We have some events coming up at church in the near future that have the potential to impact many lives; for that reason, our Pastor has called the church to a seven-day fast for alignment and focusing ourselves on hearing God in preparation for these.
This will be a Fast of Submission, and, as part of my fasting, I will be doing another internet break.
If you're curious about fasting, our Pastor has posted some simple fasting guidelines
Guess that will give me a good chance to sharpen the sword, eh?
I'll be back next Sunday! ;)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Days Like This...
Honey, you know, sometimes 'sugars out'. It's easy enough to fix; you just set the jar in a pan of hot water until the honey liquefies again.
But, what if your jar is a plastic squeeze bottle?
It's impossible to get the granulated honey out of the bottle into a glass container; I thought I'd just set the bottle in the hot water until it 'just' got hot enough to liquefy the honey and then pull it out fast.
Unfortunately, on Wednesday when this event actually took place, The Flute Player was a bit late leaving for school and the moment she left I dashed off to get into the shower.
Forgetting completely about the honey on the stove.
When I came back down half an hour later, the bottle had blown up like a football. It hadn't ruptured...but when I pulled it out of the water it all collapsed. Wouldn't even stand up.
I kinda propped it up so it could cool...but, wow...
I didn't think about it, but the general consensus is that the honey has been contaminated by random plastic molecules, since it was heated to the expansion point.
Rats.
But, what if your jar is a plastic squeeze bottle?
It's impossible to get the granulated honey out of the bottle into a glass container; I thought I'd just set the bottle in the hot water until it 'just' got hot enough to liquefy the honey and then pull it out fast.
Unfortunately, on Wednesday when this event actually took place, The Flute Player was a bit late leaving for school and the moment she left I dashed off to get into the shower.
Forgetting completely about the honey on the stove.
When I came back down half an hour later, the bottle had blown up like a football. It hadn't ruptured...but when I pulled it out of the water it all collapsed. Wouldn't even stand up.
I kinda propped it up so it could cool...but, wow...
I didn't think about it, but the general consensus is that the honey has been contaminated by random plastic molecules, since it was heated to the expansion point.
Rats.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Prep Work 2: Sharpen the Sword
Tuesday night there was a prayer meeting called for the deaconesses in the church to come together and pray for the women's conference. We were exhorted to go aside from our routine and let God deal with us as individuals...so that we would be ready to minister to the women who are coming.
The specific word was, 'Sharpen your sword'.
So I'm going to look at a couple of verses today, just because they were the first ones that popped into my spirit when I heard 'Sharpen your sword'.
(NOTE: what follows is exactly what I learned, written as I found it. Sorry it's so long...it's a paradigm shift and I haven't completely processed it yet. But it's very interesting!)
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. - Eph. 6:17
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart - Heb. 4:12
Whoa. Brain freeze.
See, I have been mulling this over for the last couple of days as I went about the necessary business of life, thinking about what it means and how I need to apply it to sharpen my sword. Thinking it is about digging into my Bible and refreshing myself on the truths contained there-in.
But, as I just typed those words out, reading them for the umpety-ump-umpth time, I suddenly realized something.
When Paul and the author of Hebrews wrote those words, there was no Bible. All they had was the Law and the Prophets....and the common folk did not have access to copies of those. It certainly wasn't available to the Gentiles living in Ephesus. They probably weren't even terribly familiar with the Hebrew scriptures.
But, according to my dispensational upbringing, 'the word of the Lord' always means the written word...the Bible. So I pulled out the Zodhiates and looked it up.
The Greek word used in Heb. 4:12 is, indeed, logos (Strongs # 3056). Okay, I thought, that actually is the written word. But, when I looked it up in the Word Study Dictionary, I found this (I have omitted the rather lengthy descriptions of the secondary meanings):
-[taken from the noun lego - 'to speak intelligently.']Intelligence, word as the expression of that intelligence, discourse, saying, thing.
I - Word, both the act of speaking and the thing spoken.
A) Word, as uttered by the living voice.
B) An emphatic word, meaning a saying, declaration, sentiment uttered.
C) Word or words, meaning talk, discourse, speech, the act of holding forth
D) Word, meaning talk, rumor, report.
II. - Reason, the reasoning Faculty as that power of the soul which is the basis of speech, rationality.
A) A reason, ground, cause
B) Reason as demanded or assigned, meaning reckoning, account
III - The word Logos in [John's writings] stands for the preincarnate Christ, the spiritual, divine nature spoken of in the Jewish writings before and about the time of Christ, under various names, e.g. Son of man
Wow. The Greek word that I had always thought specified the written word doesn't imply anything about writing...it has to do w/speech.
