Accepting the Sovereignty of God in ALL things is the door to a broader yet more intimate conversation.

Our youngest grandchild Asher now has a handful of words. When he visits he goes straight to the video pile, picks one up and repeats, “Watch! Watch! Watch!” My reply is simply “Yes” or “No” That’s a limited conversation! It’s where he’s at, but my hope is that in a few years time like his older cousin Ajay who recently asked “Papa, how do you know God?” our conversation will develop.

Last week we went to Canada.

While there a friend asked me in an email,

“Is it ministry or vacation?’

“Yes.” I replied, for to us life has always been one seamless whole as we look for his hand and listen for his voice in EVERYTHING. As a son seeking to join with my Father in his work, whether that be cleaning the toilets in a Computer City store or singing a hymn in front of thousands it is not about what I am doing but about who I am doing whatever I am doing with! Remember?…… “and being with you nothing else I desire.”

The instigation of this trip was the sense that we should help a friend move back to Canada. As Carolyn and Hilary rode together in one packed car, I followed behind in another.

The 16 hour drive through the beautiful U. P. and around the Great Lakes was a pleasure as I was conscious of Creator’s peaceful presence, prompting from within, confirming from without.

I realized that I had been qualified by nature and by nurture to pray with godly protocol for this territory we were now crossing.

At the border our current Queen, Elizabeth, hanging on the wall behind, had overseen the inspection of our British passports as we entered this part of her Commonwealth. I noticed Kings and Queens, Victorias and Crowns were everywhere to be seen. Of course photos aren’t allowed at Immigration (or while driving) so here is one we took subsequently in a Canadian antique store : – )

As we drove by Derry and Cookstown we came to our destination on Ardagh Street. It had obviously (to me) been named by an Ulsterman who wanted to honor his father rather than his mother by tweaking the name of the cathedral city of St. Patrick. Somehow the Google maps lady and even the locals got the pronunciation for “Our Da” (as in “Our Ma”) hilariously wrong! So the Ulster Scots influence here was also very strong. As we turned the final corner onto Wright Drive, I knew our joking Da’ was directing every foot of the journey!

Then of course the two languages everywhere was a constant reminder of the French presence. Again I recalled the special bond we had with our brothers and sisters in Nice who translated, re-recorded and performed the entire Come Lord Jesus musical in French in France.

Last but not least, in fact most importantly, came the Native piece. for shortly after arriving on “Turtle island” we had been welcomed to this land and then commissioned by dear friends whose ancestors were Ojibwe chiefs – the original inhabitants and stewards of this region.

God speaks to me (and hopefully through me) in songs, and as I allowed different tracks from my catalogues over the years to rise up one by one, into a Spirit directed “MIXTAPE”

“Lord Jesus we enthrone you, we proclaim you our…. chief.” I began to sing

The Spirit then added the words “Standing here in the midst of us….. you are the one who knows our grief.” As I glanced to the sky I noticed a spread of feather clouds in the form of a chief’s headdress.

Song followed after song.

I came to the end of the Flame, “Then as one we’ll rise…….” I noticed a sign ahead for a town – LIVELY 19  

The number 19 is the number for faith. A sign pointing toward the day when those who have died in this faith will be raised to life!

“Jesu, nous t’adorons…..” I continued….“Viens seigneur viens et prend ta place.”  Again looking out I noticed Dumont Street

Du Mont means ‘of the mount’ A mountain is a biblical type of government…….. I had in French been asking Jesus to come and take his place as King of this land!

A few days later with the ‘work’ of the move over, Hilary and I realized it would be fitting for us to return home via Niagara Falls. We had both visited the falls alone, but never together, and this did co-incide with our 43rd wedding anniversary…….and then on for two overnights with dear friends in Erie and Chicago with rich fellowship.

In both situations the conversation touched on the blockage that intellectual pride has in our relationship to God. As we continued on our way we found ourselves “lost in Madison” Of course Father again said. “You’re not lost, for you may not know where you are but I know exactly where you are!”

