Men Beating Drums

This May Anger Y'all!!!! .... But I don't care as long as you think
on God's words Mt 5:21-26

I think it is time that we bury the hatchet on our phobias.   We need to know what is right and what is wrong! But when people turn to Christ they must feel the warmth of home from its believers.  I felt this hatred when I was crossing the street one day, I was age ten, and I waved at a girl, the girl said; "I can't talk to you for you and your kind are Christ Killers."   Now, looking back, I want to hug that little girl and tell her sorry that you feel that way; then I would tell her:  "I can assure you that it was God's plan to kill his only son, and that this plan was done because of all of our sins, and the fact that all of our sins were so grievous that we could not correct our own actions.  He loved us so much that he sent his only son to us as a gift of redemption."  

I ask that you watch this clip with open eyes, and child like minds. I know it is hard for me a heterosexual to look at two men kissing. I know it is hard to look at Jesus portrayed as a homosexual! I know it is hard to face your fearful pride! I know we must hold onto our principles, but don't let the principles harden the heart and we fail to love our brothers (homosexual or heterosexual). We must point like men on a hill to the love and righteousness found in Christs forgiveness for all sins.

We can not point when we are yelling at our brother for their behavior.   The child will ask, "Momy and Dad why are these people hated?" Don't bar the child from the love of Christ!


John Fuller vice president of Focus on the Family's Audio and New Media devision said.

All of us – including those with special needs, the elderly, the orphan, the preborn – have inherent worth because we are uniquely created by God for a purpose. Once we recognize this simple truth, we are inspired to offer a kind word and an understanding heart to those society considers outcasts. Once we see the dignity in each and every individual, we become willing to disrupt our “model” lives and embrace the beautiful mess of investing in others.

Listen to a sermon on 5:21-26 from Christ Church Berkley.

Gospel Beginnings.

The gospel is a hard nut to crack into exact, precise words.   The gospel is understood best by continually reading Romans 1:1-21 [for about seven times during a week of intense study], but by the end of that time you would probably be exhausted and not be able to come up with a precise definition of the gospel.   The gospel is the pivot point of Christianity.  
But to begin our picture lets paint a story;
Once upon a time, and still to this day man (lets call him Adam) was sinful. Adam worked as a mechanic in a sinful machine.  Each machine part was tainted with sinful dust, which added more and more dust, and made piles of dust each and every day (365 24/7).

No matter how hard Adam tried to get rid of the dust, the dust was always there.

God had kept an eye on the machinery of man and was not pleased with the continual accumulation of dusty particles.   God will call him El, knew that the only solution was to help man with the dust problem.   El knew he was the only hope for man.   So the lone gun man El, sent his Logos-Son-Jesus into the factory.  Jesus turned over the factory and busted the machinery into tiny pieces.   The machinery would no longer be able to produce the sinful dust that had so plagued man.
Man was/is stubborn and it took time for man to see the awesome power of Monkey wrenching Jesus.
 Some men even went and started building more machines.
So Jesus proclaimed, if you join that crew you can not be part of my kingdom.   Jesus came to adopt man into a kingdom absent of dusty machines.

{The Beginning}

 I know that there are flaws in my story, so write me and discuss where you may have a problem with this explanation: 

1950's Billy Graham Perspectives on His Life and Theology (part One)

Billy Graham is my grandfather's pastor. To understand my grandfather better it is important to understand the man my grandfather listened to in order to come develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. 


 When I saw that the book Billy Graham His Life and Influence was available for review, I grabbed the book. I am glad that I decided to read this one.  The book unlike a number of others (roughly 128) focuses on a panoramic-historical context of Billy Graham's effect on Christianity from 1949 to the early part of the 21^st century.

There are a number of themes covered in this book, they include:

1. Modern Methods: "We take for granted publicity, bigness, modern techniques. Why should not the church employ some of these methods, that are used by big business or labor unions to promote their products or causes, in order to win men for Christ?"
   
   
2. Mainstream Evangelicalism and its Gospel Representation since 1949 to the early part of the 21^st Century. The terms liberalism and fundamentalism have arisen in modern days. Neither is found in sacred Scripture.
   
   
3. Media's Coverage of American Evangelicals. The media by and large has been friendly and sympathetic in every city that we have visited.
   
   
4. International Relationships through the gospel with diverse groups such as India, North Korea, Germany, England, and New York.

