Into perpetuity

Easter is all about breaking the chains of death and seeing how God can tamper with the laws of nature He has set in motion. Easter is a perpetual reminder that the Son of Man visited but has gone ahead of us to prepare a place. Easter takes the symbol of the Great Teacher and lets it stand on coffins letting the world know not to seek the living with the dead.

I want my voice to join the millions of people worldwide both in this era and the great number of past eras in announcing our faith in the words of the apostle Thomas upon realizing that Jesus actually did go through crucifixion and resurrection, "My Lord and my God!" I want my eyes to look beyond this limited life to the world that remains an enigma and peer into Jesus' eyes like Thomas', when he said he didn't know how to get to where Jesus was going, and see Jesus say, "You have been with me; you know the way."

Yes, today is Easter and has been for 2000 years. It's the day that tells the world that the forces of evil will not win in the end. Someone is more powerful than the Controlling One from the Dark Side. The original apostles stared at Jesus' ascension with sheer amazement and wonder as he left the earth. They were silent with the inspirational awe that drives a life through its course come what may. Into perpetuity I will remember the last supper in which Jesus said, "In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live."

Hallelujah!

(The words of Jesus and Thomas have been taken from John 14 and 20).

Touchstone

The word "touchstone" derives from the year 1481 in written records. It was coined to show why silver and gold were so precious. If silver and gold touch a stone (a black silliceous stone such as quartz) the color of the streak left on the black stone would determine the piece's quality. The figurative use of the word was not far behind its coining. In 1533, the idea that something is a standard for everything else to be compared by surfaced. So the meaning still is today.

When it comes to the teachings of the Great Teacher, I think there is one characteristic that pervades his teachings. It is best exemplified in the story from Luke that starts, "There was once a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, stripped him, and beat him up, leaving him half dead." The whole story is in Luke 10.25-37. In the story, a despicable human being helps another human being who badly needed his help. The humans who had status in society saw the same situation, but did not step in to help.

The idea of helping someone whose path has intersected with our own is the touchstone of Christian teaching. The color of the streaks of other characteristics do not have the same quality as acting for those who are in our path and need help. Christianity is but a religion if it exists without the streak that shows the high quality of rendering help. The saying is true, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." That's not in the Master's teachings, but it is a modern paraphrase of the story found in Luke. I hope my next 30 years reflect the touchstone of the Teacher's words.

Living in the third world

I go to work everyday in a very different environment from the man pictured. This is his shop in a Micronesian island. A few trappings of the modern world are there—car, plastic basket, roof of aluminum, swim trunks, glasses. He is a wood carver. He is holding a boat that he has made for the occasional tourist that drops by. He does other carpentry work because carpentry is his main trade.

Even though this man lives in a third world country, he has a little smattering of a civilization from beyond him. I tend to look on him with a certain amount of pity because of his third world status. But, he seems satisfied enough.

This gets me thinking about being trapped in this dimension of my life's time continuum. I'm relatively satisfied. I know there is another world beyond me, but it's beyond me. I know that others have preceded me there. But, I still practice my daily rituals in the world in which I live even though I see some of the trappings of the next world around me now. I don't have a great longing to leave any more than the man above is longing to leave. I just understand that one day, I will be forced to leave my third world and go to a grander civilization.

Ocean inspiration

There is something about staring at the ocean. It just goes on forever with a land break every now and then. It represents the timeless continuum humans are caught up in. Human species go back 3 million years. Our own species seem to have been around at least half of that time.

That being true, one has to consider that language also has to have been around that long. Communication had to have happened in order for the species to stay alive. So, when archaeologists find cave paintings dating back 35,000 years, those paintings are believable and instructive. When archaeologists find cuneiform tablets with writing dating to 3000-3500 BCE, then we also know that those tablets represent years and years and years for the writing to have developmentally reached that point. Humans have been around a really long time, as has human writing.

Staring at an ocean can enhance one's comprehension of the distant past because it too stretches on forever, inspiring one to think of what has happened on its watery surface for eons. The ocean makes one curious.

And from this curiosity, I allow myself to think of the world's origins and human origins. It makes me know that the first 11 chapters of Genesis is something recent. Although traces from human origins are in the text, the whole story is not—most of the story is not. It seems to have been condensed. Thousands and thousands and thousands of years of human activity have been made into story form. I choose to think the story is in allegorical form rather than literal form because too many years passed before the story was perpetuated in writing.

A little view of the ocean inspires such thoughts and much, much more. I keep my ocean pictures around for just such moments.

