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Autumnal
Category Archives: Clarity
Landscape
Rhyme Walk
RHYME WALK
‘You are a spot on the ceiling of existence’
Too cold – try again
‘You are a cell in the kaleidoscope of history’
So so – one more:
‘You are unique – and an individual specimen
of human kind’
You are a person as all person’s we be
One only is you
Never again is you
What will you do?
Can you spin like a top?
Can you cook in a pot?
Can you try harder next time?
Can you lie back and unwind?
Can you cause a storm?
Can you sleep in a dorm?
Norm – ally I wouldn’t ask you these things
But I am bringing it all back home
As we speak
So – rhyme just to ease your mind
I’m doing this to see what I find
I’m simply taking rhyme for a walk
(- as I allow myself this indulgence)
But really there ain’t much sense in my talk.
Now at this you might balk(?):
But I like the word-play game
Isn’t it a large part of the word domain?
None of this I hasten to add
Has any form of real wisdom
Or desirable worthwhile truth
I just like enjoying the pattern on the curtain
Of a Riddle’s-esque design
Colour enrichment
– with emotion – oft doth chime
………….
The language of truth and light
That’s a whole other ball game
No entertainment there
Just profound reverent awe of God
As the King of kings steps into the ring
against darkness
And fights to win your battle
Offering you His title:
Christ-one
To be received with thanks
But note – He is not mocked
in any shape or form
To Him I will answer –
But He is not too severe –
but severe still
towards all that destroys.
Glad I got here into something more
grave and profound
I lost the rhyme
but – true truth – has been found.
Advanced Regression
ADVANCED REGRESSION
Dancing – advancing leaps and bounds
“Comparatively speaking” –
I hear no one say
Mankind has embryo’d – and stem celled –
and conjured with his DNA –
and experimented and concluded –
and thinks to have found a way
For with his knowledge increase
He hopes to take away all defeat
And per-fect himself –
when new ways are found
Stoned on his success
He ignores the dismay
Of a world gone further wrong
In a multitude of ways
He thinks –
To Increasingly solve corruption’s claim
But makes the same
mistakes
over and over again
What’s been done –
compared with what has not?
What’s been achieved
pales before the mess
civilisation has got
There’s need for the realisation
That man won’t reach self-perfection
But those puffed up with knowledge
Will rise in reaction
With a self-styled salvation
Rejecting they think
‘pie in the sky’
for ‘meat on the plate’
But God’s handiwork is found
profound – all around
The maker’s hand that made it all
plain to be seen without a doubt
No written guarantee –
for an extra charge
will assuage corruption
Rather:
”Mountains fall on us in our fears”
The day has come for a
A wake up call perhaps too late
As the supersonic – stem-celled world
totters on its wobbly legs of achievement
and the world is folded up like a garment.
Don’t take away from the good it can bring?
Indeed no – but there is always too far to go.
Stop and think it over:
Mental blindness –
Ostrich head in the sand
Achievements seduction
millions annihilated –
while we speak
and still
don’t understand.
The Prayer Life of Christ
The Prayer Life of Christ.
Jesus addressing Peter says:
But I have prayed that your faith will fail not. (Luke 22/31-33)
This is a very interesting revelation we are offered here – we are given special insight into the private prayer life of the Lord Jesus.
He knows what is going to happen in the life of Peter.
He knows beforehand that Peter will deny Him.
This is the foreknowledge of God operating here.
Knowing something will happen before it actually does.
God knows everything that will happen before it does.
We are conscious of a fact of life. Namely, that life consists of the past, the present, the future. But even as I speak we are not in the present anymore.
The present in one sense does not exist. Because time will not stand still.
‘As I…’ (…let’s stop there).
the ‘As I…’ has just passed away.
We are in a different present than the one we were in – a few seconds ago.
But God knows what will happen in a few hours time, everywhere in the world.
God is in eternity. Now is eternity – time without end? Or is eternity a dimension in which there is no time, no past present or future? The eternal now.
Well, the bible tells us – we only know ‘in part’. And there is a day coming for all believers in Christ when we shall no longer know ‘in part’, but know – even as God knows us. (I Corinthians 13/9)
We shall have the total eternal perspective on existence.
Jesus knew the future for Peter – and He tells him so. Tells Peter that he (Peter) will deny Him (Jesus).
Peter has no intention of believing this word. Based on his inner sense of love for Jesus, and his zealous desire to be faithful.
Matthew 26/33 : Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
Jesus knew that Peter would stumble, and deny Him. Knowing he would, Jesus took a certain course of action.
He knew Peter would sin in this way. He knew the ‘disaster’ would happen. He did not prevent Peter from denying Him.
Peter had freedom of choice which was not taken away from him. Nor is it taken from you or I.