File that and go on to the next one...because the word used in Ephesians, the one specifically referring to the weapon we are to wield, is rhema. That, I've always been told, is the 'proceeding word'...a word spoken from God to one's spirit.
Here's what the Word Study Dictionary has to say about rhema (Strong's # 4487):
-[taken from the noun rheo, 'to speak'] That which is spoken, a statement, a word.
I. Particularly a word as uttered by a living voice.
II. Collectively, word, pl. words, meaning saying, speech, discourse.
III. In the New Testament usage, often it has a particular meaning depending on the adjuncts or context:
A. Charge, accusation
B. Prediction, prophecy, equivalent to rhemata proeiremena, sayings foretold. Rhemata tou Theou, sayings of God.
C. Promise from God
D. Command
E. Spoken of a teacher, word teaching, precept, doctrine...
F. A pronouncement from God.
IV. Metonymically* for things spoken of, a matter, affair.
Syn logos, the expression of thought, while rhema stands for the subject spoken about...
(*I had to look up 'metonymy' in the American Heritage Dictionary...it is defined as 'a figure of speech in which an idea is evoked or named by means of a term designating some associated notion.')
So...I don't really think I can so easily say now that logos is the written word and rhema is the revelatory word anymore. They both have the connotation of being spoken by a living voice. Actually, buried in the descriptive terms of application III - E of rhema is 'word of God...of the Lord, meaning the doctrines and promises of God revealed and taught in the Bible.'
Definitely a paradigm shift.
Obviously, the written word does fit aspects of both terms; but it appears that the word God speaks to us as individuals is the sword that pierces us and the weapon in our hand. It includes the written word and will never contradict it, but...if I'm going to sharpen my sword, what I really need to do is clean out my ears and shake off any sluggishness (throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...Heb. 12:1) so that I can respond to the Word that He quickens in my spirit instantly.
Lord I want to hear Your voice more clearly; I want to obey more immediately; bring your Holy Whetstone that the Sword will be swift and sure in my life....
The specific word was, 'Sharpen your sword'.
So I'm going to look at a couple of verses today, just because they were the first ones that popped into my spirit when I heard 'Sharpen your sword'.
(NOTE: what follows is exactly what I learned, written as I found it. Sorry it's so long...it's a paradigm shift and I haven't completely processed it yet. But it's very interesting!)
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. - Eph. 6:17
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart - Heb. 4:12
Whoa. Brain freeze.
See, I have been mulling this over for the last couple of days as I went about the necessary business of life, thinking about what it means and how I need to apply it to sharpen my sword. Thinking it is about digging into my Bible and refreshing myself on the truths contained there-in.
But, as I just typed those words out, reading them for the umpety-ump-umpth time, I suddenly realized something.
When Paul and the author of Hebrews wrote those words, there was no Bible. All they had was the Law and the Prophets....and the common folk did not have access to copies of those. It certainly wasn't available to the Gentiles living in Ephesus. They probably weren't even terribly familiar with the Hebrew scriptures.
But, according to my dispensational upbringing, 'the word of the Lord' always means the written word...the Bible. So I pulled out the Zodhiates and looked it up.
The Greek word used in Heb. 4:12 is, indeed, logos (Strongs # 3056). Okay, I thought, that actually is the written word. But, when I looked it up in the Word Study Dictionary, I found this (I have omitted the rather lengthy descriptions of the secondary meanings):
-[taken from the noun lego - 'to speak intelligently.']Intelligence, word as the expression of that intelligence, discourse, saying, thing.
I - Word, both the act of speaking and the thing spoken.
A) Word, as uttered by the living voice.
B) An emphatic word, meaning a saying, declaration, sentiment uttered.
C) Word or words, meaning talk, discourse, speech, the act of holding forth
D) Word, meaning talk, rumor, report.
II. - Reason, the reasoning Faculty as that power of the soul which is the basis of speech, rationality.
A) A reason, ground, cause
B) Reason as demanded or assigned, meaning reckoning, account
III - The word Logos in [John's writings] stands for the preincarnate Christ, the spiritual, divine nature spoken of in the Jewish writings before and about the time of Christ, under various names, e.g. Son of man
Wow. The Greek word that I had always thought specified the written word doesn't imply anything about writing...it has to do w/speech.
File that and go on to the next one...because the word used in Ephesians, the one specifically referring to the weapon we are to wield, is rhema. That, I've always been told, is the 'proceeding word'...a word spoken from God to one's spirit.
Here's what the Word Study Dictionary has to say about rhema (Strong's # 4487):
-[taken from the noun rheo, 'to speak'] That which is spoken, a statement, a word.