Jungle beauty

Our minds are like jungles in many ways. They consist of a bunch of thoughts that sometimes get out of our mouths as words, sometimes as gestures, sometimes as tone of voice, and sometimes by violent action depending on personality type. So when someone speaks, what is taking place in the jungle of his or her mind is glimpsed?

Today someone close to me got to see what was in the jungle of my mind. I was upset over a series of events. Someone I work with just happened to come to talk to me about an unrelated matter to my state of mind. Yet, I still decided to allow this person to capture what was in my jungle. My tone was louder than usual, my gestures more animated than usual. My words were well chosen to show a little vim, vigor, and venom.

All I could say was "Sorry you walked in at this moment," to the person. I don't know that others seeing what is in the jungle of our minds is wrong. It's simply what is there. Jungles are fierce places sometimes, scary places. But, they carry their own beauty.

Isn't it great that there is a way to see the beauty of the jungle on occasion.

Words as masks

Over the last 2 weeks I have seen a person in a position of power who likes to think that he exercises power, at least judging by his words. But his actions are far from powerful. People's words are what they have to exercise power because others judge that words have ensuing actions. When words are not succeeded by actions, the words are cheapened. They are mere bluffs.

In the case of the Creator, when he said, "Let there be light," light came into existence. No bluff. In the case of humans, when someone says something but fails to follow up with action, nothing comes into existence except contempt for the inaction of the person uttering the words. All bluff. In this case, because of inaction on the person with the power position, another person used harmful, challenging words against a friend, knowing there would be no consequences and followed up with some harmful, challenging actions, knowing there would be no consequences.

Surely, the teacher was right when he said that what comes out of a person rather than what goes into a person is what condemns or justifies that person. I am hurting for someone tonight. Words were cheap; people were hurt. Someone stands condemned tonight.

When ordinary words are not ordinary

Words are playtoys for people who like language. I've been watching comedians this afternoon. They take the usual and the mundane and turn them into highlighted material. It's a lot like looking out over a lagoon at sunset. Both lagoons and islands are mundane. But, when taken together, they are very noticeably beuatiful. Everyday events or observations and humor are like this.

Inside insight

I am going to write one last meandering about the characteristics of the followers of Jesus that I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 9 characteristics. Today's discussion is on characteristic # 9.

Characteristic 9: (S)He seeks to understand God from lessons of nature or from interactions that people have with nature. This understanding serves as inner enlightenment for living.

Representative text from Mark: (Mark 4.10-12)

When Jesus was alone, some of those who had heard him came to him with the 12 disciples and asked him to explain the parables. "You have been given the secret of the Kingdom of God," Jesus answered. "But the others who are on the outside hear all things by means of parables so that

'They may look and look
And yet not see.
They may listen and listen
And yet not understand
For if they did, they would turn to God
And he would forgive them.'"

This last characteristic puts one on dangerous ground. Inner enlightenment can come for single individuals. It can come for a few or for a larger group. It can be reflected in one’s life or in written documents. It can come from flashes of mental thought or in interpretation of events. It’s dangerous ground.

Few people know that the early church had followers of Jesus in its midst that tried following inner enlightenment.But, between 70 AD and 200 AD, the orthodox church relentlessly ostracized it as a bad movement, a plague to rid itself of. It succeeded because few people know about the “Gnostic movement” that happened at that time.

Today, organized religion still does not recognize the value or place of inner enlightenment. It’s a threat mainly because one can worship and understand God and His son outside the scope of organized religion. That hits at the pocketbook of an organization that claims to be the legitimate successor and guardian to all of Jesus’ teachings.

However, if one were to read only the gospels, and not allow for Paul’s application or the Jewish interpretation of the Jesus movement in the early days after Jesus’ ascension, would he arrive at the same conclusion as the churches in the landscape of society today? The opposing side would readily point out that Jesus’ teachings were made in a context many times implied (understanding by those in the original context without having to have written it down). Churches can supply that context.

I get a different story. And I have had a dose of inner enlightenment to light the way. Even in Mark, Jesus asks his follower to be faithful to him and acknowledge his divine status. So, when the time in my life came in which there was a very definite, real and present danger of abandoning the family arrangement and all it stood for, I went on a trip with a friend. At the end of the trip, I climbed to the peak of a mountain. I could see God’s creation for miles. And He spoke to my mind by leaving an impression. He reminded me that Abraham had climbed a mountain many years ago, and he had had to trust God for supplying a sacrifice. Abraham’s job was to remain faithful. A ram in the thicket was provided for a sacrifce. My lesson also was to remain faithful for God would provide. Since that time life has not been kind. But, with each trying circumstance, God has provided a way through the storm—sometimes by sending the right people, sometimes by sending the right circumstance, and sometimes by providing just the right job opportunity.

