Pt. 5 (The Blood)
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Posted:Feb 5, 2008 11:54 am
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2008 7:38 am 2292 Views
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As I walked through the labyrinth of halls and rooms making up the Temple of God in Heaven...wandering this way and that...much as someone would walk through a museum...looking at this, and wondering at that. In some places there were recesses in the walls where something of a particular significance or interest was placed. Somehow I still get the impression that most of this was for my benefit specifically!?
It was in one such recess I saw what I thought to be an altar of some sort or fashion. A large rectangular box of gold (there is no brass in heaven...for brass represents humanity and/or the world...and Christ has overcome the world), with a semi-flat top and 4 posts protruding from the corners...but it was neither the gold nor the shape of this box that made it interesting. The altar and even the walls and floor around it were covered in...
blood!?
"OK...thats odd" I thought...what need does Heaven have of sacrifice and who's blood is this?
A voice from just behind me and to my left said (and remember I had only thought the question of who's blood it was), "It is the Blood of the Christ...the only Blood that has ever flowed here." It was a few minutes before I could answer...I mean its one thing to sit in church and hear of the sacrifice of Christ and His suffering...its one thing to sing songs about the Blood of the Savior...but, its quite another to come face-to-face with it, to see it, and yes, even smell it right in front of me!
I turned to acknowlege the voice from behind me (and to my left)and the only response I could muster was:
"Whoa...!"
What literally took the words out of my mouth was the body to which the voice belonged to. It was, as impossible as it is to imagine an...
Eagle
Well, it looked like an Eagle...sort of!? With a few exceptions...he stood upright and was nearly as tall as myself...of course he spoke English...and he had 6 wings.
The wings themselves were full of eyes. Yep, thats right, they were full of eyes...moving, blinking, pupils dilating and constricting eyes! When he would spread them out they looked to be at least as long as he was tall if not slightly moreso!
Yeah...you kind of see how that would make a fella "step back"! After a few seconds of "adjustment" I realized the rudeness of my reaction and said to him (the Eagle)
"Sorry dude (yeah...I called him dude, and he smiled at me I think its hard to tell with a beak...but is eyes (the ones on his head) seemed to turn up slightly as if one were smiling..."I just never seen anything like you spea...well, I just never seen anything like you period...much less speaking English!" And then the Eagle replied, "no sweat...I get alot of that from people".
He said the word "people" almost like one would speak of a species of some sort, and I found myself repying, "Yeah...I suppose you do." We stood there a few moments, sizing each other up...I knew I had alot of questions to ask him...and even felt like he had a few he would like to ask me...but I suppose we both thought better of it.
At that the Eagle motioned for me to follow him and in turning said, "Well c'mon then...lets do this ...time is short."
"Hmmmmm", I thought..."time is short?" That sounds ominous. And with that we stepped through into...
(to be continued)
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Pt. 4 (Holy... Holy... Hol...Whoa!?)
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Posted:Feb 1, 2008 4:34 am
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2008 7:38 am 2114 Views
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Fortunately, the stairs leading up to this building were designed for those of us not created to use the earth as a foot stool! And it was here that I noticed in detail how every step I took upon the "marble-ish" material reverberated and/or rippled; spreading out over and through everything...even the ground, the steps and the great building itself!
The odd thing about that (or is that "the odd thing about me"? ) was it reminded me of how every action or step we take in life carries a cause and effect in both how our lives play out AND how those steps or choices ring through eternity as well! No pressure though...well, except for that 15 Dr. Pepper feeling on my...ok, nevermind.
Another interesting thing I noticed was, that there were 2 entrances. One for the angels and other winged "creatures" and one for those of us who have to rely on using our feet to travel about.
The entrance above for our avian friends was busy with the traffic one would expect in a place...no...THE place that it is; angels and "creatures" coming and going at a hurried pace...about the Father's business. As I was looking up I was surprised to see some of if not most of them waving at me!? I never thought of that before...I mean the general perception of most people is that angels aren't exactly "bubbly" and "warm" personality types...but I'm glad I was wrong about that...cuz some of these folks were huge!! No...really huge!!!
