Addressing and Re-Addressing

EVERYTHING/everything, bar nothing, in the physical and spiritual worlds have coordinates at any point in time. Consider such coordinates as their address at that moment --their "coordinate address".

All of life is always in motion, fluid, spinning, spiraling and rotating. Therefore, in the physical world, coordinate addresses of anything alive is never fixed. Even in physical death, coordinate addresses exist. You may think of such addresses as 'fixed' in death, since every dead thing has a grave of some sort. But consider this extreme application. Various Biblical discourses affirm, and Jesus confirms, that every dead person shall one day hear His voice, commanding them to rises from their dusty graves (read: 'graves of dust'). They will arise to be judged for their life's work, and their "Yes/No" decision regarding who Jesus was/is to them. This signals that every iota of decomposition or dust of every person who will have ever lived, has a coordinate address in earth, or somewhere in the dusty, physical universe (for those particles of dust that may have left or were carried away from the earth). This includes Abel, the first human to experience both physical birth and death! And if this is possible for ever person, it certainly is no challenge for it to be possible for every other thing that will have ever lived!

"Can I go deeper?" (a familiar question frequently posed by T.D. Jakes)

We know everything physical is first conceived, spawned or birthed within the spiritual world, and is then birthed from that world into physical existence. We also understand the spiritual world has a far higher degree of ordering/orderliness and exactness than our physical world. In light of this, the concept of 'coordinate addresses' must also apply to the spiritual world, and do so with an exceptionally degree of accuracy higher than anything we humans can imagine. This idea may well "fly in the face" of those who ardently believe there is no time or distance in the world of spirit. While I believe it is true that, to The Godhead (Father, Son and Spirit), the past, present and future are plainly before them, I believe this may be where the concept of no time/distance may end. The entire Bible is rife with stories where people, angels and even The Godhead "changed their positions", both in the physical and spiritual worlds! Consider Ezekiel's vision of God's portable royal chariot! (Ezekiel 1 and 10) Another good example is the theophany of Jesus, as recorded in the last few chapters of the Book of Daniel. If there was no time or distance in the world of spirit, it certainly would not have taken 21 days for angelic help to arrive to win the battle so God's critical message to Daniel (and the world) could get through!

Thus, I reiterate, EVERYTHING/everything, bar nothing, in the both the physical and spiritual worlds, have address coordinates at any point in time.

So what, you might ask?

Jesus had an impeccable habit of speaking to rather unusual things -- things not commonly recognized as having the ability to be spoken to, or "addressed" (Can you perceive where I'm heading?), or with a capability/faculty of HEARING, let alone RESPONDING to that which was spoken! He spoke to a fever, diseases, a tree, lack, a legion of demons in one man, corpses -- and the list goes on, and on.... (You might say every person to whom He spoke was a spiritual corpse -- dead to God, since His death and resurrection had not yet paved the way to spiritual life). As He spoke to such things, and as they responded, He was giving us examples to follow.  Then, in a totally shocking move, He instructed us to do likewise!!! "Speak to the mountain...!" By mountain, His examples suggest/reveal He meant spiritual entities and events manifesting themselves as blockades in one's life.

Each thing to which Jesus spoke was forced, under the pressure of His faith, authority and dominion, to change its coordinate address. The result was what we call miracles -- effects or extraordinary events in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers, and is thus ascribed to a supernatural cause. In John 5:19, Jesus clarifies He was only exercising His physical role while in the earth, but The Father was the righteous power backing Him up.

Jesus commands us to follow His example in our daily lives ('LIVE by faith' is cited 4 times in The Bible). He expects doing so should be just like breathing, the results of daily life in The Spirit. He was attempting to 'hit the reset button', so to speak, to show us quite simply, "this is how you do it". Imagine how Adam and Eve must have lived and spoken before they sinned. That's where we believers are heading, eventually.

The route to getting there is being much more vigorous in developing and practicing the skill of "RE-Addressing" things, that is both speaking to them, and changing their addresses, both 'into' and 'out of' our lives. This in no way suggests we, in and of ourselves, have the power to change anyone's or anything's address. God remains our power source. But we have clear roles and responsibilities regarding how His power is released and applied in our lives, and beyond. But note: This does not include habitually petitioning Him to perform our assigned roles! This deal is a partnership. 2 Peter 1:2 -4 reveals all the things God has already "pre-addressed" to us, and this message is reiterated in countless Bible promises. Though pre-addressed spiritually, they need to show up physically in our lives on their appointed schedules, and we have roles and responsibilities to ensure they do, indeed, show up, and that the wrong things don't, or if they do, to re-address them away, post haste and quite ardently!