In days since that mountain-top moment of enlightenment, it has not been what has happened with organized religion that has provided food for my soul. It has been songs written by Christian songwriters that have kept me faithful. It has been associations made with other Christians. It has been a circumstance in which I was truly needed to help show God’s steadfastness. It has been walking in the park where I converse with the Creator of the universe. It has been seeing the evil empire in all its power and knowing that I would do well just to hold my own. It has been having an experience in which I had to look death squarely in the eyes and tell God what I was going to do as I peered into the dark abyss. It has been acknowledging that I live in a fully dysfunctional world and family, and that I would still remain faithful. So when I read from Mark about Jesus’ life and teachings I get a whole other story than the one presented on Sunday mornings in auditoriums around the USA. Jesus came to leave his imprint with us—inside of us.

Mark 7.20-23
And he went on to say, “From the inside, from your heart come the evil ideas that lead you to do immoral things, to rob, kill, commit adultery, be greedy, and do all sorts of evil things; deceit, indecency, jealousy, slander, pride, and folly—all these evil things come from inside you and make you unclean.”

It’s inner enlightenment. It’s the reign of God in my actions with my daughter, my colleagues. It’s the reign of God seen in my actions on the business trips I take or the personal ones. It’s the acknowledgment of Jesus as the son of God in my actions speaking so loudly that others with their dysfunctional lives can know that they too can be healed. Enlightenment outside any earthly system is something Jesus left for us.

Man was not made for the Sabbath

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for one last week to meanderings about the characteristics of the followers of Jesus that I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 9 characteristics. Today's discussion is on characteristic # 8.

Characteristic 8: (S)He treats the strict adherents to religious traditions as those who need to be guided further, redirected, or challenged to give up their traditions.

Jesus did not mince words. He did not politely treat those who wanted to use the law as if it were a straight jacket. He would tell them hard sayings to follow such as it is harder for a camel to thread the needle's eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. He showed them his authority over nature, with his divine attributes of forgiving sins. He would drive out Jews from the temple area where they sold merchandise because they had turned the house of prayer into a den of theives. He would command waves on a sea to convince his followers that he was in charge of nature and could do what he wanted if he so chose. He would tell those who listened that he was Lord of the Sabbath and that they also were not made for the Sabbath, but vice versa.

If we take that to heart, then it seems that we have much in our religious world that we need not heed. We simply need to follow Jesus' teachings. We are not bound to follow people's traditions. And just what falls in the category of tradition? All kinds of practices. The church has made attendance a high priority. But, maybe just being with other Christians at work, at play, in leisure, on trips, etc. is a more effective arrangement for being with other Christians. The church has made worship "acts" a definition of worship. Paul's application was the living sacrifice. Our daily habits might be a better definition of our recognition of God than our "acts." Religious people don't let religion get in the way of their business. Followers of Jesus operate business through their integrity, honesty, decency. Who is worshiping at what place has a higher importance than exhibiting kindness and compassion to the people around us. At the very least the arrangement should be vice versa. Perhaps the second part of the statment is the only action that counts. Religious people place a priority on which church, and by extension, which doctrine is correct. What should be more important, perhaps, is the knowledge of the tenets of Jesus' teachings, that is, he fed hungry people, he relieved the pain of the afflicted, he cast out limiting demons of the flesh, he assured the insecure, he forgave sins. Our religion should not be rules but forgiving responses, healing touches, encouraging words.

It's refreshing to be around people who don't act religiously. Jesus encountered the religious people, and we do too. Our response should be the same as the teacher's response. We follow the Lord of the Sabbath.

The DNA of the message

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for at least the next week to meanderings about the characteristics of the followers of Jesus that I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 9 characteristics. Today's discussion is on characteristic # 7.

Characteristic 7: (S)He trusts that Jesus delivered the message of God that spawns a life that never ends.

Representative sample from Mark: After this, Jesus himself sent out through his disciples from the east to the west the sacred and everliving message of eternal salvation.
(Mark 16.9-10) The shortest ending

It would stand to reason that if the other 6 characteristics of Jesus' followers are true, then Jesus would send out his message through his disciples from the east to the west. Jesus would have wanted his message to have been perpetuated. I don't think that perpetuation is in the form that most churches say that it is to be accomplished. But, Jesus had in mind that his message would last through the ages.

