Today we hold conferences and conventions and give reports and make our programs. None of these things were in the life of Jesus, and yet every minute of His life He realized that He was fulfilling the purpose of His Father. How did He do it? By maintaining the one relationship, and it is that one relationship He insists on in His disciples, and it is the one we have lost in the rubbish of modern civilization. If we try to live the life Jesus Christ lived, modern civilization will fling us out like waste material; we are no good, we do not add anything to the hard cash of the times we live in, and the sooner we are flung out the better.
In John's gospel this aspect of our Lord's life is more elaborately worked out than anywhere else. It is indicated in the other gospels (see Luke 2:49, 13:32, 12:50). Jesus knew He was here for His Father's purpose, and He never allowed the cares of civilization to bother Him. He did nothing to add to the wealth of the civilization in which He lived, He earned nothing; modern civilization would not have tolerated Him for two minutes.
"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" John 9:4
-Oswald Chambers
He just seems to know what I'm thinking most of the time. That entry was for April 27 and it's August 15. I'm not so sure of anything and that is what I am excited about. I know that one cannot keep walking in one's own way and expect to find a worm hole into the other direction. What I'm saying is this: one must put it in neutral before any other will may take precedence. Or like martial artist Bruce Lee explains: "One must empty one's cup before any new contents may enter."
I am suffocating here. I am dying from old maggoty bread. I remember when Moses led God's people through the desert, and how even though God had shown his great power to them, they grew confident in the materialistic and when situations became a little doubtful, so did the people. I remember when God sent his freshly baked bread from heaven to his starving people and how he gave them water gushing from a stone. His command was to only take what one needed and not to save any manna for the next day or maggots would surely devour it and it would rot. And it happened: the teenage boys decided to try it out and it really happened.. the bread turned to excrement. How often do we do this today? The church, how often do we do this?
"Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my God." Proverbs 30:7-9.
How often do we expect what was good today to be good for tomorrow? Our church buildings reek of it.
God has revealed to me that Sunday does not go down the way he wishes. I believe there should be such thing as a Sabbath. NOT only not working, but resting. America doesn't work hard enough to rest and so it is always meddling in mediocrity, doing what seems so important to add to the wealth of the world. It may be the best speaker in the world, it may be the best sermon, but it is not what I need. I do not need another sermon. I need only, my daily bread, and community with my fellow Church. Today, the church of America is modeled after the theatre of America. The attenders come separately from all over for one single cause: to watch the show. And they leave separately without so much as saying hello or even holding the door for each other on the way out.
Do I think we should abandon the church or even refuse to call ourselves Christians? No, we should not be that materialistic. The materialistic-minded hate materialistic things. The spiritual-minded love below the surface. We're all still a family. I think design has gone out the window. We keep offering the offering of yesterday and expecting to get the return of yesterday. Well, in fact we are getting the return and it smells like skunk. I pray for reconciliation because the church building is worse on the fiery Christ-followers than anyone, not even to mention the lost sheep, the lost family.
Pray and obey.
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8 comments:
A long, appreciative sigh and an amen need to follow that.
-the older cox girl
this is so good jesse. well, you know what i mean. it's so truthful and er, truth full.
i liked the landscaping guy a lot. he was so excited. and so kind. and knew his purpose and what he needed/needs to do. he prays and obeys.
today at work i had to fart really badly. and while my boss was out i let a little squeak out. it was so pungent ahaa. it smelled like the offering of yesterday. . .
i don't know much of how to respond. it's after school. i'm somewhat trained and my back and crack are sweaty from the heat and my vinyl seats. i really got a nice meal from this blog jesse. so tasty and filling, really. i want to poop it on america. aye.
that "trained" should be drained.
i'm really glad i make you smile bro.
i have days like that too. all the time. it's my life. it really bugs me sometimes. or everytime it happens. . . i'm doing good right now, though. i'm working on getting us a show in gwinnett, possibly at that central christian church. we could set it up with bearcats and of the fine and giant lion and jesus christ and all that good stuff. i'll update you if good news comes.
jesse, i've been tracking your thoughts over the last month and can say with confidence that you are in a good place. God has you right where he wants you. the church is you and me following christ. i have to love and tolerate all that gets called "church" but i don't have to like it or hang out there. i'm done with all that. only took me 48 years, but i'm there. i've taken the long way around the barn with most truths i've learned. painful to hear your tones in the words you write, but my heart resonates and i know you are moving along at the pace of spirit and not the material. someone said, "pain is the touchstone of all spiritual growth". i am at a place now where it sounds absurd to tell people what i think is important in life. there is no frame of reference in this world (or the church) for the voices of freedom and the sounds of true truth. you just have to "be" and find others who share your passion for being like "The Man" (Christ, of course) and do your thing. I can tell you this is a whole lot easier if you don't have children and steer clear of debt. everyone can't follow this formula or you and i wouldn't be here, but jesus did it. and a whole lot of saints have chosen the same jesus, st. francis, st. benedict, etc. path of poverty, chastity, and obedience. my one exception has been marriage, a sacrament blessed by christ (my chastity has been ultimate, read permanent, birth control). my obediane is listening to the voice of God in my own heart and passing what i hear by godly and trusted brothers and sisters. my poverty is owning as little as possible and giving away what i can when i can while i can. poverty of spirit is the greater challenge for i doth crave attention and respect. not getting much these days and am feeling poor indeed. its a sweet situation. i am blessed in my filthy rags...
life is good. i miss you.
uncle d
good stuff, esp. about sabbath. keep it up.
jesse you blow me away, sometimes.
i really like who you are, and i will always love you.
your thoughts on God and monotony that you left as a comment on my blog were outstanding. they stood out.
like you. you're outstanding, jesse, and i hope i can converse with you soon.
thanks for helping my car out of a ditch...we needed you.
love, cous.
Strange why some people REALLY get MARRIED!!!
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