Just as it is a skill to learn how to address envelopes/packages, address people (singularly or in small or large groups), program destination addresses into your GPS device, and using cyber addresses to find things on the Internet, re-addressing spiritual things (calling them to, or sending them away from you and others) is a learned skill, developed with consistent practice. As mature believers in Christ, let's better equipped ourselves, and strengthen others to apply this grace until we are performing it...

...just like breathing.

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time…

A conquering King invaded a land; defeated its army, subjugated its king, princes and lords; set up a brand new authoritative structure; then carefully hand picked, trained and established in offices people from the land to govern and administer it in His name. Though they suffered a crushing defeat, the former king of the land and his crew were not immediately executed, but left to exist under the heavy authority of their former subjects whom they had robbed, abused, and disrespected for decades.

The conquering King also established an intricate and highly effective com-link between Him and His lords, vassals and governors over the land, to ensure they would remain faithful and have immediate access to Him as needed back in His headquarters. Before leaving, He established, across the land, the word of His representatives as His OWN word, as valid and powerful in every respect, as long as they remained faithful to the requirements of their service, and kept in intimate contact with the new King. The requirements included paying homage, fealty and politico-military service to the new King. This system was to be carried on throughout successive generations until the King returned.

Sounds a bit familiar? Perhaps??

This is exactly equivalent to what God did via Jesus. They had originally established, in Adam, Their authority and dominion on Earth. Adam was to exercise this authority and dominion, principally with words, starting with the gargantuan task of naming every non-man creature on Earth! Some time either before or after he finished this task, he and Eve sinned, effectively handing their Earth-wide authority and dominion over to satan and his crew of fallen angels, who became king and lords over all things earthly. They had a front row seat during the creation of man and woman, and heard the ‘word-based delegation of authority’ Adam and Eve received from God via Jesus. (Yes, pre-incarnate Jesus was in The Garden of Eden.)  With this intelligence, satan and his crew were able to use deceptive words to trick Eve into disobedience. Their plan worked, and worked well for ages, until the Redeemer Whom God promised would come, actually came. But His coming would be in two strategic stages: first, to do exactly as was done in the story above; then later to establish His personal Kingdom on Earth, one that eventually would be without end.

Problem: Through successive generations of His reps, the authoritative structure and com-link He established appears to have gotten somewhat off track. Descendants of His carefully selected people have now been duped into a rather passive existence, allowing the former king and crew to reap havoc in restructuring all the world’s systems to fit their likings, and forcing the new King’s reps to ‘fit in’ or be derided. The world’s entertainment and work-for-money systems were the best restructuring efforts of the former king and his crew. The com-link established by the new King now seems to be used heavily, if not primarily, to beg the King to do from His headquarters (Heaven) stuff He authorized His reps to do in His name. Their authoritative ‘doing’ was to be by their ‘saying/speaking’ in faith, and the King’s power would be evident in their sayings (words in His name and authority) as long as they lived/walked in Love and especially forgiveness, and as long as they kept in close touch with Him in order to learn His ways and will, etc. He even sent extensive instructional letters (The Bible) advising how His systems work, including examples on the power of the tongue/words in our world.

As in any relay race, and for a myriad of reasons, Kingdom effectiveness wanes with the ‘passing of the baton’ to successive generations. While the problem is clear, the root causes are complex and deep. No human knows how many more generations remain to be born, mature, and face the challenge of passing on our spiritual heritage. Alas, it all remains in the capable hands of the Spirit of God to sift and sort through the human fingerprints all over God’s will as it unfolds on planet Earth, and unfolding it is! Even within yet unborn generations, God has already pre-positioned pivotal believers across the ranks who will lead many to righteousness, and who, along with their supporters, will one day rise from dusty graves to receive eternal stardom in God’s Kingdom on a new planet Earth.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake,

some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament,

and those who turn many to righteousness [will shine]

like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:2-3)