"John Wesley once said, "The World is my parish." Would it be right for us to limit our ministry to only the United States when other countries of the world that are even more spiritually in need. The American government realizes that we no longer live unto ourselves and that what happens in other countries vitally affects us. A spiritual awakening in some of the world's strategic countries will have tremendous impact on the U.S."

  5. Role of Emotions in Evangelicalism:

And I do not think that Christianity holds the emotions in stoic contempt or that it leaves the emotional emptiness of modern life to be filled by secular things…. The content of the message is mainly distinctive bible doctrine.    

 (Items from a look Magazine Article) found at http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/exhibits/NYC57/05sample23-1.htm

Last visited 06.05.2010

1073-1085 Cathari and Heretical War

East of the wormhole the Cathari warship the Troubadour was headed towards Earth. Cathari leaders were devoted to extremes of self denial. They believed in killing the body in order to free the spirit. It was well known through out the universe, that they would rather starve themselves than submit to the whole body position defended by their enemies the Dominicans.

1079 – April 21, 1142 Abelard: Christ Showed us Grace

On the rocky shore of Cedar Key Florida, at low tide, I saw two crabs walking backwards. It was a spectacular morning, around four AM and the full moon was still lighting the beach.

I looked closer and saw that the crabs were kin. The mother was busy scolding her offspring and did not pay attention to me, the weather, or anything else.

"Why in the world, child, do you not walk as the other creatures do-forward instead of backward?" she complained.

"Mother, dear," replied the little Crab, "do but set the example yourself, and I will follow."

Abelard:
"Through this unique act of grace manifested to us - in that his Son has taken upon himself our nature and persevered therein, in teaching us by word and example even unto death - he has more fully bound us to himself by love; with the result that our hearts should be enkindled by such a gift of divine grace, and true charity should not now shrink from enduring anything for him." (Placher 145)

Application: Example is the best precept.

1033-1109 Ontological Arguement Revealed to Bertrand Russel

Anslem a monk and Archbishop of Canterburry made this arguement for the existence of God betwen 1033-1109.

1. God is something than which nothing greater can be thought.

2. God exists in the understanding.

3. It is greater to exist in reality and in the understanding than just in understanding.

4. Therefore, God exists in reality

Bertrand Russel in 1894 walked from the University down Trinity Lane.

Women talked about the fashions amongst the green verdant vegetables. The men in red coats and black hats discussed the current philosophy of the day; faith must precede understanding. The sun cast a shadow against the yellow grimly stained buildings full of noisy children learning from their open books and strict school masters. The red roofs of the buildings stood in contrast to the crosses on top of the cathedral.

An idea alighted on Bertrand Russel, like a stick of dynamite. He had gone out to buy a tin of tobacco but on his way back he was struck, the tin went spiraling in the air, and he exclaimed as he made an amazing catch, "Damn, the ontological argument is valid. Great Scott, the ontological argument is valid."

1228-1306 Jacophone De Todi

Plato and Socrates may contend

And all the breath in their bodies spend
Arguing without end -
What's it all to me?
Only a pure and simple mind
Straight to heaven its way doth find;
Greets the King - while far behind
Lags the world's philosophy.

Jaciphone De Todi (1228-1306)

Two medieval point of views emerged:

(1)Those in the monastery held onto the faith. Monks/theologians meditated solely on the word of God and the meaning of Christianity.

(2) Those in the university held onto reason coupled with faith. University professors meditated on the Word of God and how it related to the WORLD. They then waged an intellectual jihad for the merits of Christianity against worldly based human reason.

Dominican and Franciscan monks attempted to blend the role of the professor and the theologian together, an imperfect union of faith and reason.

1225-1253 A Visit with Grossestese

As we walked down the corridor we are greeted by a lone monk.

"Welcome! I am Senior Grosseteste of England. Allow me to amuse you in these hallowed corridors of our Roman Church; where we appoint not pastors but destroyers of the hearts of men. Our clergy rank highly in the arts of covetous, greed and of course immorality. When we hear of protest we deem those protesters heretics, and send them to our Hell-Hound Cerebrus. Cerebrus gnaws on bones with a passion not equaled. What a delightful sound to hear them cry like babies, while our dog gnaws on their flesh, ripping them into pieces. Such delights! We will use any means neccessary to protect the sanctity of our mother the Church. We just ask that you believe."