Some are rather diminutive (cherubim perhaps?)...but most are not. Some are the size of men, some are much taller. They are all clean shaven and appear rather androgenous; which I suppose is accurate in a sense (what need do we have for gender specificy in Heaven; at least from a functional standpoint?).
Their eyes are beautiful, like marbles; swirling colors together and appearing every bit 3 dimentional in the depth of color. Their hair, regardless of color had a sheen like Satin and was soft like silk (Oh yeah, I touched it...what? like you wouldn't?! ). But, the most interesting aspect of these wonderful beings were of course...the wings.
I had read and been fascinated for a long time with Isaiah's description of the seraphim (Is. 6: 2). I had always wondered as to the functionality of 6 wings upon a creature? I mean we know as they worship they cover their faces and feet with two pair and fly with one. But what about away from the direct Presence of God?
To watch angels fly is to see a ballet or ice-skating performed in the air. The 3 pair of wings do not "flap" as a bird but move in tandem with long strokes, much like the action of a rowing team; pulling the wings back, streamlined; stroking themselves through air. It was apparent this increased and improved the aerodynamics of the angels. They were able to move in ways that other winged creatures could never move. Effortless and smooth, like...breath.
The wings themselves were a site to behold. The "feathers" as it were, glowed like the transparent skins of the bio-lumincent sea creatures of the deep oceans. The light seemed to pulse about and through the wings as if the wings themselves had their own heart!
It was all quite overwhelmingly...beautiful, stunning, gorgeous...even words such as these fall far short of any accurate description. And it was within that thought that I realized what the ripples within the paths and roads and steps and buildings...the pulse of the wings of the angels were. There is only one word that can describe what all of this looked like:
Agape
I had always wondered what that word meant in its fullness; what it encompassed. I always found myself frustrated with the over-simplified "God-type of love" definition. I mean...describe it...we really can't...there are no words that even approach what "God-type of love" is. We know it encompasses aspects of romantic love, parent/ love, etc....but yet, we know that it goes beyond even those wonderful types of love.
But, in Heaven we see it...in everything...undiluted; pure and clean...those things we cannot accurately express in words are seen as real and tangible manifestations in Heaven. Not so we may see a wonder or a neat parlor trick to the eyes...but that in seeing those things that we cannot explain or have no previous reference of experience...well...a picture paints a thousand words, as they say.
Maybe this why we only know in part now, but THEN we shall know as we are known? This is how we come to understand the ways and means of God and not just know.
Maybe this is why we watch a sunrise or a sunset...stop to see a rainbow for the thousandeth time, or look upon the blue upon blue of the sea, the greenest green of the forest, snowfalls, a glowing ember in a fireplace, someone's lips right before a kiss, a newborn ... and still stand in awe and silence; our breath slightly held in anticipation...or maybe it is in an attempt to prolong and stop or slow time in enjoying such a sight?
Maybe this is why Faith without works is dead? Unless we put some tangible action to Faith...it becomes only a word...hollow and empty...carrying neither definition or purpose. Actions may describe things in ways that mere words could never do. Like music
Music may go places in peoples lives and hearts that words, or sermons could ever do. It may plow the stoney earth of our hearts and prepare us for receiving the life changing seed of God's perfect love. Emotionalism? No...Experience.
Action breathes life into the shell of barely recognizable words...defining them in such a way as only words could never do. In such a place as this...where everything is perfect...not having the right or specifically accurate word is simply NOT possible. So we speak pictures...sing colors...and write paintings and sculptures. Knowing, speaking, singing and writing God's love...not just about it.
Agape. I get it now!
And as the postcards say:
"Wish you were here."
And with that I entered the Great Hall of the Temple.
(to be continued)
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Pt. 3? (The prequel)
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Posted:Jan 31, 2008 11:53 am
Last Updated:Feb 17, 2012 2:52 pm 2194 Views
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One morning as I went about my daily business (y'know, all that "much ado about nothing" stuff that seems to make up the greater part of any day)when all of a sudden I found my sight afixed upon a different scene (and place altogether)and to be perfectly honest, I had to laugh!
