Living The Divine Life

Living The Divine Life

Have you ever dreamed about living a miraculous life? Living a life that is not so encumbered by the limitations of this world, a life not so guided by the everyday conundrum of the mundane?

Take a look at the following text

(Luke 1:26) In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town inGalilee,

(Luke 1:27) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

(Luke 1:28) The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

(Luke 1:29) Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

(Luke 1:30) But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

(Luke 1:31) You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

(Luke 1:32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

(Luke 1:33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

(Luke 1:34) "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

(Luke 1:35) The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[3] the Son of God.

(Luke 1:36) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.

(Luke 1:37) For nothing is impossible with God."

(Luke 1:38) "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

This is the Christmas season… and around us we see lights, and Christmas trees, Christmas shopping, sales and wrapping and so on… There are so many things associated with this season… from presents, cantatas to dinners, and shopping, oh man there is so much shopping!! But the season also houses in it, the theme and the possibility of the miraculous…

There is so much that is miraculous about Christmas – so much divinity in this event! And to be honest we should take notice – because of the individuals involved are – People like Joseph, Elizabeth and even Mary – are nothing more than people, humans just like you and I, they are nothing more than normal everyday people – whom were touched by, and encountered by and engaged with divinity.

I want to talk to you about what it takes:

· To live in the miracle

· to live connected to divinity

· to live a life susceptible to phenomenon, susceptible to the supernatural… susceptible to the celestial

And this brings me to my first thought – WE ARE NOT ALONE…

We are not without traveling companions,

We are not without the assistance of divine fellow servants

We do not travel these life highways alone

We do not face trials alone

We do not face life decisions alone

Instead it is true to state and to say that the celestial are among us, divinity is with us… it surrounds us, communicates to us, and moves us

look at Luke chapter 1

(Luke 1:26) In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town inGalilee,

(Luke 1:27) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

(Luke 1:28) The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Notice the occurrences here:

· angels on the earth

· The celestial interacting with humanity

· Talking with humanity

· Moving humanity

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Luke 2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[1] the Lord.

Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

· Joseph was not alone

· Mary was not alone

· Daniel in the book of Daniel was not alone

· John the revelator talked with an angel he was not alone

· Even lowly shepherds in the field had an encounter with what the bible calls heavenly hosts!

You my dear friend are not alone –

· You are connected to divinity

· You are surrounded by divinity

· You are loved by divinity

you encounter it everyday – many times completely unaware

(Hebrews 13:2) Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.¹

You see that we are not alone – we are surrounded and encirculed and connected to the divine – to God – ALL DAY LONG!

We need to be come – conscious of it- Aware of HIS presence

CHRISTMAS SPEAKS THIS TO US WE ARE NOT ALONE

My next thought is With this touch of divinity, with God - Nothing Is Impossible

There is a point where Jesus is teaching his disciples about salvation and they are stating that what Jesus is telling them is a hard thing and they wonder who can do what Jesus is telling them

And Jesus replies

(Matthew 19:26) But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

You see what he is saying here is so true – so many of the things that we do are connected only to ourselves

So many of the things that we attempt, we attempt all by ourselves

You will find repeatedly in the bible men attempting a task while not connected to divinity and they fail - Yet those same men when connected to God and while operating with God succeed at this exact same task

When we connect to God we connect to success

When we connect to God we connect to power

When we connect to God we connect to might

When we connect to God we connect to victory

There is no failure in God

There is no lack in God

There are no deficiencies in God

When we connect to the power of God

When we connect to the might of God

When we connect to the anointing of God

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

(Luke 1:34) "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

(Luke 1:35) The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[3] the Son of God.

(Luke 1:36) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.

(Luke 1:37) For nothing is impossible with God."

Mary knows what the angel has said is not physically possible

It is beyond her to conceive a child without knowing a man

She looks at this and says “How will this be?”

How many of us look at the task before us and wonder – How will this be?

I can’t do this

I can’t afford this

I cannot achieve this

HOW WILL THIS HAPPEN?

