The turntable, part deux- Turntable Returns...

The same turntable. People are pushing. The fire is growing. It's all good in the hood.

I see this one guy break ranks and rush into the centre of the fire. Set alight he rejoins the circle, pushing harder and shouting encouragement to his companions, the fire begins to spread. The fire grows more quickly as the people become the fire.

Sometimes you just have to break out of routine and go and play with fire*. As the Father's presence grows ever stronger the temptation to jump right in gets pretty great. Just give in! The reason he is bringing his presence on earth is so he can dwell among and fellowship with us. As we become the walking, talking, manifest presence of God His kingdom will grow faster than if we just try to fob it off on people in an unreal, impersonal way.

*I say play, but this is no game. It's real rejoicing in revelation.

Praise God that he uses idiots like me to accomplish his purposes.

The turntable

There are some people pushing a turntable. In the middle of this turntable is a fire. When the people push quickly the fire grows rapidly, but mostly they are going at walking pace and the fire is growing gradually. If they stop, the fire dies down.

We are called to run with endurance. The christian walk is a marathon, and not a sprint, as many have said before. We are running to keep that fire alight, and we will see it grow slowly but steadily. But there are times when we need to push a little harder- maybe up the intensity of our prayer, or study a little more diligently, or be a little more focussed in our outreach.

It is at these times when people begin to fall out. Maybe some people are pushing harder than others, knocking some people out of the circle. Maybe some people are standing still, refusing to move forward, blocking the progress of the turntable. Maybe some people are trying to make a name for themselves by pushing the other way- that tends not to help at all. As the speed picks up, it becomes more difficult to keep people in step, but if you don't the progress is hindered as people get knocked out.

It is at these more intense times that we need the greatest unity.

We are on the verge of one of those times now. Push harder, run faster, pray bigger, study deeper... but don't forget to look around and make sure that we're all pushing the same way.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger; S
tiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage.

The Cross Tree

The bible always talks about Jesus hanging on a tree or a cross, but I never really saw the significance. Today, the Lord showed me part of the overlap in these two symbols of the christian faith.

The blood drips from the nails in the cross mingling with the juice of the deep red fruit.

Interesting that Jesus used wine as the symbol for his blood in the communion.

He said that if we abide in him then we will bear much fruit, but this means his death AND his resurrection. Colossians tells us what these events mean for us. You would think the death would be the hard bit, and the resurrection would be the freeing bit.

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Freedom...

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Freedom...

It's all good.