Many churches want to have everybody "doing evangelism." Thus, a number of phases have been passed through. In the 1950s there was the "Go ye means me" movement. Door-to-door evangelism was tried. In the 1960s people set up film strip studies and home Bible studies. In the 1970s buses rolled out of a great number of church buildings to pick up the kids of the slackards who weren't coming so that they could be reached through their kids. Vacation Bible Schools existed for the same purpose. In the 1980s "reaching the unchurched" became a popular phrase for the aim of evangelism. So, churches tried different social events to invite the community to. In the 1990s "friendship evangelism" was the watchword of the day. Christians were to be a light to and talk openly with everyone in their sphere of influence. 2/3 of the way through the first decade of the 2000s, the emphasis so far has been on reaching out through a combination of 1980s and 1990s methods and a few attempts at using internet methods, although those are still in their infancy, and attempts at joining forces with other denominations, such as church planting.

But, Jesus may have meant that he wanted his message to simply be the trademark of a person. So, the plumber acknowledges the reign of God in his life through his words and actions, as does the school teacher, the electrician, the entrepreneur, the attorney, the medical doctor, the supremely educated, the carpet layer, the roofer, the accountant, the oil investor, the landmen, geologists, and geophysicists, etc. When each person on the earth claims Jesus as the Son of God, (s)he is saying that the message is other-worldly (the meaning of "holy" or "sacred") and that it has embedded in its teachings the claim a follower's life never ends.

And so, a mother teaches that to her children, people marry and teach it to their children; those children marry and pass on the good word—ad infinitum.

One might call this the DNA characteristic. A follower will every day of his or her life transmit the message in some form to someone else. The reign of God is forever.

Blabbing the superficialities of God's generosity

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for at least the next week to meanderings about the characteristics of the followers of Jesus that I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 9 characteristics. Today's discussion is on characteristic # 6.

Characteristic 6: (S)He can see the wisdom of internalizing what God has done for him or her so that every person experiences God in his or her own way.

Representative sample from Mark: “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Then Jesus ordered them, “Do not tell anyone about me.” (Mark 8.29-30)

Other textual support for characteristic:1.34, 3.12, 7.36, 8.26, 8.30,
Fact from Mark: In 58% of the healing episodes, Jesus tells the ones healed not to say anything.

In my teens, as I became familiar with the gospel of Mark, I often wondered why Jesus told those he healed or cast demons from not to tell anyone else. It seemed that the people would be excited enough to tell others what Jesus had done for them and that Jesus should have appreciated the spread of his gospel. Later, in college, I thought that Jesus knew the state of people's minds well enough to create the reverse phsychological effect. Later, I just thought there would be a day that I would understand the dynamic, but the day never came for 20 years.

Then the day came. I was asked to analyze Mark for the outstanding characteristics of the followers of Jesus. Again, it stood out that Jesus told those he healed not to tell others. It bothered me since Jesus told those he healed to keep quiet in 58% of the recorded stories of his healing. I started with my childhood idea. But, that idea was wrong because Jesus' stated mission was to preach his message (characteristic #1). And I strongly believe the idea from my college years is wrong because it seems that reverse psychology for manipulative purposes of individuals is a game, and Jesus did not come to play mind games with people. So, I had to look elsewhere.

It dawned on me that anything meaningful in life really has to be discovered before it can be fully internalized. Even if someone else "discovers" some miracle of God, some realization for me, that is, a miracle or realization happened to me because of someone else's goodwill toward me (not my discovery), the meaning would still have to be internalized. If I am busy telling everyone about the miracle or realization, it encourages all manner of remarks from others on whether it was from God or not. I need to let the miracle wash over me. I need to internalize the generosity of God. I need to know to the deepest fiber that Jesus is the Son of God. I need to know I have no control nor have I created any good reason (such as a good life) for the miracle or realization to have happened. I need time with the Maker of Heaven and Earth to give thanks and to be overwhelmed that he considered me, a tiny speck in the universe of his. Then, I can go in power because God can use me.

Placing faith in Jesus calls for us to look at Jesus' other-worldy nature. It calls for us to trust that he represents the Maker of all. It takes a little time to award that trust to someone. It takes time to internalize what God has done for us. If we go in power later, it takes internalization now, not blabbing the superficialities of God's generosity to everyone and their dogs. Otherwise, our story is shallow both for us and for the one to whom we are talking. Instead, I need to spend the time being overwhelmed because God has shortened the discovery process for me. As the evangelist Landon Saunders used to say, "First tell his story. Then tell your story." The other order is out of order. It lacks power. It focuses on the wrong person. This is the Maker's world.