When I was a , my thoughts of what Heaven looked like were fluffy clouds, streets of gold and alot of Greek style architecture! You know...a very simplistic reasoning goes into forming that picture in a 's eye. I suppose if most men were polled now what they thought Heaven would look like they might say it was full of flat screen TV's and Lazy Boy recliners!? Again, perception rules the day...or would that be rules a particular time in our lives?!
I know...I know...shut-up already and tell us what you saw! Well...at first it was...and I you not, fluffy clouds, streets of gold and Greek style architecture! WOW! I've wandered into a White Cloud toilet paper commercial huh?!
OK...calm down...I know you were expecting more from this post...and hang in there...there is more to it. Sometimes though...we have to start out kind of slow until the mind of our natural body can catch up with our spirtual vision!
Finally, after walking a ways...the streets of gold AND the fluffy clouds gave way to rolling hiils of grass and flowers along with streets and paths of a white type of marble. But it seemed luminous; the veins of black and grey and even light green that are common to white marble were shimmering and even moving like ripples on a pond.
Its surface almost irredescent with secondary colors of pinks and blues; depending of course upon an individuals perspective in relation to a particular spot and the Light.
Now notice I said Light and not light...thats important...because I don't recall ever seeing the Sun there. But, I suppose God being who He is and all...and Heaven being where it is (and all) the Sun is a rather redundant light source anyway!?
Sooo, there weren't any people milling about which made me wonder if it were a "government" holiday or something (now before you go thinking I'm being disrespectful...its not intentional...thats just the way I think...and its my story...so don't go getting all moist on me about it, ok? )...again being where I was...I'm sure they celebrate Christmas and Easter...but...I would suspect that the whole point of Heaven is celebrating Christmas and Easter everyday (or at least what those holidays SHOULD be about).
"I don't know" I thought..."maybe I am the only one called to this meeting?" Hmmmm...okay, I'm really torn at this point on what to think: on the one hand I should be really excited if God wanted to have a one-on-one with me in the "Big Room"...of course I kind of had this knot in my stomach like I used to get when I had to go to the Principal's office (and believe me no matter how old you get...you NEVER forget what that feels like...of course that could just be me too...I had many occasions to experience that feeling growing up!? But thats another tale...and thankfully another life! ).
Which directly led to my next thought...do they have bathrooms in Heaven (do they even need them? )?...well, whether they need 'em or not...I...uhhhmmm...do...need one...a bathroom that is. See, cuz I'm kind of nervous...I mean He and I, we talk all the time...and thats one thing...and its good and all...but this?! This is the rarified air where only a few get to tread while still a living creature of this "other" world. I mean...how do I address Him?
God? Seems rather formal considering we've known each other for so long.
Yahweh? Even the Hewbrews aren't allowed to call Him that! That probably...check that...thats most definitely a NO!
Pops? I immediately get a picture in my mind of Uzzah; and even while still wondering exactly what a breach is...it doesn't sound very nice or comfortable...sooo no to Pops.
Daddy? Starting to feel a little better, but I have to admit to having some apprehension still.
Father? BINGO! Stick with Father...its How Christ himself refers Him...yeah stick with that unless He specifically tells you to call Him something else. Hey, it worked for Moses and Jesus (to name 2)...ok now thats decided.
But, that leads to a whole other category of questions about ettiquette and all (do you bow, should you look Him face on, etc, etc.)and I finally decide that IF I believe those things I teach...then when I face Him...If I need to bow...I'll already be bowing...and if I look at Him face on and I die...I'm already here...soooo, thats all good too.
If you can't tell by now...yeah I'm a little nervous. I even had the random thought that I wished I knew I was coming as I would have dressed nicer (Oh yeah...righteousness, filthy rags and all that...check that)...boy where is that bathroom?
Maybe they'll have a robe I can change into (that would be nice).
Well, about that time the largest building I had ever seen came into view! No...I mean bigger than that. No...I mean whatever you can imagine...its bigger than that
Pyramids - Bigger than that
Roman Coliseum - Nope, bigger than that
Great Wall of China - Nope, even bigger than that
The Columns on the front of this building were hundreds of feet around in diameter (yes, thats hundreds with an s...meaning multiple hundreds). And they were made of the same material as the roads and paths leading to it. As a matter-of-fact, almost everything seemed to be made of this same shimmering, irredescent, white marble that seems to ripple and move.