GOD of course is the answer God does miracles through humanity – He did amazing things through

Mary, Moses, Daniel, or Paul… to name few! There are a long list of humans who said – How? But The answer was and is GOD!

My Next thought is - The Willing & Surrendering Spirit SAYS “Do with Me as you will”

This is a very critical point – Mary works with the divine will of God, she allows it to overshadow her, she follows its flow where ever it goes and she flows with it. How strange a thing this is that we often fail to recognize the move of God, and fail to get on board with the plan of God!

The greatest hindrance to a miraculous existence, to a celestial experience, to divine life is our insistence on our own way.

Moses operated in the miraculous – because he was in the plan of God

Think of Shadrach – Meshach and Abednego – the Hebrew men who did not die in the fiery furnace. These men were not immune to fire, They did not have a genetic disposition that gave them the ability to withstand flames, heat and fire. So how did the miraculous happen, or this amazing event transpire? Simple Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were operating in the flow of GOD!

Connected to the divine current of God – to the way God was moving, created a new realm of possibilities, an absolutely powerful avenue of the divine… functioning, operating and performing the miraculous!

Listen to the book of James

Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

Jas 4:2 You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

Jas 4:4 You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."

Jas 4:7 So let God work his will in you

Where does the breakdown happen… In selfishness, our personal desires, our fleshy or selfish wants!

There is great power in disconnecting from self so we can follow God, disconnecting from what we want, disconnecting from our selfish desires, disconnecting from our own will our own current or flow which is full of limitations and full of impossibilities…

Paul called addressed this disconnect in (1 Corinthians 15:31) I die daily.

And again in the book of Galatians

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

Paul is saying “this is not about what I want” or “This is not about my ego, or my self image” -This is not about my own selfish desires… This is about what GOD is doing and my connection and life in him

(Luke 17:33) People who try to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives will save them.

There is a section of scripture that I always found so intriguing and it is in the book of Acts… notice this

(Acts 16:6) Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

(Acts 16:7) After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit^[a] did not permit them.

Notice that Paul has a desire, and even attempts to fulfill it… but when this does not work, for whatever reason, the writer says the Spirit, the divine, did not permit them to go… How unique is this? How incredible that there is no blame on the world, or the devil or some force of evil… but instead He accepts what is happening stating that God is in charge!

Our job is just to recognize and cooperate with that divine guidance. To stop letting life be a struggle, and, instead, begin to flow with effortless ease in the direction that God guides…

The Miraculous life is found in those that trust in God, obey and flow with God… connect with Him… Surrender to God… Accept the fact that God is with us… that in Him we move, we live, we breath and we have our being(Acts 17:28)

The Easy Encounter With God

So what’s wrong with the world today, what’s wrong with the church? Why are people so embittered against the church, and why is it so hard to get them connected, why are we frustrated, why are ministers leaving the ministry?

These are a few of the questions that loom among the believers today and I am sure there are a million opinions on this issue, I have one too… I don’t think that my opinion is of any more validity than any one else’s, but hey it’s my blog and I’ll blog if I want too!

My personal opinion is this – years of self righteous, self serving, self pinning, egotistical, religious, hypocritical, self defined virtue have taken its toll. So much so that we don’t even know what church is suppose to look like, or feel like! We don’t know how to respond to one another, to respond to the call of Christ or to the world without!

Who to love, how to love, what to love and what is love seem to be the most evasive answers to our “Christian society” today.

We are stuck between the manufactured image of our modern Christ, and the frustration that product produces.

It has so many of us feeling lost and uncertain.

Let’s face it we are tired and frustrated… tired of trying to play the part and look the image… saying the “Christian thing” in the Christian way, feeling frustrated that God did not “show up” or did not respond the way the televangelist said he would and wondering where in the world we are!