I. Particularly a word as uttered by a living voice.
II. Collectively, word, pl. words, meaning saying, speech, discourse.
III. In the New Testament usage, often it has a particular meaning depending on the adjuncts or context:
A. Charge, accusation
B. Prediction, prophecy, equivalent to rhemata proeiremena, sayings foretold. Rhemata tou Theou, sayings of God.
C. Promise from God
D. Command
E. Spoken of a teacher, word teaching, precept, doctrine...
F. A pronouncement from God.
IV. Metonymically* for things spoken of, a matter, affair.
Syn logos, the expression of thought, while rhema stands for the subject spoken about...
(*I had to look up 'metonymy' in the American Heritage Dictionary...it is defined as 'a figure of speech in which an idea is evoked or named by means of a term designating some associated notion.')
So...I don't really think I can so easily say now that logos is the written word and rhema is the revelatory word anymore. They both have the connotation of being spoken by a living voice. Actually, buried in the descriptive terms of application III - E of rhema is 'word of God...of the Lord, meaning the doctrines and promises of God revealed and taught in the Bible.'
Definitely a paradigm shift.
Obviously, the written word does fit aspects of both terms; but it appears that the word God speaks to us as individuals is the sword that pierces us and the weapon in our hand. It includes the written word and will never contradict it, but...if I'm going to sharpen my sword, what I really need to do is clean out my ears and shake off any sluggishness (throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...Heb. 12:1) so that I can respond to the Word that He quickens in my spirit instantly.
Lord I want to hear Your voice more clearly; I want to obey more immediately; bring your Holy Whetstone that the Sword will be swift and sure in my life....
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Whaddya Think About Dreams?
Ok, I'm not talking about those secret dreams of life goals; I'm talking about dreams that come when you're sleeping.
Sometimes I remember dreams, sometimes I don't. Sometimes a dream is burned into my brain and it bugs me.
I've got a notebook in which I record the dreams that I wake up thinking about...at least, most of them. There are one or two creepy ones that I remember but can't bring myself to record on paper.
I have a couple of 'scenario' dreams that repeat with slight variations.
Some folks say dreams are just the brain discharging; others say dreams are a subconscious way to deal with issues we aren't facing...and there's an application for prophetic dreaming, too.
I kinda think it's all of the above at one time or another.
I *don't* think someone can make blanket statements about what symbols mean in dreams. It's too personal...what symbolizes A to someone may symbolize B to someone else.
Anyway, I just thought I'd throw the topic out for further discussion later. I may even write about some of the dreams I had and what I concluded from them...or, how perplexed I am by them.
At the very least, that opens up a whole 'nuther souce for blog post material! ;)
Sometimes I remember dreams, sometimes I don't. Sometimes a dream is burned into my brain and it bugs me.
I've got a notebook in which I record the dreams that I wake up thinking about...at least, most of them. There are one or two creepy ones that I remember but can't bring myself to record on paper.
I have a couple of 'scenario' dreams that repeat with slight variations.
Some folks say dreams are just the brain discharging; others say dreams are a subconscious way to deal with issues we aren't facing...and there's an application for prophetic dreaming, too.
I kinda think it's all of the above at one time or another.
I *don't* think someone can make blanket statements about what symbols mean in dreams. It's too personal...what symbolizes A to someone may symbolize B to someone else.
Anyway, I just thought I'd throw the topic out for further discussion later. I may even write about some of the dreams I had and what I concluded from them...or, how perplexed I am by them.
At the very least, that opens up a whole 'nuther souce for blog post material! ;)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Bible Survey, Anyone?
The program we use for our girls ministry is, by rights, an Assembly of God product. We're not an AG church, but we use the literature just the same.
Back in the day, it went through, oh, early high school. To earn the honors, the girls had to do a ton of memorization and read the entire Bible.
When they added the jr high/high school classes some time ago, they altered the program, putting what had been the top honor in the grade 3-5 club; changing up requirements a bit and only requiring the girls to read the New Testament. They added honor requirements for the older girls; The Friends Club (jr high) then had to read the Bible through in their three years in order to earn their honors.
But, there's no 'step up' for the high school class. After reading the entire Bible in three years, the high school girls are then required to read it through in four years.
That just sounds kinda, well, lackluster to me.
So, since we're just starting the high school class this year, we decided to add a twist to the 'read the Bible through in 4 years' requirement.
As the girls read, they will be asked to write a one-sentence summary of each chapter. When finishing the book, then they use the page (or two!) of summaries to outline the book and write the theme statement.
There's no right or wrong answers...it's how each girl will decipher what she reads.
When she's done, she'll have a notebook of loose-leaf pages containing her own personal outline of the Bible.
Now *that's* a step up!
(I'm still 'reading the Bible through' with my Friends - the Junior High - class. When I finish, I'm going to start my own Bible Survey notebook. Just to keep up with the class....)