Within the temporary tent the teachers solidified the Christian system by reading :

"God reached out, touched my mouth, and said,
"Look! I've just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered!
See what I've done? I've given you a job to do
among nations and governments—a red-letter day!
Your job is to pull up and tear down,
take apart and demolish,
And then start over,
building and planting." Jeremiah 1:10 (The Message)

Britains Got Talent

Ezekiel 40:22 (Show Ezekiel 40)
And its windows, its vestibule, and its palm trees were of the same size as those of the gate that faced toward the east. And by seven steps people would go up to it, and find its vestibule before them.

I watched last night before me

an ugly duckling become an elegant swan.
she stood their amongst cat calls.
Salivating wolves licked their chops.
Because she did not look anything like talent.
She opened her mouth in triumph,
her voice flew out fluttering,
wiping tears that appeared in front of my dirty eyes,
wings cleansed my dirty frame,
I had seen an ugly duckling,
but now I saw her beauty take flight.

Interlude: Christianity Today?

Found these funny videos on IMONK (Michael Spencer's Blog) and thought y'all would like them... very funny stuff and very ummm so thought provoking:

Father Thomas Keating: Spiritual not Religious

We go back to a time when mysticism was a strong pulsating heart. We walk down the corridors of a monastery that is protected inside a cave. The cave is dark. The darkness is thick; like your moving within a cloud. A torch in your left hand allows you to view pictures on a wall. You look closely now at one of the pictures; you see a painful moment in your own historic quest. The pain has been there for a long time and has begun to corrode your heart.

(Father Thomas Keating speaks of releasing your grip on Religion and walk in the faith that could save your hardening heart.)

Whom is the Greatest?

Matthew 18

Whoever Becomes Simple Again

¹ At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?"

^2-5For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.(The Message)

3 September Aint No Roman Holiday: 590 AD

Roman Providences appeared destroyed by fire, everything looked like the dark side of a lunar landscape. The dead piled up like giant baskets of unwashed laundry.

Our first glance would be wrong: seeds laid waiting for a renewing rain that would fill up a growing earth. Pope Gregory the Great was called to the Papacy.

Ireland was important in the awakening to the Gospel in England. The 12 Apostles of Ireland were part of the 1st movement of the good news of Christ. The 12 Apostles of Ireland were:

St. Finian
St. Ciaran of Saighir
St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise
St. Brendan of Birr
St Brendan of Clonfert
St. Columba of Terryglass
St. Columba of Iona
St. Mobhi of Glasnevin
St. Radhain of Lorrha
St. Senan
St. Ninnidh
St. Lasserian
St. Canice
Finnen of Magh Bile

We will be looking at one of these Apostles, St. Columba of Iona.

330 AD: Matthew 16:13-19

Constantinople became the New Imperial Roman Center. Rome was now the boonies, a backwater hole, once grand but now laid waste by the Barbarians. This new emphasis on Canstinonople upset many Romans. The Roman Christians believed that in Peter the keys to the kingdom had been handed over. Peter's ministry and martyrdom was in Rome.

*(See Below Matthew 16:13-19)


Matthew 16:13-19 (The Message)
16Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

17-18Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

19"And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."

(See Augustins view of Matthew 16:13-19)

Fifth Citation (Augustine on the Psalms, Volume VII, Psalm LXI ) "For Christ Himself is the tower, Himself for us hath been made a tower from the face of the enemy, who is also the Rock whereon hath been builded the Church."

Catholic Stewardship

Imagine the tension between the Catholic City Slickers and the Presbyterian Farmers:

Catholic Bishop: "We were here first."

Farmer in Burgundy: "So!"

"We know how to run country folks. Bishop Blood lines draws from Peter and Paul! We appoint representatives to administer sacraments but we run the show."

"You can't tax us without our regard."

"Ha ha, Watch us!"

Interlude: Whom Is the Greatest

(the Message 18:1-5)
" At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?"

2-5For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.

(ESV Matthew 18:1-5)
1^(A) At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you^(B) turn and^(C) become like children, you^(D) will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4^(E) Whoever humbles himself like this child is the^(F) greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5^(G) "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6but^(H) whoever causes one of these^(I) little ones who believe in me to sin,^[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Augustine and the City of God i.11

Augustine and the City of God i.11

At times we must go on or else be caught in the maelstrom of entropic forces that will pull all of Polycarp 55 to the pit of space and time. As I do not want to excel into the vast void, will move on now from Augustin and back into the stream of the church narrative.

City of God I.6

Augustin's City of God I.6

Romans believed that it was noble, "to spare the vanquished and subdue the proud,” and that they preferred “rather to forgive than to revenge an injury;"