Love, Infallible (Poem)

God Loves, Yes God Loves
Indeed, God Loves
God really Loves, simply because He IS Love, infallible

Despite prideful insanity we humanity can strut
God Loves
Despite human-’kind’ being most anything but!
Yes, God Loves
Without ever needing to get our love back
Indeed, God Loves
Yeah, on this, My Friend, you can sit back and relax
God really Loves, simply because He IS Love, infallible

Through all of the craziness and messiness of life
God Loves
The sin, and the heartaches, and all of the strife
Yes, God Loves
Transforming it all into His greatest test
Indeed, God Loves
It was all shaped to draw me into His promised rest
God really Loves, simply because He IS Love, infallible

God Loves, Yes God Loves
Indeed, God Loves
God really Loves, simply because He IS Love, infallible

Though the winds o’er the sands of time will blow
God Loves
And our human Love for Him will daily ebb and flow
Yes, God Loves
In His dying, He gives to us undying Love, so matchless
Indeed, God Loves
In His raising, He exchanges Light for sinful darkness
God really Loves, simply because He IS Love, infallible

Are you searching for Love that’s much more reliable?
God Loves
Tired of gods of this world? They’re so unviable!
Yes, God Loves
Longing for more out of life, much more, undeniably?
Indeed, God Loves
Embrace God & Company - They Love so infallibly
God really Loves, simply because He IS Love, infallible

God Loves, You’ve got to know that God Loves
Of course, God Loves
God really Loves, simply because… (You say it.)

 … He IS Love, infallible

A Cloud of Two Faces

The Lord, in the form of a pillar of cloud during the day and fire during the night, went before the children of Israel as they left Egypt and journeyed through the wilderness. When Pharaoh and his army pursued and threatened to attack Israel from the rear, the pillar of cloud retreated/repositioned itself between Israel and the Egyptian army, serving as a buffer zone. Strangely, the cloud was darkness at night to the army, but gave light at night to Israel as the people started to cross the Red Sea on dry land.

Same cloud producing both light and darkness.

Typically, clouds block the moon’s light at night rather than give light. But Exodus 13:21 reveals The Lord was ‘in’ the pillar of cloud and fire.

Today, the Gospel of Christ is like this pillar of cloud and fire, leading accepting believers in ‘The Way’ and providing spiritual insight (light) during spiritually dark times of our lives (night). Also strangely, this same Gospel is like a ‘cloud of darkness’ to unbelievers groping in the darkness of their disbelief, satan’s deception, and ego-tripping.

May you find yourself always ‘in the light’, be it day or night.

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Chemistry Speaks, Spiritually

Like the members and instruments of a colossal orchestra, could it be that every major facet of physical life as we know and understand it pulsates a spiritual story?  

God created man as a neutral being, with the power of choice, and with an original right-leaning, 'positive charge' of His (God’s) righteous Spirit.  Yet, since the power of choice is meaningless without an alternative object of choice, God allowed 'satan & company' to retain their residency on earth.  Their residency pre-dated the creation of mankind, and resulted when, after an attempted coup against The Kingdom of God, Lucifer (who became satan) and one-third of all created angels were deposed from Heaven, landing on earth.  They may have thought earth would be their equivalent 'heaven' where they would reign under satan's godhead, since he wanted to be a god.  

What a shock when God, through Jesus, and right in satan's face (!) came to earth, created man, and gave HIM dominion and authority over everything on earth!  Satan & co. were thus twice deposed!  Can you perceive the intense frustration and jealousy this must have ignited??  Thus began their plot to create an "encompassing stand" around and against mankind to provoke ‘thoughts, words and conclusive actions’ that would depose and replace the positive or righteous "God-charge" within man, with satan's negative, wrong-leaning charge, and re-install satan & co. in authoritative dominion on earth.  You know well the story and outcomes.  After man's sin, God promised to send a redeemer, the seed of a woman, who would once again crush satan's kingdom-attempt and restore it to man. (Genesis 3:15).  This threat motivated satan to set-up a 'search and destroy' counter-intelligence operation against this so-called seed.  He likely thought this seed was Eve's first born, Abel, so like a lightening bolt, a plot was hatched to take him out.

