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Liquefied, Liquidated, Liberated!

September 2, 2011

Liquified, Liquidated, Liberated!
We have just passed into the threshold so many are seeking: liberated in the sale of a home in this economy! It did not happen overnight, and up until yesterday double issues, double bills were tying us to two states, two towns, two locations.

This layering off is good, a rightness to the soul. In a few short hours, clarity and focus for new life in VA was sharpening. Praise music in the background was adhering. It was good, a rightness to the soul.

“Therefore stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free; and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal 5:1) When the difference between liberty and bondage is so clear, who would want to be shackled again?

The physical states of matter come into play with being liberated of chains in ourselves to this earth. Paul no longer saw himself in a solid state: “I am already being poured out as an offering…” (2 Tim 4:6). Suffering and relinquishing our rights to life leads to this: “I am poured out like water; and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is melted like wax; it has melted within Me” (Ps 22:14). Pouring can be absorbed by others. Without pouring we would not have known the beauty of pourings: the woman’s flask of perfume over the head of Jesus (Mt 26:7; Mk 14:3), the pouring of the blood of Jesus, the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17, 18, 33; Titus 3:6).

More than we know, we all have encumbrances from desired liberty. James 5 warns us ”above all” to resist oaths, and think of the 100’s of documents in files that bear our dated signatures!!

We cannot be relinquished of these encumbrances overnight, but it is a worthy pursuit. Let us seek the simplicity of a life that can become a life poured out.

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The Other World Shouting In (from the coffee table)

August 30, 2011

A  few and growing number of courageous teachers in our land have arisen against the tide and are indicting the whole realm of the American Church. In short: Run, for your clothes are on fire!!

If this is so, why is the malaise so strong? Even while it is evident that birth pangs are growing closer and closer and intensified, dullness seems to rest upon us. It can be felt in the pews, our handling of life decisions, or our filling hours with occupancy of entertainment.

I have wondered and sought continually for months: if indeed the other side of eternity, separating us by only a thin veneer of death, is crying out to us, why can’t we hear it?

Nothing shakes us or phases us for long: sin, scandals, tumults, storms…

One day an answer came to me! It was the answer of Abraham to the rich man. Like the rich man, we would plead for a visitation from the other world!! Surely that would warn us and turn us totally!

Through the lips of Jesus, Abraham states something incredulous: In the eyes of God we have ENOUGH. “They have Moses and the Prophets: they must respond to them.” (Luke 16: 29). We have the Law and Prophets (and MORE) bound in a book on our coffee table or shelf. It’s there and God knows it is there for us…the obscure passages in Amos, Ezekiel, Isaiah and Revelation – the ones that are hard for us. Because they paint a picture we do not like, we have to strive to them and work at such thoughts. But these are indeed the SHOUT from the other world. And those in that other world wish, oh how they wish, we would open up those words and heed!

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The Dagger of Proof

August 29, 2011

“Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Gen 22:12)
Every word and nuance of this tenderness from God to a mere mortal speaks to the very things that hold our life together and give it meaning. We will see.
Such a weird command: to sacrifice the beloved son. But, it was not rare to Abraham’s contemporaries who offered children to gods for financial prosperity in agriculture. But, Abraham’s was not assaging a contrary God, the “weirdness” was this Isaac was God’s very Promise and the Way of fulfilling His own promises. To cut off Isaac from the earth was cutting off the Promise.
How weird, but even more excruciating to the depths of Abraham’s existence. I believe this took Abraham to: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” (Ps 22:14) Step by step he was liquified in the three days to Moriah.
This ultimate surrending act Abraham was offering echoes to the depths of what our souls tell us Jesus deserves: “He is worthy of the total response of my entire being.” Until this pinnacle expression within us returns to our Savior, we are floundering and know we are missing something. Surely, this act of Abraham would fulfill this.
But back to the tenderness: do we understand? No one knows more than God just WHAT He is asking: vs 2 “take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest” vs 12 “thy son, thine only son…” vs 16: “thy son, thine only son.” God STAYED the hand of execution: the raised arm of the glistening dagger that would plunge into this “only son.” Abraham proved something to his God. Have we proved anything to God?
What is the bigger picture? God did NOT stay His own Hand in the execution. It did plunge into the living flesh and sinews of His own son.  When He says to Abraham ”Now I know…,” He is voluntarily requiring His own proof to offer us.
Do we see this rare glimpse of Father, broken love heart of God the Almighty? He is holding His Son of the Cross in His own Arms. He carried it out. No staying of the Hand here. Can you hear Him? This IS Love.  ”Now, O world, world of My love (Jn 3:16), do you not NOW know. I have not withheld My Son My Only Son?”

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