There is a day of reckoning (commonly called) – when the goodness of God must put an end to all that is destructive, at which time, on which day, the rebellion of free will – set on – the rebellious violation of goodness and righteousness, must be stopped.
Jesus did not pre-arrange a situation for Peter in order to keep him from that hour of temptation.
Peter had to be there. He was one of the most zealous of the disciples, even though he was perhaps the one most exposed in scripture regarding his personal shortcomings and failings.
Now the disciples already knew the Lord’s prayer. Peter did not (as far as we know) pray that prayer on hearing the prophesy of Jesus. (about his denial and the cock crowing – Mark 14/30)
He didn’t believe The Lord’s prophetic word, because he didn’t want to believe it.
Nobody who is a genuine Christian wants to believe they will fail the Lord.
And it should be our hearts desire every day to walk with Him without failing Him.
But we are still encompassed with the infirmity of our own limited flesh. Referred to in scripture as ‘this body of death’. So unfortunately we shall fail The Lord, and need to return in humility once again. There will be many ‘once again’s’ in the Christian life.
But by the Grace (unmerited favour) of God we do not lose our place of salvation, while we return to our Advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ the Righteous. The one who is the propitiation for our sins. (appeasing God’s righteous indignation and supplying offered forgiveness)
Returning to our initial thought in this post. We are given insight into the prayer life of The Lord Jesus, as He communes with His Father continuously. Leaving us an example to do the same.
‘I have prayed the Father that your faith fail not’. prayed Jesus.
Wow! But surely Peter did fail? Yes he failed and denied the Lord, despite every intention initially, of not doing so.
But thanks to Jesus praying and agreeing with His Father – Peter was not cast off as a failure.
The good news is – he returned!
He went out and wept. And his mistake was an occasion for God to teach him a wonderful lesson, that he would learn more deeply for the rest of his days.
The lesson of how to walk with God in a Christ-dependant manner.
Not only dependant on Christ for salvation and eternal (future) life only.
But a lesson in learning how to walk with Jesus minute by minute, even in His earthly absence, after He (Jesus) had departed to be with the Father.
Walking in other words with The Holy Spirit, as his constant companion.
Peter’s bravado was based on his own ability. Our own ability will fail us when it comes to spiritual matters.
We must learn to live in the Holy Spirit and to walk in the Holy Spirit.
Faith gives us entrance into a relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ.
The outcome of that faith is a spiritual experience whereby we literally encounter God, The Holy Spirit, and having begun in The Spirit – we shall not be perfected in the strength of our own natural ability. (Galatians 3/3)
To encounter Jesus in this way is the most wonderful experience possible, this side of heaven.
To have our guilt removed by the Highest authority in existence. To satisfy God Almighty’s sense of Justice and at the same time to receive His forgiveness and freedom from condemnation and guilt, is or can be, a Time Surpassing any other in your life and mine.
All made possible through the finished work of Christ on the cross, where justice had it’s day and forgiveness was released to those who would ask for it.
Bearing in mind that God is omniscient (all knowing) – we conclude from this episode in Peter’s life that man’s freedom of choice, and God’s freedom of choice, go unhindered.
Whether man decides (volition) or not to satisfy God’s loving commands, there is always a place for returning to God, when, like Peter, we make a mistake.
However there is a sobering scripture addressing a lack of returning to God:
Whoever is stubborn [stiff-necked] after being corrected many times will suddenly be hurt [broken] beyond cure [healing]. (EXB translation – Proverbs 29/1)
Always a place for returning to God.
Unless we choose to die without doing so.
Predisposed
…or does it?
PREDISPOSED*
Now there* is an interesting word.
Let’s get the dictionary definition –
predisposed (ˌpriːdɪˈspəʊztd)
adj
inclined to or susceptible to beforehand…
That’s the nutshell of how I’m considering the word. Surely being predisposed can be either a good thing or a bad?
Being a racist means we are predisposed to snubbing or at worst hating someone from a different race than ours. Unacceptable.
If we rise each day and go jogging because we are predisposed to exercise – can’t be bad don’t you think?
If someone, through army training, are predisposed to keeping things tidy and in order – it surely can’t be bad?
Being predisposed to stealing, having acquired the habit unchecked through a spoilt childhood of always getting our own way in everything. As Goofy would sing: “well, the world owes me a livin’ . A predisposition – that needs changed.
We can often quickly detect if on visiting someones blog, we are not going to gel with what they have to say. And often on further examination – our opinion will not change, but I’m trying – through self-examination, to detect if I have any predispositions on things I ought not to.
So I guess I’m simply saying: ‘How about catching it on, if we – too readily – dismiss the beginning of someone’s post, without giving it due consideration, because we have a bias or predisposition to reject the subject’, or reject the first expressed opinion we encounter.