An old name, a new meaning

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for at least the next week to meanderings about the characteristics of the followers of Jesus that I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 9 characteristics. Today's discussion is on characteristic # 5.


Characteristic 5: (S)He knows the imagery of Jesus’ references to himself as the Son of Man.


Representative sample from Mark: And Jesus concluded, “The Sabbath was made for the good of human beings; they were not made for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2. 27-28)


Other textual support for characteristic:2.10, 2.28, 10.33, 10.44, 13.26, 14.21, 14.62
Fact from Mark: Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man 7 times, split evenly over his ministry

Jesus called himself the Son of Man so much that it is noteworthy. Nobody seemed to question the meaning of the phrase. Also of note is the fact that the apostles did not leave any written record of their calling Jesus by the name Son of Man. So, should modern followers think that since the apostles left no written record of calling Jesus by a name he called himself that we too should not call him by that name? Was the name treated like Yahweh was treated by the Jews of old, that is, the name was much too sacred to pronounce even?

The link given (either by clicking the title of this blog or the other link) is to a spot on Studylight.org. A series of 7 short articles have been written (December 15th-January 26) in order to help illuminate the origins of the phrase and explore how Jesus may have used this appellation. Interesting reading. Click on the title to this article (the cursor will change to a hand as you place it on the title) and you will be taken straight to the archives where you may click on the Son of Man article of your choice.

Say no to attitudes from platitudes

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for at least the next week to meanderings about the characteristics I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 9 characteristics. Today's discussion is on characteristic # 4.

Characteristic 4: (S)He understands that there are intrinsic barriers to the reign of God in one’s life that must be overcome.

Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, “You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.” (Mark 10.21)

Other textual support for characteristic:10.17-31, 12.28-34, 3.20-30, 6.1-6, 3.31-35, 16.14
Fact from Mark: barriers in trust come from one’s own family, town, or belief community

Beyond the restorative touch needed to return their lives to normalcy, beyond the beginning point of acknowledging that Jesus is God's son in order to rid themselves from the slavery of their addictions, followers of Jesus know that they have to beware always of those traditions and values that they grew up with. Values and traditions pose as foundations for good living, but so often they are masks for a corrupt and rotten system of status quo. Even people brought up in church traditions have to beware that the church traditions themselves are not a barrier to the authentic teachings of Jesus.

In Mark 12.28-34, a man versed in the Jewish law came to Jesus and asked him what the greatest commandment was. Jesus told him. The man agreed with Jesus. Then Jesus told the man that he was not far from the kingdom of God. Jesus didn't compliment the man for being in the kingdom since they had agreed. Jesus didn't invite the man to join the kingdom. Instead, Jesus told the man that he was near the kingdom of God.

Assumedly, a modern person could find himself or herself in the same condition, that is, near the kingdom of God. If so, then perhaps understanding what the kingdom of God is would keep one from only being near it, but allow one to fully participate in it. If one were to be able to fully participate in the kingdom, then one would also know what could be a barrier to that full participation.

The word kingdom is an archaic term, not in the sense that the word has passed from our language, but in the sense that the term is only used of a time period that is not our own, but in the past. Americans hate irrelevance, so another idea that is relevant should be understood. A kingdom is a geographic location for most Americans; perhaps Americans extend the idea to castles, serfs, knights, or other symbols (by metonomy) for what a king has sovereignty over.
Americans are, however, familiar with the idea of a rule of someone over another. If one still needs to feel that some vestige of Jesus' teachings needs to represent the age of the original teachings or the manuscripts that bring those teachings to the modern person, then the idea of reign could be substituted for rule. Thus, to the man who asked Jesus about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied that God's reign in his life was not too distant. Although the man agreed with Jesus, he still had a barrier that kept him from fully participating in the reign of God for him. Mark does not elaborate on the man's barrier like he did for the rich young ruler cited above in the representative sample from Mark. Somehow, though, the man was not vested in the rule or reign of God.

What might keep a modern person from having God's reign in his or her life? Mainly, attitudes. A follower of Jesus accepts and knows the teachings of Jesus. So, the follower should be living decently toward others. But, actions are generated by one's thoughts behind those actions. And, the thought behind the actions comes from attitudes which are derived from traditions and values. So, how does one respond to an insult from someone else? What acknowledgment is allowed if an addiction has taken over a person? When is the best time to go to someone with whom a problem exists? Where is it that one should want find himself or herself on Friday nights? Who is the master one truly serves?