The height of the building was taller than any mountain I had ever seen...at best guess I would say it would have been measured in the tens of thousands of feet! Yeah, so this is where God dwells...and if He don't live here I don't want to meet the owner.
OK, that does it...I feel like Forrest Gump after those 15 Dr. Pepper's...where is that bathroom?
(to be continued)
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Pt. 2.5 (Before We Continue)
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Posted:Jan 28, 2008 4:52 am
Last Updated:Mar 6, 2008 6:40 am 1869 Views
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I wanted to share a little information with you before we continue on in this "series". We'll start with a bit of Scripture and then the "discussion" part.
...And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle: and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
One woe is past; and behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God.
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet. Loose the four angels which are bound in the river Euphrates. Revelation 9: 7-14
Now, in sharing this with you I would like to say...I'm not saying this is factual (though I believe it to be)but I find the "coicindence" interesting.
In the southern part of Iraq, near the Kuwaiti border...in the area around where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers merge as they empty into the Persian Gulf, there is an island which is named in the Arabic "Abadan"...which sounds like and is spelled similarly to Abaddon.
Now before you go saying thats a reach let me say there are many words in both Arabic and Hebrew which have similar meanings and only slightly different spellings. One such word is the Arabic word "Allah" which is obviously the name of the Islamic god.
In Hebrew there is a form of the name God (and even the generic term for other [peoples] gods) which is a variation of the root word El (or part of the more widely known Elohim) called Elah. Similar but obviosly NOT the same.
I simply find it interesting that the angel of the bottomless pit has a name in Hebrew that is the same as an island found within the Euphrates River, which is the very next place mentioned in Scripture after the appearance Abaddon!?
Furthermore, it says earlier in Revelation Chapter 9, that black smoke issues out of the pit where the locusts originate. If one were to head slightly southeast from the location of "Abadan" we would find the Kuwaiti border where the oilfields were set afire when Iraq invaded Kuwait in the early 1990's (not that I'm saying that incident coincides with the actions of Revelation 9...just an interesting observation or maybe even a parallel?).
OK...just a little something to think about!?
(to be continued)
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Pt.2 (Take The Pain)
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Posted:Jan 25, 2008 8:17 pm
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2008 7:40 am 1800 Views
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Now, you would think (in this instance)that when the sun blew out, everything would be dark...but you would be wrong. Oh, don't misunderstand ..the shadows grew long and every dark corner seemed to move with the volition of life that desire's an existance outside the sight of God!
But, it was quite easy to see, though everything appeared awash in some weird amber/red light!? The last gust of wind before it all stopped was hot and acrid...sounding like the dry wheeze of the dying and smelling like it too!
I saw what appeared to be a comet streak silver/white across the sky and several seconds later I felt it strike the earth. Then the second silver/white streak went across the sky in another direction...again followed by another shutter. Both times I felt what went into the earth was filling the void left by the exit of the Bride...but whatever replaced it was wrong; twisted and iniquitous. I could sense that everything and everyone was being corrupted by whatever was striking the earth.
When the third streak came, followed by yet another shutter..the earth itself seemed to groan in protest, and that very instance the grass of the field turned brown and died, and the all trees shed their leaves and dried up following suit.
And then the fourth such comet shot across the sky...and again the earth shuttered and seemed to recoil from its embrace. The shadows grew longer and darker as if reaching out to shroud and extinguish life itself...all life.
Again the birds fell from the sky, but this time they did not rise again...they died before they ever hit the ground! Animals simply keeled over in mid step to never move again. And people as well...cries of discovery and lament ringing out from all sides sporadically. The only thing that did not seem adversely affected by all of this...were the flys.
Like giant masses of moving, living black shadows they descended onto the earth...grim work that. But, somebody or something always gains from misfortune...and the flys had won the lottery!
Oh yeah...things had gone bad pretty quickly and I knew that somewhere on the other side of the planet something worse had been waiting to crawl out of the pit it had been chained to since ol' Lou and his third got kicked out of Heaven back around the time between Genesis 1: 1 and 1: 2.