We realized we were driving along Wisconsin Street  at the foot of the State capital. We both knew it was time for us to add Wisconsin State Capital to our list of capitol buildings we have been lead to and so began to sing again together…..

“Lord Jesus We Enthrone You…We proclaim you are King….Come Lord Jesus and take your place…. in Wisconsin” 

He’s a photo of us on our anniversary in front of….. no not Niagara Falls….the Wisconsin State Capital! What a Dad-venture life is when we relinquish control and honor his Sovereignty in ALL things : – )

 

As we wandered around the university campus, centrally dominating in the city I noticed how the values of the University of Wisconsin did not include Humility. “Service” –  yes, but our service can be so full of PRIDE and pride is always wrong whether in an academic institution an LGBT parade or a Church meeting!

 

 

I noticed the beautiful front of St. Paul’s University Catholic Church with the text entreating childlikness. Jesus holds a bible with the text Rev. 3:21 about the one who ‘overcomes’ sitting with him on his throne. Our proud flesh rises up misinterpreting this calling to overcome….as if it is in our own strength. St Paul knew better and in humility acknowledged that it is when we are most weak, that we are truly strong….. in the grace of God that flows to the humble.

While in Erie, Brian shared with me the following testimony given by a man he had met as a student at Purdue University and whose families had become close friends….a man brilliantly gifted by worldly standards but at the same time – humble in spirit.

….and so to one final shot of another MIXTAPE that gave our trip a lift : – )

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, it’s not a mistake!

If you look closely you’ll see I have turned the page from Part 4.  Let me introduce you to another friend of Sam’s and mine – his name is ‘Erb.

I have come to appreciate ‘Erb’s wisdom more and more over the years (which is a shame because much of what is said is directed to us in our youth!)  Handily ‘Erb comes in 31 sections,  so it’s easy to know where you are on this monthly cycle of conversations!

The 16th of each month is one of my favorite mornings with ‘Erb. for here are at least three verses in that chapter that reinforce to me the Soverignty of God over all things.

4. “The Lord works out EVERYTHING to it’s proper end – even the wicked for a day of disaster.”

9. ” In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

33. “The lot is cast into the lap, but it’s EVERY decision is from the Lord.”

So how much does that leave to ‘chance’?

Another verse on this theme that is a favorite of mine is,

“From Him and Through Him and to Him are ALL things.” (Rm 11:36)

“EVERY” and “ALL” to me, is pretty clear!

As I was pondering this on the way home from the grocery store the other morning, a song rose up in my spirit. The words were very simply:

“Nothing is wasted

   Nothing is lost.”

As I was singing it I found I had just come to a halt as Road Works had made my usual throughway a “Dead End”. As I pulled off the main road to turn around my thought was, “It would have been helpful for them to have given notice of this further back.” (which they now have!). But then I noticed a truck parked (photo below) and I realized that even this “Dead End” had a purpose.

Gilbert is a family name, my father’s, my own, and Gilbert’s (formerly Joshua) middle names. It means “Bright Hostage’.  Immediately I knew it was Father confirming what he had been speaking to me about through these circumstances that I had no control over, but that he was completely in control of!

We are indeed at present held “Hostage” to death and decay. That is all we see with the natural eye. But with the eye of faith we see Him who has been raised to a position “above ALL rule and authority.” (Does that mean the Sovereignty of God even trumps the authority he has delegated to me?), and so we can be “Bright” – “rejoicing with unutterable and exalted joy” (1 Pt.1:8) knowing that Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, is the kinsman-redeemer for the whole of creation and it is through Him that EVERYTHING that has come from Him must pass, in order that everything can return to Him……with absolutely “NO LOSS”.

We often hear, for example, of a young life cut short,”What a waste?” So indeed it appears to our natural eye, but by faith we know we can trust, that the one who is over ALL things, from the littleness of a “Dead End” for a shopping trip to the largeness of a “dead end” for a young loved one, will, in THE VERY end, make it ALL good and make it ALL clear.