There are certain subjects, posts, we pretty much know right away – ‘not my cup of tea’.
But let’s go for the two(?) minute rule.
At least Survey the post just to make sure.
(Give it two minutes of our time.)
As a rule of thumb, does that seem fair?
Bought and found…
Bought and found…
“Now this will be right up your street…
This is the offer you can’t refuse…
You’ll like this…
You have found what you’re looking for…
The chance of a lifetime…
We are delighted to offer you…
Yes that’s your size – fits well…
Can I interest you in..?
Yes sir – please step this way…
Just in – this morning – you’re lucky day…”
A fright and a frown
A new dressing gown
Tried it on
Then I was gone
Over to another department
Lounged around
As a substitute
for
nothing
catching my eye
Still-time for a coffee..?
Out the door
Had
Bought
and
found
nothing…
Coffee tastes good
I knew that it would
Lie back on semi-soft chair
Sleepy – daydream – stare.
(Shopping worthwhile after all)
Trees and Sunlight
Stay where you are?
STAY WHERE YOU ARE?
I have been leading prayer meetings. And preaching on a Sunday. And writing blog posts.
Art will soon be ‘SPRING-ing’ up again.
When I sort out my work shed (studio)
Meantime…
I would like the inhabitants of the world to do exactly what I tell them.
But I am not a betting man.
So I won’t bet on it coming to pass.
I was thinking about the many thought processes people engage in. Whether it’s some mathematical equation – or learning of a medical kind, or maybe re-reading your scientific notes on the ‘origin of the species’.
Think of the intellectual horns that are often locked in many different fields, as view opposes view. Opinion versus opinion.
A ruler named Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” (speaking as he was to Paul the apostle).
To the average intellect – it is plain to be seen that this Ruler – was somewhat disturbed from his comfort zone, as Paul the apostle presented a message to his ears, and to those close by.
Festus was in a certain place intellectually – and cemented into his own way of going, his own way of living. Set in his ways, as we say – and feeling uncomfortable – he grasped for a response from his own reference data, filed away under the heading of *’my personal philosophy about life’.
Everybody has one of *those, so it is not hard to conclude that he was no exception.
A file containing the things we have established consciously and unconsciously that determines our lifestyle, goals, aspirations, outlook on a myriad of subjects, and – as we think in our hearts – so we are.
Enter Paul – disturber of our certitudes shaker of our mattress and bedclothes – turning-over our bed and throwing us onto the floor of his gospel.
React, react, react. Only way to handle this intruder – who has come to turn our world upside down. This would demand a change in us (were we to entertain it) – therefore ‘much learning does make him mad’, is the most comfortable response. Warding off his intrusion, and the intrusion of Christ.
‘I will stay where I am thank you very much’ – tucked up in the comfort of a bed of half-truths.
Then King (Herod-) Agrippa II, the other man in authority – responded: “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am…”
Acts 26.
Questions
QUESTIONS
What’s in a poem?
What’s in a few lines?
Is life full of new poems?
Full of new lines?
Now you have answered
that question
I call into question –
questioning
Questioning natures –
all shuffling –
clanking together like
freight train trucks
question one – question two
How many questions
before
we are through?
Questioning this and
questioning that
Questioning seems to be
all that we’ve got
You have just resolved
your query
about that bitter pill
next in line – a question – still
“Ask me another…” she said
That’s how we started when
questioning our mother
The questions are higher
and loftier now
They hang in the air –
no experts dismantle
their infinite ponder
I wonder
– as you do
what other questions
are due?
With a sigh and a chew
we ponder
the ‘way up yonder’
Looking for a roll that is called
There’s a Lamb’s book of Life
To contemplate
To gaze on
Seeking the answer to our state
The questions
you question
but see no way through
The answers – we miss
as we pass them by
staring us in the face
We swallow them whole
We prefer more
questions
than the answers
He sought to bestow
Unsettled minds –
cannot rest
on answers
– at their best
Conclude we must
For tomorrow we die
The gravestone’s answer:
here you lie
Yet still the questions
carry on
I would suggest to you
the questions will stop
at the buffer zone
The answer and the question
will both be gone
Through the glass darkly
we see…
The filing cabinet
of questions galore
spilling onto the floor
Questions in limited repose
giving birth to new, I suppose
Members of
the question family
crawling before they walk
trying to answer the anomaly
Questions are good
or not appropriate
and bad
When it comes to
matters of faith
Faith by His word
can be found
Answers triumph over
those who are
‘question-bound’
One more question
Before I go
Will you let answers
enable you to know?
Or again I say…
again I say…
Do questions –
not answers –
make your day?