So, everything that had already died had been blessed to do so. It had been sudden and quick...there would be no such mercy for those who would suffer what came next!
(to be continued)
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Part 1 (Of Alice and Chasing Rabbits...)
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Posted:Jan 25, 2008 12:07 pm
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2008 7:40 am 2004 Views
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And there...I find myself standing in a field of no particular importance or significance. It looks pretty much like a field anywhere in the world I imagine...weeds and scrub; some as tall as waist high...but being as short as I am thats not alot either...
A rather flat peice of ground...relatively speaking. Flat, that is to say until a nice deluge came and then I would imagine we would see a pretty significant tilt...probably toward the closest water source.
If I were standing at the edge of the forest, some 100 yards away...I might call it a clearing...but since I am standing in the middle of it...I don't really see it as being all that clear! But that is the way of perception isn't it? It kind of depends on where your standing as to what something is.
One of the first things to jump out at me is the smell. Somewhere just beneath surface odor of wild onions and clover; dandelions and honey suckle is that sickly sweet smell we usually associate with when an animal crawls beneath the house and meets his demise. Some 2-3 months afterward most of us begin a forced fast until we get the lyme and courage to follow beneath the house and see if we can find what is left!
But today it does not seem to be coming from any particular place nearby...it seems to be coming from everywhere. My first, immediate and most pressing thought is, "the earth itself is dying"...?!
Now before you go thinking I'm one of those tree-huggers...I'm not! I'm a chemist...almost everything I work with is at the least a cancer causing agent...80% of which are actively adverse to the ozone layer. I'm not proud of it...but its a job...if you don't work...you don't eat...so...?
So thinking of the good 'ol ozone layer, I look up to see the sky and thats when this little trip took a detour down Alice's rabbit hole!
Many times I've read as I'm sure many of you have about the "Trump of God" and no I don't mean Donald!? The Old Testament speaks of God descending with the sound of a trumpet...the New Testament refers to it in announcing significant actions pertaining to the culmination of all things...The one thing I had never done (at least to that point)was give consideration to what a horn like that must sound like...and why even God's own chosen people lived in abject fear of the sound of His coming?!
There was a sound like the bellowing of an elephant...well, it sounded like an elephant IF that elephant were the size of say...Nebraska!!! The sound was so loud, the ground reverberated and shook like an earthquake from it. Birds were literally knocked from the sky...almost pressed to the ground from the shockwave. I could see the scrubgrass and the weeds bent to the ground as if by a wind.
In my sight my vision shook as if I were standing atop one of those "shakers" that mix paint at the hardwear store. I became dizzy and felt my knees go out from under me...even with my hands pressed to the sides of head I thought my eardrums would explode. Water literaly jumped out of my eyes, and then I began to cry freely as I realized; through no conscious choice of my own, I lay upon the ground; hands raised (though to the sides of my head) in a position of both submission and worship!
I also recall thinking at that moment...well, several things:
*There was no doubt what that was and more importantly WHO that was/is.
*Its no wonder Israel was so afraid of God coming down upon the mountain...I thought if the sound had lasted even one more second it would have killed me!
*I was accutely aware of the Presence of God and His proximity to me...and like Isaiah...I became very self-conscious of my righteousness (and lack thereof) before God! Had there been a bucket of burning embers near me at that moment I felt I would have jumped into them and bathed if I thought it would have made me better in His sight.
You know...we throw words and phrases like "Presence", "righeousness", "Fear of the Lord", and my personal favorite, "I can feel the Spirit of God in this place"! Let me share a little something with you:
If you really felt the Spirit of God somwhere..you would not be able to speak, much less to do some sort of amateur color commentary about what He's going to do for you and you and them...we've been playing church so long...we really think its OK to get by with a wink and a smile...and promise everyone God's here to bless them today,but let me tell you...that junk might work at your church on Sunday morning...but God is neither amused nor is He winking!
Your flesh will fall down and weep...you will repent...not just of things you've done or thought...you will repent of being at all...there will be no happy dancing, pentecostal helicopter spinning, raising your hands to the refrain of Darlene Zchetzche singing "Shout To The Lord", no "Amen's" or "Hallelujah's"...only "I die daily" and gladly!!!