For many, platitudes provide the thought behind their actions. "A penny saved is a penny earned." So, they save, maybe even in miserly way. "Those who make the gold make the rules." So, they work their way up the ladder to make more money. "The early bird gets the worm." So, people are so very busy breaking others backs to get the worm. "Plan you work. Work your plan." So, meetings at all hours abound for planning, and working at all hours and at all costs carry out those plans.

So, when does the follower of Jesus have the time and stamina to know Jesus' teachings? When does the decent living happen in front of families? When does one have time to see the healing taking place in his or her own life? What kind of restoration takes place when so little time is given for recognizing the need for restoration? When does the follower of Jesus have time to reflect on his or her attitudes to know if adjustments are necessary? What keeps one a short distance from participating in God's rule, His reign for one's life? Simple agreement with Jesus' message keeps one at arm's length from the rule. So, it must be more than simple agreement.

If attitudes from platitudes disappear, then the distance to the reign of God in our lives disappears. Jesus' teachings can then be authentic. Then we can go and follow him.

Restoring what has deteriorated

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for at least the next 2 weeks to meanderings about the characteristics I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 7 characteristics that I listed and two more that I didn't list because I didn't think it was the right forum for the other 2. They were more personal in nature. Today's discussion is on characteristic #3.


Characteristic 3: (S)He understands that the message of God is accompanied by a ministry of “healing” for oneself and others.

Representative sample from Mark:
Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk?” I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, ”I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
(Mark 2.11-12)

Other textual support for characteristic:1.30-32, 1.40-41, 2.11-12, 3.5, 3.10, 5.29, 5.4, 6.13, 7.36
Fact from Mark: 16% of all textual episodes in Mark comment on Jesus’ healing.

Jesus did his share of healing others while he was on the earth. He restored sight to blind men. He restored skin to lepers. He restored normalcy to lunatics. He restored natural functions for diseased members of the body. He restored life to bodies of death. Restoration was Jesus' business. Oh, yes he taught his message. But, he restored people so that they could comprehend what his message was about. He had a message of forgiveness, among other characteristics. So that at least one crowd could understand forgiveness in its full form, Jesus healed a person. Once restoration happened, realization took place.

In today's world much of what people get sick with is treated with medicine. So, what the ancient people needed to have healed by someone supernaturally, today is routinely healed by scientific advances. That doesn't mean that God has been displaced from the healing business. We still cannot heal the mind or control circumstances. When loved ones die unexpectedly, medicine cannot touch the mind's hurt. But God's healing touch of perspective for the cause of death is still available. When job loss, people's horrendous treatment of each other, or injury that can't be repaired to a body occur, only a miracle man can step forward to relieve the grief or the pain.

So, one of the characteristics evident in a follower of Jesus is that one trusts Jesus to perform a work of healing in areas of life that humans cannot touch. An oldest son who has to have intervention from the rest of his family to recognize that he has a drug problem trusts that the addiction can be healed if he follows Jesus. A man who loses a daughter in a car accident and a wife to cancer six months later trusts that God's perspective is better than his for why he was dealt a harsh hand, so he prays for God's touch on his perspective. A woman who lives constantly with the mistrust of her husband trusts that if she remains faithful, God will touch the heart of her spouse or make it evident to her that her life will count for something with somebody. Everywhere people need God's restorative touch in order to live out their lives full of his message.

Followers of Jesus know the master's touch on their bodies or in their minds. They follow him whole-heartedly because of it.

Basic assumption

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for at least the next 2 weeks to meanderings about the characteristics I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 7 characteristics that I listed and two more that I didn't list because I didn't think it was the right forum for the other 2. They were more personal in nature. Today's discussion is on characteristic #2.

Characteristic 2: (S)He understands that the result of “casting out demons” is an acknowledgment of Jesus as the son of the most high God.

Representative sample from Mark:
And whenever the people who had evil spirits in them saw him, they would fall down before him and scream, “You are the Son of God!”
(Mark 3.11)

Other textual support support for characteristic: 1.27, 1.34, 1.39, 3.11, 5.1-16, 6.12
Fact from Mark: 40% of all textual episodes in Mark mentioning healing also mention casting out demons. 4 textual episodes in Mark mention casting out demons without mention of healing.

I know that there is some debate on what exactly Jesus was casting out when Mark refers to casting out demons. But, I would like to ignore the debate for the purposes of this blog. Instead, I want to take a purely modern approach to casting out demons by allowing the phrase to be symbolic in nature. Casting out demons becomes the symbol for anything in a person's life that serves as a detractor from the person himself (herself) or those around her or him to allow a belief in the deity of Jesus. It could be alcohol or drugs. It could be perverted lyric preference. It could be a party spirit, or tobacco addiction, or obesity. It is whatever distracts one from looking at Jesus and seeing liberty from oppression.