So many are tired of the right song at the right moment followed by the manufactured right words – it has become nauseating and all the while– there He is, Jesus, consistent, persistent, loving and waiting by that same ole well… The same well that he waited by for the Samaritan woman – Who like us was not worthy, who like us was frustrated, who like us was totally and utterly confused, who like us needed an encounter with the real Jesus! (John 4)

Interestingly enough Jesus seemed happy to oblige, happy to wait for this woman – in fact the encounter was His idea and… I like that… a God who looks for the opportunity to have an encounter with me, with you… a God who looks for the moment to clear it all up a bit… a God who takes the time to wait in a place where he knows I will show up… just to encounter me… Wow – can I fathom being “God –Chased!”

Encountering God may not be the maze we once propagated it to be… Could it be that God wants to expose us to His love, His grace and His power?(Luke 13:35) (John 1:14-17) Could it be this seeming chase to find Him, this elusive game of His presence being just out of our reach that all this has been a sham? A rouse, even perhaps a tool to keep us in line?

I don’t even know if I want to answer that, all I know is the God defined by scripture seems to be hunting continually for us… I find Him calling men, (Mark 1: 16, 17, 18) seeking them in the cool of the day,(Genesis 3:8) seeking them under trees,(1 Kings 19:5) in a manger at some dirty stable(Luke 2:1-14) in upper rooms(John 20:24-29), and walking along roads( Luke 24:13-32) and even through burning bushes and MOST PROMINANTLY ON A CROSS…

And so the question is – WHO ARE YOU GOD? - The God who abides ever elusively or are you the one who continually calls to man, even hunts for him? The one who has broken every barrier to get to us, the one who circumvented the spirit/flesh barrier, the life/death barrier – even the sin barrier to reach us, to get into our presence, and to bring us into yours?

This seems to be You? All that I can say to this is “Thank you”

Thank you Jesus because I am so lost sometimes and what I really need is for you to come find me… and you do(Matthew18:12-14)

Thank you God because I get so depleted and what I really need to know is that you love me, and you promise me that you do (Jeremiah 31:3)

Thank you Jesus because sometimes I get weary and I need a friend and you are…(John 15:15)

Be the self defined God of my life… Set me free of my illusions and let me see you through your own description of who you are!

Because you are magnificent, glorious and great! The God who went through ALL THE TROUBLE OF SENDING HIS OWN SON - and for what?!?

For you and for me... Can you accept that today? Can you receive that today? That God has chased you... Called you... Wants you? He does you know... He loves you... and you can't change that... Thank God - For He has loved us with an everlasting, unending, unfathomable love(John 3:16)

Without Spot!

With anger Janice threw her purse to the table, she could not believe what happened today; she was furious, frustrated and offended! She reached for the phone and called her best friend “Sarah” Janice started “you won’t believe what happened today, I am furious” Sarah sensing Janice’s rage she quickly asked Janice “What in the world happened?” “Well, you wont believe it” Janice quipped “Do you remember James, the man I work with, you know the one I have been witnessing too – well today he literally had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to have an affair!” Janice heatedly lamented. “I mean me, a Christian – How could he?”
Sarah sensing the obvious pain and frustration tried to intervene, but Janice was already starting the next wave of her tirade – “I don’t get it, I was kind, I smiled, I showed interest and care – I even ate lunch with him once – all the things that Jesus did! I even…” before she could go on Sarah interrupted “Janice –in all your WWJDing did you ever actually tell James about Jesus? Did you make it clear that you where a sold out, born again, spirit filled Christian?” silence dominated the cell waves for a moment – Janice had forgotten the most important element in propagating Christianity – was actually being a Christian.

In our attempts to become relevant and reachable to an unchurched world, I watch as the lines of distinction between the church and the world really have begun to blur and not to our credit – I am not talking about musical styles or apparel, but plain ole common ethics – ethics are merely a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a person or group – I am amazed as the masses compromise these elements when they seem to suit them and uphold them in an attempt to manipulate others…

For instance Christian musical groups seem to find creative ways to hide their faith in their lyrics, witnessing techniques set at hiding our truest views in relevant words, and of course the “post modern language and behavior approach” whose motive is “to win them you have to be like them” mentality.