As the noise of the Trumpet subsided I looked up again to the sky (perhaps sensing what was next)to witness points of light (how many I could not say) speeding forth to meet...and there He was!
I could not see His face...but I don't know of anyone else that goes skipping across the Eastern sky like a stroll in the park! I always thought Christ would receive them like friends at a party...handshaking and back slapping...a joyous, and well, rather male type of greeting. And I couldn't have been more wrong!
Those points of light went straight into His chest and His whole body lit up like a candle (even moreso than it was before they did)and without a sound He seemed to explode into a corona of light right in front of me! As the light began to subside this is what I saw:
There in the arms of the King of Kings was His Bride; shining like light and gold! He held her in His arms like a lover returned from a long trip. His hand went up and stroked the side of Her cheek with back of His hand and their eyes were locked together like they were taking their vows. I was embarrassed and felt intrusive to be witness to it...but couldn't take my eyes off of it!
Then He turned and His back faced the earth they were both gone...quick as that! They were there one minute and the next it was like they had never been there. One of things I noticed as those points of light left the earth was, I can feel the virtue running out of the planet!
And then the sun went black like someone had blown out a candle in the sky...
(to be continued)
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Confession And Qualification
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Posted:Jan 25, 2008 4:05 am
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2008 7:42 am 2253 Views
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Ooooo...OK...I don't really like this part...its awkward at best...and usually something less so than that!?
My paternal grandmother, a true Saint of the Most High used to have visions...well, let me rephrase that...she was Methodist and Methodists DON'T have visions...they dream. So if she spoke of, "having a dream the other day" it was a vision, as she never, ever took a nap during the day!
And it was certainly not something she was given to advertise or promote in any way!!! Why is that you ask?! People as a whole are not usually very tolerating; much less accepting of those who have seen into eternity(by God)! People tend to look at that sort of thing with a...well...sceptical eye, and/or as if such a gifting were like being in charge of the remote control on your TV...which is to say, that they usually don't like the programming thats on at a particular time and think it is an easy thing to simply "switch" channels?!
Now in a perfect world there should NOT be a distinction of this "gift" to any particular gender...but one usually associates it with women. I suppose it is easier to rationalize such a thing (and therefore dismiss it...or at least explain it)as the "overly-emotional" state or "sensitivity" that comes with being a member of the "weaker gender"?!
ROFL
Sorry, my father used to say that...and both my grandfathers...and alot of my uncles...do you notice a trend here? Nothing in my experience even remotely suggests "weakness" when describing women! That is a myth propagated for men's benefit to pacify our ego...trust me...I grew up in a house with 4 women and no consistant male figure present...she (any woman) is more than capable of opening the lid on the pickle jar...they just ask us to do it so we can feel necessary and important!
Anyway, back to visions...I said all that to say...sometimes God shows me things. Like my grandmother, I don't talk about it alot...sometimes because God is only showing me...most of the time...well, as I said...people would prefer if I would just change the channel!? Yeah, well...just so you know....me too!
Sooo...I see you thinking out there and your wondering how I know the difference between a vision and a late-night-pizza induced dream?! good question there sport-o...and I'll be happy to answer that one for you.
Its really quite simple...when I dream its usually like watching a movie with the sound turned down...my perception of the action and any motivation involved therein is...as I said "perceived" on my part. There is no conversation to understand the why of anything taking place. Likewise, there is no conscious manipulation of events (you cannot think to turn your head away, look over your shoulder in response, smell, touch, taste or hear anything)...it is exactly like watching a movie...it is not interactive in any way, shape, or form!
A vision however is completely interactive: I have smelled sweat tinged with the spices used in cooking for particular cultures...I feel heat, cold, pain...the wind blowing and its direction, what time of year it is and what area of the world (even the ones I haven't visited in the natural), the time of day by the shadow cast upon the ground, etc.
I have tasted food, blood (don't ask), salt water from the ocean. I have heard someone gritting their teeth standing next to me in a vision...I could see skin "goose bump" reacting to a cool breeze...bad breath, varicose veins, cuts, scars, burns, etc.