When Jesus cast out demons, a number of times it is clear that the demons acknowledged that Jesus was the son of God. Applying the phrase as a symbol, people today can be rid of their distractions. Trust in Jesus begins with the expression of one's soul, "Jesus is God's son." From that point on, placing one's trust in the messenger and the message from God allows the freedom from the slavery of the demon, that is, from the oppression of whatever detracted one from Jesus. The addict realizes that a higher power delivers him or her from the lower power of addictive beverage or substance. The person stuck on death lyrics breathes in life lyrics for a change. The partying young man or woman learns a new kind of celebration. The obese person learns that God uses people in the condition in which they find truth or restores ability to find a stopping point with food.

The follower of Jesus takes a journey with him throughout life. But, the first step of the journey begins with the utterance, "Jesus is the son of God." The rough part of the journey depends on the absolute, raw truth that self-reliance does not kick in, that reliance on the supernatural is first nature. Call it psychology of religion 101 or the cardinal principle of Jesus' teaching or the basic assumption of every follower. One has to be rid of distractions so that one realization becomes crystal clear. Jesus is the son of God most high.

It's the first step out of the boat onto the waves of a large lake across which Jesus is walking. Trust in Jesus replaces distracting oppression. The power of the detraction succumbs to the power of one name—Jesus. It's not hocus pocus. It's every follower's basic assumption.

Knowing and modeling

Recently I was involved in a study of the fabulous story of Jesus as presented by Mark. The men who were asked to study the various accounts of this story were asked to come up with the characteristics of a follower of Jesus based on the account they were studying. Today those men all met again to bring forth the characteristics they had found. It was interesting to see how the accounts mirrored the walks of life each one had taken. But beyond that, they brought out what they had studied over a month's period of time.

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for at least the next 2 weeks to my meanderings about the characteristics I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 7 characteristics that I listed and two more that I didn't list because I didn't think it was the right forum for the other 2. They were more personal in nature. So, I start with characteristic #1

Characteristic 1: (S)He knows the tenets of the message of God’s reign and knows (s)he must exude it.

Representative sample from Mark:
We must go on to the other villages around here. I have to preach in them also, because that is why I came.
(Mark 1.38)


Other textual support for characteristic: 1.38, 2.2, 3.34, 4.1, 4.33, 6.6b-7, 6.34, 8.31
Fact from Mark: 37% of all textual episodes in Mark contain the teaching of Jesus.

If I were asked what Jesus' reason for coming was, I would have answered that he came to seek and save the lost. But, after reading Mark's account, I see the statement above. And teach is what Jesus did. He went all over the countryside around his hometown teaching. He crossed lakes and walked miles to villages near and far. He sent his selected 12 out in pairs to a number of villages to get his message out. Mark's account is rife with teachings about human behaviors from people divorcing to people trying to show that they deserve the kingdom of God.

But, just because Jesus taught, does it mean that his followers should follow suit? Well, let's call it "teaching." Under finer analysis, it is probably closer to knowing for ourselves the tenets of what Jesus taught so that our behavior is consistent with those tenets. What we know from Jesus' lessons and how we act ought to be consistent. Some of Jesus' most castigating words were reserved for the educated elite who said one thing, but did another. So, knowing the message so that we can model it is paramount.

And the message is not merely a series of good lessons. Its provenance is from the kingdom of God, so the path on earth his lessons put us on end in our entering the kingdom of God. I think there is a bit of a problem with that idea for Americans. We are not "kingdom" people. The word is in our language and we understand it. But it is so archaic that we don't make a true association with it. An alternate word is "reign." It is an old term as well, but Americans have more of an association with its idea than "kingdom." We all are held accountable to somebody or we report to some "boss." So a word like "reign" carries with it the idea that we are held to a set of expectations by someone or some company.

So, the idea is complete. Jesus taught the message of God's reign in a person's life. We accept God's reign and show it by modeling the behavior asked of us by the various tenets of the message. Our behavior, in turn leads us to our home where God reigns. In that manner, then, we teach as Jesus taught. We know the tenets of the message of God's reign and exude it for others to desire to emulate it.