Certainly we could dive much further and all the more offensive if we so chose; one would merely need to address improper relationships in the church, conservatives voting liberal instead of God’s values - I am still dying to figure that one out, particularly in pertinent in the coming days – I mean the erosion of common sense holiness is apparent! In fact in an ethics class recently the instructor had to tell the class “When you pastor a church don’t invite the secretary to ride with you to the bank or to look at new carpet or anywhere else!” another stated “If you have a problem with internet pornography get help – and stop doing it” More than once I have seen praise teams, worship bands and church members whose apparel allowed me to see… more – actually much more than I should see.

While I do not believe that holiness has completely faded into oblivion I do believe it has taken a back seat or has been removed from the center stage – common ethics are no longer givens – the next generation has to be told about potential dangers, from leaders because they never learned them as basic ethics 101 - which perhaps could be the reason accusations are becoming more and more common! Interestingly enough Paul stated in (Romans 2:24) As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

The notion was that the sins of God’s people where in some ways tarnishing the image of God among the heathen… Have you considered how failures not only affect the church but those outside the church as well? I was not serving the Lord when Jimmy Swaggert fell – but I well remember it: he bashed Rock and Roll it seemed every Sunday, sending all us rockers to hell in his sermons… when news of his fall hit my ears – I confess it was damaging, when ministers fall, marriages fail, and churches split – make no mistake friends the world is watching, and yet another brick wall is built, another excuse supplied and another reason is gained to stay away from Jesus and the hypocrites that follow Him.

Over the next few weeks and days I’d like to deal with a few controversial topics relating to Godly principles. Certainly feathers will be ruffled and toes stepped on – and you (yes I am talking to you) may even disagree with my personal assessment. Few are as avid against the destruction of legalism as am I, but we must equally understand that the ruse of covert Christianity is not consistent with the faith of our forefathers: Peter, James or Paul, nor is it is not consistent with the spread of our faith all around the world… Hugs are good, grace is glorious, but there’s value in an ole fashioned altar call from time to time…

Change Christianity from its original ingredients, and sooner than later its really not Christianity any more – I was once served meat loaf with and interesting twist, and honey I can tell you just because you call it meat loaf – that does not make it meat loaf – “I’ve had Meat Loaf, and this dear lady aint no Meat Loaf”

I remember

Did the red seem a little more vibrant, the blue a little more precious, and the stars somehow more majestic on the US flag today?

They did for me, as I passed by the flag at Carbondale park flying at half mast this morning, and I admit it – tears formed in my eyes – it is a beautiful flag. I love my country so much, and as I reflected on the September 11^th that tragically unfolded seven years ago… I realized it still hurts a little, and I am still a little upset over the whole thing… and still a little angry.

I am moved at the Twin Towers, on our soil, burning in the New York skyline, the people leaping from burning structures, on our soil, our US brothers and sisters, jumping to their death, and others who gave their lives in the hopes of saving some: fireman, policemen and ambulatory services succumbing to death all at the means of terrorists, and on our soil.

• I have not forgotten them
• I have not forgotten the killers who sinned against them, and us.
• I have not forgotten the images of destruction, death and ruin.
• I have not forgotten the threats, and cheers of Muslim extremists.
• I have not forgotten the tears I cried on that day.
• I have not forgotten the stories of those who lost family, those who survived, and the lives of children who lost their parents.
• I have not forgotten the messages on answering machines of those who stated their last goodbyes
• I have not forgotten the plane in the pentagon
• I have not forgotten the plane in the field
• I have not forgotten 9/11 and I hope I NEVER do.

I hope time does not dull the senses, time does not dull the resolve, time does not dull the memory of transgressors murdering innocent Americans… I hope time does not dull the feeling of my honored citizenship on that day when we as a country where one, we where honored, we where proud and patriotic! I hope time does not dull the reality of evil that exists in this world, and resolve that good must persevere!