And the conversations! I hear people speak in their native languages and understand them in English...I have answered them thinking in English and what came from my mouth was the language they were speaking! A few of the phrases I remember from visions...I looked up and got the meaning correct and I have never studied any language other than English (and by reading my blog..you can see that my studies of English were casual at best!).
I say all that to explain...I wish I didn't "see" the things I see...they usually are not pleasant...and are never received pleasantly. I am thankful in that I have learned alot about who I am and who God desires me to be (and the difference between the 2)...in alot of ways visions have cost me 2 marriages and many relationships with friends and family. But my "deal" with God as it were, has always been if He will tell me or show me what He wants me to say or do...I'll do it (and boy...don't I wish I had never made that vow [like He wouldn't expect me to anyway!?]).
I need to say all that to preface that I have something to share that God showed me. I don't expect you to agree (or even understand it)...sometimes actions take place out of context within a vision and sometimes I may see alagory as real action. Now whether you agree with me or not is your choice...and thats fine...but please don't argue Scripture with me or try to convince me that I have not experienced what I share. A person with an experience is NEVER at the mercy of anyone who ONLY HAS AN ARGUMENT!!!
And that is as nice as I am going to say that...we do not have a debate...and I am not asking you to "enlighten" me and explain to me how those sorts of giftings were only for the first century church and no longer happen today! I am sure that lets you sleep better at night...but save it...skip over the next several posts as your not going to get it or understand it...and we certainly are not going to agree on it...OK?
And for the rest of you who are a little more open to the possibilty...hold on to your hat Myrtle...we're taking a trip to the end of the Book!
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One Winter Morning (Pt.2)
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Posted:Jan 24, 2008 11:23 am
Last Updated:Mar 6, 2008 6:45 am 2064 Views
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Father. Strange word that!? Spoken, read or even thought, it carries with it the common-ess of a word like "love". Words that are too often used too vaguely to describe something that is so much more significant and wonderful!
So much so that what we end up with is an impression and an experience that falls quite a bit short of what it should be. Defining not only what we expect of a father (or love, or...?), but limiting what it could be AND even limiting how we view our Heavenly Father.
"Sure it does", I think as I draw in the next crisp frigid breath! There are aspects of my fathers personality that have left me with such a negative impression of the word father...I sometimes feel as if I'm cursing God by calling Him Father!?
"Hey...and hows that for laying ALL my junk down at the alter" ...I speak to no one apparent in this world...but expecting an answer all the same from the world to come. The answer is forthcoming and immediate as what would appear to the unaware and unsaved as a random thought...but I've learned to know better than that.
"Well then, it is a good thing that it is more important your hearts intent than the use of vocabulary basedon your experience alone." Very well indeed I chuckle beneath my next exhalation; steam forming some sort of personal Shekinah in front of my face. Its funny how the temprature (or lack thereof) seems irrelevant when the Presence is near!?
But, back to my "prayer" as it were...one would think a person in my "position" would pray something much more eloquaint, yet Father is the only formal word used thus far...the rest has been response. We often forget such things as that come Sunday morning...when it becomes more important to pray many words; large expensive sounding to impress the other Pharisees and Jones'. To be seen being holy and pious without really being either.
Father...a one word prayer...at least so far. But what more really needs to be said? A recognition of who He is in relation to myself and then as it should be I step back and shut-up.
Why?
Because when I really come to this place of honesty and brokeness...I've usually said too much already...and I haven't come here to hear me...I hear me all the time...and I'm not that impressed. I am recognizing God for who He is...and by shutting up, I'm recognizing who I am in relation to that...
I've come to listen today, not to talk.
Sometimes I wonder if, when He thinks of me, He sees me with palms up and shrugging..."Oooops...looks like I did it again Lord?!" Probably, I think thats my usual posture when approaching Him.
And maybe its just me, but as soon as I think this I imagine He nods knowingly in agreement and maybe laughs just a little bit?!
The second image of seeing myself in the Spirit is that ever popular stance we take when we step in "it"! One arm propped over against a wall or a tree or a car; that one transgressing foot pulled over to the side about knee high so that we may visually confirm what smell and tactile sensation have already suggested..."is that...Oh man!"