Block peace

The block I live on is everyone's block. Mine is not special in any way. That's what makes one generation the same as the last or the next. That's what makes one culture the same as the next. People are people. They basically have the same nature—the human nature. But for all the despair I may see on my block, I also see the striving on my block for there to be peace in people's lives. They are decent people seeking to live in harmony with their neighbors. Viva block peace!

The affairs of the block I live on

The neighbors surrounding my house are a motley crew. The people on one side of me live day to day with a menial job in today's society's view. As far as I can tell they have no church affiliation. The lady across the street from them is an old maid. She was moved in by her daughter from out of state. She rarely comes out of her house. One never knows whether she is home or not because she always keeps her car in her garage. She apparently has no religious affiliation. The couple directly across from me are Mormons, very active ones. They are the kindest people you will meet and are hard workers in their yard and in their church. They have tried sharing their faith over the years several times. The people next to them are raising two children. The father is a hard worker and an alcoholic. The son inherited his father's party spirit. The mother is so nice and tries to be sociable with her neighbors. The man next to me is on hospice. His sight left him several years back. I haven't seen him in about 2 years, but I visit with his children when they come to see him. He's Methodist, but has not gone to a church building in the 12 years of my living on this block.

It's quite a state of affairs on this block I live on. People are doing what it takes to stay alive and put food on the table. But, I don't know any of these people very well although we are all nice to each other if the occasional yard visit is the measuring stick. I know the Great Teacher moved around a lot when he taught. He would go through the cities of a region teaching. I don't know how he would have gotten his message out if he had lived in my neighborhood. I do know however, that one of his teachings works in any neighborhood. "Whatever you would like people to do for you is what you should do for them." It has worked in neighborhoods for a couple of thousand years. I don't see it failing now or failing me when I enact it. It's a phenomenal, supernatural teaching.

A decade in the life of ...

"What a difference a year makes" is a common expression. One can imagine what a difference a decade makes. I have lived at my current residence for 12 years. My neighbor to my left housed a couple who were in their 70s. The man there died after 3 years after we moved in. His wife died last spring. Now a whole new family lives there. The man and his wife across the street from them and diagonal to me took care of his wife for 5 years after we moved in. I saw her only once before she died. The man lived in his house for 3 years after that, moved to his daughter's house in another state and died about 2 years after that. Another person lives in that house now, but it stood vacant for at least a year. The people directly across the street had two children at home in high school when we first moved here. They're now long gone and married. The neighbor and his wife on the other side of me have had their share of difficulties. He grew blind within 7 years of our moving here. His mind also has been deteriorating over the last three years. His wife has been making monumental efforts at watching after him. But, she died last week, and he was put in the care of hospice.

Oh! My household? We are not untouched. Both of my kids were in grade school when we moved here. Now both are out of school. My son graduated only to break out with cancer and die at age 19. My daughter has been seeing a phsychiatrist and/or a psychologist ever since. My wife was a practicing alcohlic for all but the last 3 years in this house, but has since lived each day that comes her way as a sober alcoholic. My father died 3 years ago 8 days before my son did after a cognitive illness of 11 months.

And that's just me and the block I live on. Multiply this times about 6 billion people on the earth. What does it take to be the Creator of heaven and earth? I have no idea. But, somehow he shows that he cares about me. He sends encouragements amidst hardships. He inspires determination and commitment. I am thankful that somehow he cares about me and the block I live on. Not in his spare time. And not with just me and my block people. I truly have great respect for the way he handles everybody's business in the whole world. It's supernatural.

On embracing sin

Alexander Pope said that first we abhor sin, then we tolerate it, finally we embrace it. He is talking about how people are influenced by the tainted world around them. I find this to be true for my own walk in life, but it doesn't bother me. I think Pope had the wrong angle on the situation. As a young man, I tended to see the world in black and white. Something was either according to the moral law I had grown up knowing from teenage years or it wasn't. But, I matured and watched carefully how older people in the world behaved. Matters weren't just black or white. Next, I figured that the world was a big place, so I could walk to the beat of my own moral law and not have to hold anyone else responsible for it—just me. Then, I matured and noticed how situations were never according to any moral law. Good situations were nearly always tainted by evil and evil situations nearly always had some noble element about them.

That being true, I realized that striving for some fictitious moral code that no one ever observed was ludicrous. I might as well let life play out. Where I could be the good part of an evil situation, I would be. Where I could act on behalf of good even though a situation was mostly bad, I did. I know to someone looking in it might seem that once upon a time in my youth I abhorred evil and that as I matured I began to tolerate evil, only to finally embrace it. I would rather think as an insider that I finally understood the human condition and the other-worldly principle that a little leaven, leavens the whole lump. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.