I contend that 9/11 is the most significant event to occur in my life time… and perhaps the history of this nation, and though life continues, business is usual, and the world turns – I am today emotional; emotional over the date, emotional over the memory and emotional over the event… and today I remember! To the victims, the hero’s to dead, and to terrorists – I REMEMBER YOU!

September 11, 2001 ever ingrained in my spirit; I remember where I was, the station that was playing, and the spot in the road. I remember the scenes from the television, the call home and the days that followed…

Today take a moment to look at the flag, today take a moment to say a prayer for the fatherless, the widowed and the hurting, today take a moment to pray for our leaders… today take a moment to remember

My Review of "The Shack"

Okay – well here goes my spin on the book "The Shack". There has been a lot of buzz about the book. Some good some bad, some fair and some just down right rude!
The Shack is a novel by William P. Young, and the book has made quite a few waves in Christian circles. It has been on the New York Times best sellers list and at the time of this opine it is among the top ten at Amazon .com as well!

So what’s the deal - a whole host of reviewers have labeled the book as poorly written, while others have even called it “heresy” to the opposite extreme the highly respected Eugene Peterson, who is responsible for the Message Bible, stated:

"When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of The Shack. This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!"

Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus Of Spiritual Theology,
Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.

Other churches claim to be giving the book away by the box loads, because it is so good… So who is right?
What do I think?

Well I read the book in a weekend and I loved it! I laughed and, admittedly, I cried, and felt the presence of God. I think the book is absolutely fantastic! It is the most unconventional, weird and outside the box Christian book I have ever read, and it made a profound impact on me! I cannot recommend it enough! READ THIS BOOK!

Now that being said is it the most theologically sound book on the market? No it is not, nor is that the intention of the author. The author’s intention is to show the love of God, and those who criticize the book based on its theological stumblings didn’t "get it" to begin with…

The book is not a discourse of doctrine; it is instead a journey through the soul of a broken man, who experiences the love of God. It is unconventional to be certain… but it is a beautiful exchange that shows a God who is not impressed, nor desires, for humanity to live in guilt, condemnation, and shame… With the constant nagging of "I’m not doing enough" Well: Hip Hip Hooray! It explores on an emotional level the acceptance of completion in Christ – a main theme of the apostle Paul by the way – which in a world of witch trials, seed- faith (sowing seeds for miracles) and other barterings with God – I further applaud- again "Hip Hip Hooray!"

For certain there are some portions of the book that are not absolutely 100% concrete correct, but the book challenges the Pharisee resident in all of us, it challenges us to instead of simply seeing, and abiding by the rules of the bible the book pushes us to the spirit of the law, instead of the regulations we are pushed to relationship – The relationship between God and man, and man and man… (one more time now all together "HIP HIP HOORAY")

Once again- I never said the book was perfect nor am I ready to trade in the ole KJV and inquire about the leather bound – gold leaf version of "The Shack" to astutly stuff under my arm on a Sunday morning! But my goodness I will contend my heart was enlightened, my spirit was lifted and my soul did rejoice!

Few books make a profound impact on me, in fact it is rare that I finish one, this one I finished, and it has left its mark. If you’re looking for the next series of Doctrinal Discourses on the Trinity, or The Finite Understandings of the Symbolism on the book of Revelation Accurately Explained – the book is certain to disappoint – if however you can open your mind and let your heart take a ride with a God who possibly loves us so much more than we imagined – I think you’ll enjoy the book (gee just for old times sake “HIP HIP HOORAY”)

A few concerns
To be fair in the latter chapters a discourse gives ever so slightly the appearance of universalism and the discerning eye will raise its brow– it does later however talk of the need for repentance and relationship with Jesus Christ…

The Trinity aspect is sometimes unique – and not always consistent – but lets say this word out loud together "FICTION"

Finally the subject recently came up in our discussion on Wednesday evening about God first appearing to Mack (the main character) as an overweight black woman, and how odd that was… to which came the quick rebuttal “But you don’t mind Him as a talking burning bush?”

God Bless you and I hope you enjoy the read!
Craig