Great. I think I have officially announced my candidacy to be the court jester to Heaven. Though on the positive side I just may be the only candidate who realizes he's not running uncontested!?
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One Winter Morning (Pt.1)
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Posted:Jan 15, 2008 3:59 am
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2008 7:43 am 1991 Views
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It seems there is never a more opportune time to commune with God than those most quiet moments found at dawn. That time when the first rays of sunlight are far flung across the sky like hope. Sometimes it appears as if He has dipped the clouds themselves in the colors of the rainbow and skipped them like stones across the surface of a sky-wide pond. Truly, Joy has, once again come with the morning.
Some days I think that perhaps perception is heightened by such times and events as this...or maybe it is the proximity to which I draw closer to Him by the honesty found in a new day unfettered by the troubles and obligations that seem to mount with each passing moment of our everyday lives.
That despite the sleep still in my eyes, I see much clearer or even with that -like innocense that reminds us of the adventure of a life to be lived and the zeal within our Spirit to experience such...even if and when the bodies of our middle age have conspired; by their groaning and creakings, poppings and stiffness, loudly protesting any such physical tasking!
But, it is the experience of such middle age that states matter-of-factly that adventures as could never even be perceived in this world are best lived out within the spiritual one...somewhere just beyond this moment...in a place beyond even time itself; shimmering just below the surface of that sky/pond that I stand gazing at this very moment!
As I take in another sip of Jasmine tea...I never been much of a coffee drinker...I adore the smell of coffee mind you...but something about tea, in the morning, that to me tastes a little more clean; a little less harsh. Delicate. Yeah, thats the word...just like this time of fellowship...delicate.
Like a first kiss...not to be confused with the kiss of passion...given bluntly; rushed and awkward in the anticipation of rewards yet to come, but hoped for. Nor, is it the kiss of familiarity...given with the all commonality and callousness that comes with the years and experiences of disappointments and regrets: embodying every unspoken and unforgiven act that we hold silently within our hearts against those we love...though love conditionally still.
But that first kiss...a kiss given and sought with all the anticipation of a on Christmas morning as they round the last corner before taking in the full view of what has been left beneath the tree while they slept. That good and unfamiliar feeling of hoping that Santa himself might still be there, and that anxiety if in fact he is...!?
That light, tip-toe; a gentle autumn breeze against the cheek type of kiss...which is a sharp contrast to the bite of the chill winter air I feel at this moment. I know, even without seeing it...the type of cold air rush that makes the cheeks flush (or is it chap?), every inhalation feeling like the sharp crack of a dry twig or leaf found upon the ground this season.
There is now just enough light to highlight the sparkle of frost upon the ground; like a million stars scattered upon the earth within my backyard. I smile inwardly at myself...once again it seems that all the morning stars are gathered here together to sing...maybe thats my vanity...but, I try to rationalize it by saying; if only to myself (convincingly?), "they are here for Him...I am only fortunate enough to be a witness to it."
Maybe it seems like rambling to go on and on like this?! I'm not sure, but it seems very important to notice the details...to take in and attempt to articulate every one...every single nuance. How we start our day dictates the course and shape the day to come will follow...it seems equally important (at least)in attempting to recall as much of the details in meeting Him this morning as well!?
Perhaps it is within those details I might find the strength and the courage to persevere; to carry on; to endure the more troubling or trying moments of the day ahead. And maybe that is exactly the point!? Instead of asking for those things which I SHOULD know that He has already provided for me...maybe I should have taken the time to notice the details of our meeting; how much detail and intricacy has been laid out and planned for this very meeting this morning?!
Too often it seems I take that for granted in my quest to be about His business...I have been found way too busy to notice such details. Even Moses had to take the time to be "turned aside" from the busy-ness of his day to see a burning bush! Never be so busy as to miss opportunity, I remind myself.
It is only then I begin to pray.
"Father..."
(to be continued)
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BACK IN THE SADDLE!
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Posted:Jan 14, 2008 3:18 am
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2008 7:44 am 2008 Views
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Thanks to everyone for all your prayers while I've been down with the flu! While not 100% yet, I'm at least back at work now.
Oh, and btw...that means posts are not too far behind! LOL
blessings,
-kel
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