The Upper Room

Amazon and Isaiah 5:20

Woe to those who call evil good  and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.  Isa 5:20

There was a time when some sins where considered shameful. Today that is no longer the case. Many sins seem to be worthy of acclaim. If there is any doubt why not hold a pride parade...that will fix everything. In the end we will have to answer for our actions.  Broken people and damaged nations result from actions without consideration for their consequences.

Blog-sphere has exploded with posts on Amazons publication a books on Pedophilia. Every time we think humanity has hit a new low, something comes along to take it a step lower. Sadly Amazon wasn't concerned about how evil child molestation is, they seem to be just concerned about profit.

We are living in an age when good is called evil and evil is called good. I am left asking  myself how will I respond in times like this. This first thing I can say is that I won't be buying anything from Amazon.

A deep connection

Many of us are starting to understand the deep connection we have with creation. Here is a vid about a Serbian Monk and a wolf. I don't pretend to understand the words. But I can see genuine relationship between this monk and a wild wolf. Maybe there is a sermon in this somewhere.

Passover Reflections

At sunset on April 9th Passover will begin. For many people New Year is the time they make resolutions. But, I find Passover a much better time to contemplate change.

"That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast." Ex 12:8

We all know the Passover requirement to make bread without yeast. We also know that leading up to this feast all yeast is to be removed from the home.

"For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel." Ex 12:15

GOD uses many ways  to speak to us. Sometimes it is in direct language, "you shall" or "you shall not". Other times it is through symbolism, typological statements, parables and examples to name but a few.  Jesus explains to us what yeast represents.

"Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matt 16:6

During these days across Israel and in the homes of our Jewish friends yeast is being removed.  This week I will be in prayerful reflection over my own yeast, that of my heart.  At the conclusion of Passover I intend to give that yeast over to the Lamb that was slain.  For most people New Year is a time to make resolutions. For me Passover is the point of change and redirection.

How do you spend Passover?

Conversations with Elvis

In previous posts this author  stated that he was a "glass half empty" kind of a guy, when it comes to world events.  I later modified my statement to say "my glass is now so dry I have Bedouins running around in a sand storm".  After this week I am now declaring my search for water vapor in my glass. What caused such a change you may ask?

I was out with a friend and the topic of our global downturn came up in the conversation.  Like so many other friends this person articulated that the facts just didn't match up.  There was no way we concluded, that we got here by accident.  More than that, it was clear that the bail outs are not working neither will they. This conversation was like so many I have had with people on both sides of the Atlantic. From the educated to the common man, everyone is asking how did it get this way and why is government action having no effect on the situation. 

My friend and I tossed around the numbers. Despite the size of each bail out how could they have any discernable effect?  Then like all the other conversations, we discussed if this situation engineered? Was there a plan to put us right where we are now, in a situation where people will even give up there most basic rights just to have access to income? 

The next morning I was driving to work meditating on our previous nights speeching.  I concluded that I have become like one of those end times nuts, seeing the anti-christ in every situation.  I laughed to myself, "next I will be saying Kennedy was abducted by aliens or brag about my conversations with Elvis". Yep, I must be going too far.

I hadn't sat down more than two minutes, when I heard about Gordon Brown's visit to the U.S.  It is a constant hazard being the only Brit in the work place.  Everyone seems to think I am an expert on every part of British politics.  

Apparently the press were frustrated that they had so little access to Gordon and Barak during their meetings.  One little tid bit did come out. Gordon Brown proposed that all banks be globalized.  He feels that if the world's banks were controlled from a central location, with one set of regulations, we would never encounter this situation again.  Gordon seems to have forgot that regulation or a lack therefore was not the cause of our current crisis.  But no matter, as every politician knows, "never let a good crisis go by without using it to your advantage".
 It was also stated that the globalization of world banks is on the agenda for discussion at the G20 summit in April.  I started to think about what globalizing world banks would mean. I also started to notice how little press time this story got. In fact NPR is the only source I could find on the subject. 

We are indeed living in strange times. To me the facts just don't match up. What we are being told and what reality is are two different things.  In strange times I can do only three things:

1. Live with my Bible open.
2. Pray and seek the face of GOD.
3. Trust that all time and world events are in His hands.

Let me leave with these thoughts to warm your mind. I do have to go, we are having Elvis over for dinner.

Jacob's Dream

Just sit back, listen to the words and think.

A kingdom that is never entered

Everyone is talking about the "kingdom of GOD".  Mainline churches to emergent's all claim that they are laying hold of the kingdom.  For some people the kingdom is about the institutional church, for others it is about social justice, still others a strange form of socialism.  Everyone is talking about the kingdom, few though can define it.

When Jesus talked about the this kingdom he did give a starting point, repentance.

The time has come he said. "The kingdom of GOD is near. Repent and believe the good news" Mark 1:15.

Everybody wants the kingdom, but no body wants repentance.  Any attempt to establish a kingdom without repenting of self, sin and all that has made us an offense to GOD is nothing more than another man made enterprise.  GOD's kingdom is different. It is an upside down world, where the weak are strong, the despised are welcomed, and the rejected corner stone is loved more than all things.

This kingdom cannot be entered by social justice. But those in the kingdom live social justice. It cannot be entered by building the biggest church. But those in the kingdom may attend large churches. It can only be entered by a change of heart, mind and soul to the way of Jesus. 

I have stopped listening to "kingdom talkers" who don't think  about repentance and treasuring Christ above all things.  Their kingdom is just an empty hollow shell.