

my comfort and will

being achieved, 

I relinquish.

My hopes and desīr's, 

my plans to now build,

as commonly thought 

of, my wishes,

my prairs, & my paths, 

my ladders, and laughs,

I'll own that they're mine, 

& then bin them.

Not all they're cracked up 

to be, not by half;

& my central trust 

won't be in them.

Creative Love chose, 

no-one to impose, 

a child with its smell, 

with that careful 

attention to detail, 

that, where it goes,

shows off that it's well, 

& it's playful -

not really "payful" 

it doesn't wage war,

but gifts us its 

blessings around.

I now change economies. 

What were they for?

- But working to-

gether, "un"-bound?

---

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mk 8:34‭-‬38

Now to one who works (in this economy), wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. Rom 4:4 … For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Lk 12:32‭-‬34

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Easter ...

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28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mk 8:34

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Lk 9:23

..looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2

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Well have you found much ease ta come when you

would open up to those around about,

and yet be unashamed because they knew

you deeper than your past days as a lout?

The ease ta come about when people are 

in right relationship with all, as much

as they can, given what's in their pow-a,

is quite amazing. Nothing else is such!

And have you ever stood at ease ta be

obedient to what you're told to do,

but had your ease eroded - you could see

much further than the ones right over you?

And have you ever felt the ease ta be

much deeper when authority was good

and when who was in charge, responsibly

learned from mistakes, and bore what blame they could.

Well I have found much ease ta come when I 

allowed a friend, when I was weak, to lead

me where I was too scared to go, or shy,

yet I could then do all I truly need-

ed to do, take my med'cine as I should.

That's specially when I found it difficult.

The ease ta come from friendship is quite good.

And when he offered peace, it was like salt:

pure and tasty, stopping what's corrupt,

by being just the very thing it is.

Not bending to the powers that erupt.

The Easter man comes so we share in his.

---

mind full, next .. ?

 

---

Help me, please God, to show in actions more,

and first, before I speak (express in words),

your truth and life, and loveliness. To score

a shot with goal that's kicked, then as we've heard,

the speaker then announces to who watch -

the soccer, football, netball, polo.. game,

the score as things occur within that match.

Please help me now, my praxis to reframe.

And see my interactions more as games,

less serious, and more at home, with fun.

To set my mind to "score" the goals he came

to score, of love, to serve, not ev'ry one -

just those whom God his Father sent him to,

(and those who had been sent to him as well)

the act-u-al, & concrete folk, he blew

his nose in front of, and whose noses tell

the people to whom they belong what kind

of life is being lived in front of them.

Somehow a thing as difficult to find

as smell is, without being there - and then,

quite close, and near, while breathing the same air,

must also then be taken to account.

And since my breath has often (what I dare

to think of as,) a dragon-like effect,

I think these hints designed - to help neglect

my words, in favour of acts which respect

the images of God (some derelick),

right here in front of me - to resurrect.

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For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench that kills; but for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that brings life. Who, then, is capable for such a task?

2 Corinthians 2:16

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before whom I bow (ultimately)

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The people that I see around might be

quite immature & really quite unlike

you, still I look to them as though all we

are perfect likenesses. No fractures, spikes,

or difficulties there. An image bright.

A photo, or reflection, "good as gold".

Then I recall your word, as well I might;

"the image & the likeness..", we are told,

of the Creative Love appeared on Earth,

when the first man and woman got to be,

just baby gods, but perfect in their mirth

and love between themselves - and what was seen.

So, part of me has not recalled the step

to self-determination which soon shook

the world, and God's own heart - & how "he wept",

how grief had cut his heart..  when we had looked

to "other gods" than him, to model health.

What some have called the Fall, or Jump - we made,

so choosing other ancestors ourselves

to grow up like - trumps: Diamonds, Clubs, or Spades;

the Ace and faces of the Hearts de-grade.

And yet our game, it turns out, is more like

a game of old "King Mao", where rules are made

by someone, not ourselves. The "COVID spike"

then brings its consequences to God's world.

This is the world where I live, here, right now.

A king who is much better, though he's curled

within each self, when we become a bower.

---

• Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth." God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them. Gen 1:26-27

• The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Gen 6:5‭-‬6 

• It is dangerous to be concerned with what other people think of you, but if you trust in the Lord you are safe. 

Prov 29:25 (Biblia)

• so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.

Col 1:10‭-‬23 NRSV-CI

• My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Galatians 4:19

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covered! with COVID..

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Oh God, you are our Father, we're your kids;

So that makes us all in your fam-il-y.