As if to affirm and encourage me in this “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble…” (Phil.4:8) line of thinking, Father then had me pass these as the next two street signs on the detour!!:

 

Next week we will continue with the third ‘S’ of Sovereignty.

 

 

 

 

 

Scripture is not an end in itself.

Jesus made this clear when he said to the Pharisees, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! (Jn.5:39 NLV)

The purpose of the Scripture is that we might come to know God. “And this is life that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” (Jn.17:2.)

Peter says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who has called us to his own goodness and glory.” (2 Peter.1:3)

… and Paul, “That I may know him….” (Phil. 3:10) and in his last epistle he says, “…. I know whom I have believed” (2 Tim.1:12)

….. and John, “I write to you fathers because you have known him who is from the beginning.”(1 Jn.2:13,14)

This is the purpose of the Scriptures as we journey through this life…. To come to know God as we are known – that we might be, “Found in Relation”  – to Him.

As you can see from the photo above I’m having some trouble with my bible….it’s failing apart!  This is maybe the third or fourth common use Bible I have had. The problem is (again) I don’t want to replace it because I have so many personal notes in the margins!

For years I have read a Psalm every morning. As I journey through the adventure of life I change and my circumstances change. Like Frodo Baggins on his adventure I have a best friend – his name is Sam (which is how our American friends hear us pronounce Psalm : – ) He has been my faithful companion, so each time I come to a particular psalm and notice the notes I return to that place, to that time, to that decision I made or that situation I walked through, and experience again the reality of the God I have come to know as my Father and my friend, and recognize his voice of truth and love and hear him speaking yet more clearly with each 150 day cycle – through my friend – (p)SA(l)M : – )

 

 

 

 

 

……Well our Father showed me what the second “S” in this series should be – Scripturally.

Peter says of Paul’s writings, “They are difficult to understand” When we find this to be the case we can either discount the bible or we can say, “Well I don’t understand that – yet!…. and remain open to receiving further revelation that will bring clarity.” I’ve found the second option is the better one…. especially since Peter also says, “Above all you must understand that no prophecy came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had it’s origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried (driven) along by the Holy Spirit.” Being dismissive or selective of scripture is not a good idea : – )

I remember back in the 60’s how refreshing it was to discover “God is for Real Man”  by Carl Burke……the bible in city kid street language! Then came The Living Bible and other paraphrases bringing the bible to life. The focus was not literal accuracy but translations that made the message understandable and relevant to modern man.

That was pretty good for a start, but to grow as a disciple of Jesus then requires some serious digging in. This is how our Father has designed it. As Proverbs 25:2 says  “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter ; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” 

We have been blessed to get to know some ‘kings’ in recent years, men of great intellect who have searched and opened up the scriptures to us in a deeper way……..for they are also men of God’s Spirit able to interpret ‘spiritual truth’….. for the ‘natural man’ cannot comprehend the things of God. (1 Cor.2:10-16)

When I say God always speaks to us “Scripturally” that must be distinguished from “man’s interpretation” of the scriptural texts. I love the story of how the ‘father’ of Systematic Theology, Thomas Aquinas, had a death bed encounter with God, and subsequently pleaded that all his books be destroyed as he realized how inadequate human analysis alone was in comprehending the Divine mystery!

God has used these searching ‘kings’ to shed much light for us on everything from the mass slaughter of the Canaanites to the unending torture chamber of ‘hell’ to women not speaking in church.One such king was the Russian Ivan Panin whose amazing mathematical insights lead him from atheism to faith and showed we dare not alter or discard as Jesus said, even one “jot or tittle” of scripture.

Take for example the word commonly translated ‘eternal’. A trip into church history and language reveals that the influence of St. Augustine’s pre conversion beliefs, culture and linguistic limitations had him select a suboptimal Latin word, which translates into our English word meaning “never ending”. In the original Hebrew text however, the word ‘olam’ is used for example of the time Jonah was in the belly of the big fish. (His red robe wouldn’t have looked so well if he’d been in there forever : – ) ‘Olam’ here obviously was not unending, but three days, prefiguring Christ’s resurrection after three days in the tomb. The original Hebrew word means ‘hidden’, or ‘belonging to an age.’ A few translations are faithful to the original Hebrew, for example Rotherham’s The Emphasized Bible renders it “age-abiding.” 