Back in the day, it went through, oh, early high school. To earn the honors, the girls had to do a ton of memorization and read the entire Bible.
When they added the jr high/high school classes some time ago, they altered the program, putting what had been the top honor in the grade 3-5 club; changing up requirements a bit and only requiring the girls to read the New Testament. They added honor requirements for the older girls; The Friends Club (jr high) then had to read the Bible through in their three years in order to earn their honors.
But, there's no 'step up' for the high school class. After reading the entire Bible in three years, the high school girls are then required to read it through in four years.
That just sounds kinda, well, lackluster to me.
So, since we're just starting the high school class this year, we decided to add a twist to the 'read the Bible through in 4 years' requirement.
As the girls read, they will be asked to write a one-sentence summary of each chapter. When finishing the book, then they use the page (or two!) of summaries to outline the book and write the theme statement.
There's no right or wrong answers...it's how each girl will decipher what she reads.
When she's done, she'll have a notebook of loose-leaf pages containing her own personal outline of the Bible.
Now *that's* a step up!
(I'm still 'reading the Bible through' with my Friends - the Junior High - class. When I finish, I'm going to start my own Bible Survey notebook. Just to keep up with the class....)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Must. Carry. Notebook.
I think I've had about 5 good ideas for blog posts today as I walked through the List of Things I Had To Do.
And, now that I have time to actually sit in front of the computer, my mind has gone totally blank.
I think I need to carry a little notebook around to remind myself of the Good Ideas.
And, now that I have time to actually sit in front of the computer, my mind has gone totally blank.
I think I need to carry a little notebook around to remind myself of the Good Ideas.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Showin' the Armadillo
posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Question: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Answer: To show the armadillo it could be done.
A little over a year and a half ago, we had a crisis at church. One of our associate pastors fell into a moral error. There was a public confession, apology and rebuke. There was much prayer for restoration. Then, there was nothing more said publicly; there were no rumors flying around.
It was grievous; if it happened to these particular folks, believe me, it could happen to anybody. I saw how vulnerable we as humans are to such things...and I distinctly recall hearing the Spirit warn me "If you judge others, you will open the door to that attack in your own life." These folks were/are friends of mine; I joined my heart to pray for them as well.
But an amazing thing happened. Both the (now former) associate pastor and his wife, and the other person involved and her husband continued to attend church...in the beginning, different services. There was counseling, there was prayer.
There was warfare. But the right kind.
And there was true repentance and reconciliation. Not overnight...but it happened.
This past Sunday, our pastor spoke on restoration...the kind of restoration God does when we allow Him to humble us and remake what has been broken. For the first time in a year and a half, he mentioned the situation that arose two years ago.
And, in the face of overwhelming odds, we now have two marriages that have been restored. It was time to tell the congregation that the process has been completed and the folks involved were released to lay ministry in the body once again.
A chicken is not a very likely bird to set an example, is it? But...if the chicken is willing to go through the dry, hard place, led by the Master, and keeps moving, it will, eventually, get to the other side.
It can be done.
I don't know if our pastoral leadership, or any of the folks involved will ever wander by here and read this. But, just in case they do...from the bottom of my heart, thank you for sticking to God through this and showing any who look that it can be done.
Question: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Answer: To show the armadillo it could be done.
A little over a year and a half ago, we had a crisis at church. One of our associate pastors fell into a moral error. There was a public confession, apology and rebuke. There was much prayer for restoration. Then, there was nothing more said publicly; there were no rumors flying around.
It was grievous; if it happened to these particular folks, believe me, it could happen to anybody. I saw how vulnerable we as humans are to such things...and I distinctly recall hearing the Spirit warn me "If you judge others, you will open the door to that attack in your own life." These folks were/are friends of mine; I joined my heart to pray for them as well.
But an amazing thing happened. Both the (now former) associate pastor and his wife, and the other person involved and her husband continued to attend church...in the beginning, different services. There was counseling, there was prayer.
There was warfare. But the right kind.
And there was true repentance and reconciliation. Not overnight...but it happened.
This past Sunday, our pastor spoke on restoration...the kind of restoration God does when we allow Him to humble us and remake what has been broken. For the first time in a year and a half, he mentioned the situation that arose two years ago.
And, in the face of overwhelming odds, we now have two marriages that have been restored. It was time to tell the congregation that the process has been completed and the folks involved were released to lay ministry in the body once again.
A chicken is not a very likely bird to set an example, is it? But...if the chicken is willing to go through the dry, hard place, led by the Master, and keeps moving, it will, eventually, get to the other side.
It can be done.
I don't know if our pastoral leadership, or any of the folks involved will ever wander by here and read this. But, just in case they do...from the bottom of my heart, thank you for sticking to God through this and showing any who look that it can be done.
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