We ask for your dear daughter's billy lids

and she herself with COVID, spec-ial-ly.. 

for she herself who's solo parent-ing,

in iso, for the whole next 7 days

and caring for the boys while sick! Poor thing. 

We ask that Baby has good sleep in ways

that may not be apparent to our eyes,

so that his mother can recover too..

and rest herself in your arms, not despise

your help, but keep on staying close to you.

And please use us, and fam'ly members where

you have your children near her, even there,

to be your hands and feet, and smile, to share

the burden, as you have helped us to bear.

Amen.

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Focus with folk

---

“You are the salt of the earth; …

“You are the light of the world. … 

"Do not be afraid, little flock …"

---

Oh God, you make me glad to've had my birth.

You oversee and help these good folk to

continue on, to be salt of the Earth,

& light within this world. That's what they do.

And you must always be thinking beyond,

and further than this life's biology,

I've heard that you are really very fond

of ev'ry child that's born. So, even me!

Which I would straight dispel, excepting for

the fact that I have loved each of my kids,

and know that your love is, well .. "How much more..?"

So, here I am. One of your billy lids.

So glad my Dad's the Source (Creative Love),

of, not just concepts, personality!

So when connected to who's "from above",

a "person" is what I then start to be.

For human persons grow here - tender shoots,

both immature & incomplete, and fēt-

al; if they're disconnected from their roots,

their personhood will fail, they start to bleat..

All as a kid, not as a lamb to ram -

where there is such a thing as "ou-r flock"

that works to gather - not to split or jam,

to get where it wants to, as goat on rock.

And all the savoury tastes & smells, that float

around within our atmosphere are sourced,

as are the beams of light, which like a boat

help us to stand above, not fall through flaws.

---

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: …

… (the blessings of God's reign, and the functioning of this alternative view of God's world)

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 

- Jesus (Mt 5:1,13‭-‬16)

Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, …

 (about hypocrisy, fear, the spoken word, desire, allegiance, grace (that is "How much more"), effort, worry, focus, and acceptance)

…  strive for his reign, and these things (what the nations spend all their time striving for -  food, drink, & shelter) will be given to you as well. 

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you his reign. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

- Jesus  (Lk 12:1‭-‬2‭, ‬31‭-‬34 )

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. …

(e.g.)      

• Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables.

Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own Lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. …

• Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 

… Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. …

Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. 

• I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval.

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. 

Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.

The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Rom 14:1‭-‬10‭, ‬13‭-‬23

(italics in brackets above, added by me as a summary of topics covered, or to give the sense from the larger unquoted context)

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Oh God. My/Your woman's bleeding..

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Oh God! Your beautiful young daughter's here

(though she is also given me as wife),

in pain, discomfort, more grit than good cheer,

but still determined to share your good life

with all you've sent her to, and sent to her,

while learning from yourself just how to love,

by asking questions, listening to murmured

responses, words, and thinkings. Not to shove

her oar in, so to turn the boat to make

it go in what directions she might hope

it would then turn, so that she might not take

a course that makes her worry or not cope.

She's setting herself bit by bit to be

(I think, as I look on, from outside in),

a daughter who has caught a totally

fresh insight, and would boldly trust, not "bin"

the rubbish all about, reactively,

but follow where you are, and touch your hem,

believing that the good is so lovely,

and understands much more than we all can;

and knowing in her self, that she could cry

and sob herself awake or sleep at night,

and no tear would be lost, or any sigh,

because you understand more than we might.

So for this girl, I ask your interven-

-tion, so that her life might be even more

dependant on the source of life inten-

-ded. So you suffer with her, to ensure.

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• Katrina means “pure” (from ancient Greek “katharós/κᾰθᾰρός”), “each of the two” (from ancient Greek “hekáteros/ἑκᾰ́τερος”), “one hundred” (from ancient Greek “hekatón/ἑκᾰτόν”), “far away” (from ancient Greek “hekás/ἑκᾰ́ς”), but as well “torture” (from ancient Greek “aikíā/αἰκῐ́ᾱ”). (https://charlies-names.com/en/katrina/)

• In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.  Heb 5:7‭-‬10 NRSV-CI

• For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 1 Pet 2:19‭-‬23 NRSV-CI

• Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God. 1 Pet 4:1‭-‬2 NRSV-CI

• The story in Mark (end of chapter 5, and end of chapter 6) of the woman with the continuous bleed that suffered for 12 years, but somehow got to lead all of God's people (12 tribes?) in understanding the nature and identity of the Messiah, and who led her village and maybe the whole of Galilee to recognize Yeshua as more than just a prophet sent from God, but as God's Messiach.

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