It’s a little word, but when ‘Lost in Translation’ that makes an enormous difference for mankind for our belief about God….. and for Jonah : – )

Next week: Part 5. ‘Found in Relation.’

 

I had more responses to last week’s blog than to any other. They included the double witness (below): a drawing from Rob in IL. and a photo from Collins in MA. of the ‘tree of life’ in their backyards – sent independently!

 

 

 

The first occurrence of the “cherubim” is in Genesis 3:24 in the context of “the tree of life”.

“After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard (keep, preserve) the way to THE TREE OF LIFE.”

So this week I decided to linger ‘in the garden’ – of Symphonizing, before proceeding to the second ‘S’ in the series. This was confirmed when Hilary and I had to abandon our bike ride today because of the weather and ended up instead, working together – ‘in the garden’! While we pottered around, one of our grandchildren played around.

Interestingly her favorite phrase at the moment is, “I can do it my-seeeellff!”

As Hilary pulled out our gardening gloves she said, “You should pull those burrs out of yours.”

Well my initial thought was, “Why? That would be such a waste of time. They work fine the way they are. It will just delay my getting a more valuable job done!” Well there you have it, ‘valuable’ from my point of view, but what is required of me is that I acknowledge there is another point of view that is just as valid, and that I in fact need, to be wholly ‘Me’

In the garden of Eden (Delight) a ‘side’ was taken out of Adam i.e. Mankind, to create two out of the one – male and female. It was then after the disobedience that, we read, “and their eyes were opened” (Gen.3:7) – and Adam exclaimed “Wo- man!” : – ) What previously had been understood as another aspect of ‘Me’ became an ‘other’  It was at this point that I believe fear of an ‘other’ entered in (Gen.3:10). An aspect of this was the fear of losing that which is meant to be part of the whole integrated ‘Me’ that is in Christ. This ‘falling’ apart of Mankind is what Christ came to bring together.

“And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” (Eph.1:9.10)

Recognizing my fallen desire to assert my independence and do things ‘my-seeellff’ – my own (male) way, I turned from ‘the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’, and instead began to eat from the One who is ‘The Tree of Life’. As I plucked out the burrs my attitude changed from a begrudging concession to an embracing with heartfelt gratitude the perspective of my partner ‘cherubim’s’ different view which is the complement and completion of the true and full ‘Me’ in Christ.

I only realized afterwards that the ‘Before’ (above with burrs) and ‘After’ (below without burrs) photos I had taken included alongside the ‘man’s glove’, the ‘ladies’ gardening gloves, also the two chairs….. poised for a conversation, and the two flower pots in the ‘faucet’ (UK – tap) holder, for it is out of such ‘dwelling together in unity‘ in true accord, that the water of life flows. (Ps.133)

I want to repeat this ‘Symphonizing’ is not the preserve of married couples. This morning I had the same symphonizing experience with another brother and this afternoon Hilary and I with another couple in Ireland via FaceTime!!

Neither is this accord spiritual as opposed to practical, on the contrary if the spiritual and practical do not flow together in accord….it is not true accord! It is ‘the cherubim’ of heavenly knowledge AND grounded love that “keep the way” to“The Tree of Life” who is perfectly Son of God and Son of Man so that we can, together hear him speaking.

“O send forth your light and your truth; let them lead me.” (Ps.43:3)

P.S. On a practical note Hilary and I are being lead to cross the Atlantic again around September time, and would value any ‘light and love’ that the cherubim on the European side might receive about this : – ) Thank you for listening with us.

 

It didn’t take long to hear the ‘blog breath’ on this week’s bike ride! As we emerged from our driveway I noticed the two cher-ry trees in our front yard, and Father (who is ‘Hooked on Phonics’ to help those of us are a little on the slow side) whispered, “I will speak to you from between the cher – (umbim)” (Ex.25:22)

By the end of the ride I had received a a full series outline for the above title and all five headings beginning with “S”!!!!!.

The first was that when God speaks to us, he speaks Symphoniously, i.e. in harmonious agreement or accord. 

The most immediate outworking of this in my own life is in our marriage.

At one point on the ride, as Hilary and I were poised to take a left, we noticed a group of serious bikers approaching on the other side. “Can we make it before them?” Hilary muttered, pedaling hard to make the turn – just in time! As I followed at a more leisurely pace, and paused to let the group pass, the lead rider, an older man, gave me a both exasperated and thankful look, as if to say, “Some people just have to speed ahead………thank you for waiting!

“Here we have the two ‘cherubim'” I thought, “Hilary – the Accelerator. Paul – the Brake.”

I went on to meditate on the purpose of our union being to learn how neither of us are in the driver’s seat and so rather than focus on how my partner needs to change and become ‘normal’ like me, we both need to learn sensitivity to the Paraclete (the one who comes alongside) and learn to respond to Him rather than react to the ‘otherness’ of our partner. For it is only “between the cherubim”  – i.e. in our togetherness, that we will hear His voice.

Sitting in the sunshine outside a coffee shop a few minutes later, we shared a lunch and coffee from the one plate and the one mug, the one conversation ebbing and flowing naturally as we reflected together on the many lake side ‘mansions’ we had just passed…. on Jesus words about the ‘mansion’ being prepared for us that “where He is we may be also”….. and on how that ‘mansion’ is our heart where he has already taken up residence, and is at work that we might happily and compatibility occupy the same space (Matt.12:40  : – )

We talked about our heart as the ‘secret place’ of Psalm 91 and ‘the shadow of his wings’ the place of not seeing fully, but learning ‘to trust’.

Hilary then commented that she had just sent a message to someone, encouraging them that the ‘shadow’  they had been in was that in the ‘secret place’ of their hearts they might learn this ‘trust’

At the very moment she spoke these words, a ‘shadow’ passed across us. I looked up, and there above, was a plane whose ‘wings’ had blocked the light of the sun, for an instant, putting us both in ‘the shadow’!

We smiled knowingly at one another.

Hearing God’s voice requires our learning to symphonize what is going on inside of us with what is going on outside of us. It also requires our learning to symphonize our own heart with the other human heart Father has placed along side of us.

This does not have to be a marriage partner. When I communicate with certain friends I now expect that when we talk about ‘ordinary’ life there will be a cacophony of ‘pings’ in both our hearts.

I believe Father gave me Symphonizing as the first qualification to hearing Him speak because we are so bad at this! Like the naieve crab being slowly boiled, we may be in a church, or a marriage, but we are being stewed in a culture of independence – still operating in isolation.

Jesus warns about those who point out to the desert or in to the closet to find the Son of Man at his coming.(Matt.24:26) Neither in a big name on the internet nor in the privacy of our personal prayer closet, will we ever fully find Him. We are meant to connect with Him in our hearts as we engage in real life with the real ones who he has sent to us…. for “You will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'” (Matt.23:39)

As I typed these words Gilbert arrived into my study and said, “Were you calling for me?” I said “No?” but immediately recognized this was Father confirming what I had just written, through the story of Samuel and Eli……where there needed to be a paradigm shift…….in recognizing God’s voice…… as we symphonize with the people and the circumstances of our present life. 

There is a place for prayer closets, podcasts and prophetic lists, but none of these these can ever substitute for the music of a two way relationship in which we experience the blessed communion of the Godhead.

Speeding up to Hilary on the ride home, she said, “You did your sprints yesterday…….you know you need to take a day off and just enjoy the ride through the spring woods with your wife.”

“There you have it.” I thought. “Paul the Accelerator. Hilary the Brake. Ha!!”

That is why we need to both grow in sensitivity to the one in the driver’s seat. For it is only “between the cherubim”  – i.e. in our togetherness, that we will hear the voice, of our good shepherd.