Thus, the early spiritual history of our world was enveloped and largely motivated by this "search and destroy" plot and efforts to reinforce satan grip on his earthly dominion.  Repeatedly across the ages, satan reached the "Wrong conclusion!" in his search and destroy mission, snuffing out the lives of countless babies and adults as he continued to tighten his kingdom-grip on earth through mankind.

Though it took centuries, The Redeemer was indeed revealed as Jesus Christ.  He successfully accomplished God's three-part objective of paying the only acceptable price for all sin of all time, creating a new race or species of spiritually re-charged (re-born) mankind, and laying the foundation for the promised third and final deposing of any further effort of satan & co. to establish a kingdom.

In a nutshell, this is The Gospel, the good news that the promise of Genesis 3:15 has been substantially fulfilled.  This you may know, but do you know key elements of this spiritual message are likely found at the very core of our physical existence, in both the lessons of chemistry and the daily circumstances that encompass our lives?  Could it be that every major facet of physical life pulsates this spiritual story?  

Chemistry reveals the atom as the core building block of everything physical (though quantum physics is now exploring sub-atomic life).  Atoms comprise a 'neutral' core (neutrons), partnered and charged with a positive core (protons), and encompassed by a negatively charged cloud (electrons) that is bound to the nucleus by an electromagnetic force.  The electrons determine the chemical properties or nature of an element, and strongly influence an atom's magnetic properties.  

Just like atoms, spiritually, man comprises a 'neutral' core (his spirit and mind, capable of deciding between good and evil), which is originally partnered and charged with a 'positive core (Righteous Spirit of God), both of which are encompassed by a cloud of 'negatively-charged' unrighteous motivations (inspired by satan) bound to man by Adam's original sin and his blood line.  Sin deposed man's positive God-charge, negatively-charged our neutral spirit and mind, and left us to the wiles of a merciless devil.  The redemption offered by Christ reinstates our God-charge, provides us the means to renew our mind in accordance with our re-born spirit, thus flipping our spiritual make-up to its original status.  Moreover, renewing our mind and spirit equips us to identify and spin off negative motivations, just as atoms depose unwanted electrons!  

What an analogy!  Pulsating at the core of everything physical are relevant insights of our spiritual life.  (And yes, all analogies have their limits.)

Since the physical universe comprises an amalgamation of ‘all worlds’-- from the sub-atomic to the universal, perhaps somewhere between these extremes may well be other spiritual messages being pulsated by aspects of our daily life.  After all, Heaven’s primary objective for mankind is our redemption, so why wouldn’t this theme be expressed iteratively in various ways throughout creation?

Sip, Dip, Dive or Thrive?

We, not God, are the primary determinant of how much of God's GREAT Grace we receive, walk in, and share with others.  Heaven has ensured the continuous flow of Grace to mankind in this 'season' or era of world history.  Some of us can get by with (the equivalent of) a sip or spoonful every now and then.  Others may use the equivalent of a dip with a ladle more often.  Still others dive occasionally in this great flow.  "Been there; done that."  

Now ... how about becoming (the equivalent of) 'Spiritually Aquatic', and learning how to adapt to LIVING and THRIVING in the River of Grace?  Psalms 143:5 gives us a great formula or recipe to enlarge the amount of Grace we both experience and reflect onto others:

1. r'MEMBER the days of old

2. MEDITATE on all God's works/doings

3. MUSE on the works of His hands 

I like to apply these as: 

r'MEMBERING God's past works!

MEDITATING on His current/apparent works!!

MUSING on what His hands are shaping for my future!!!

wOw, does that cover ALL the bases!  

So why continue to "rock, rattle 'n roll" with the world, with all the related headaches; when we can "r'Member, Meditate 'n Muse" about God's goodness, with all the great benefits?!

See: 7 Tips on How to Meditate or Muse on God’s Word

Muslims and Jews Agree

My friends of the Jewish and Muslim faiths both tell me Jesus cannot be God because God is uniquely ONE.

To unbelievers, The Old Testament does not clearly reveal Jesus, yet it clearly speaks volumes on a coming, suffering, and eventually conquering Savior. Numerous scriptures in the New Testament echo Old Testament verses that speak of this Savior.Similarly, the Koran reportedly says, as does the Bible, that God created the universe through and for Jesus, and that He is The Word of God. Surprisingly, the Koran reportedly speaks more about, and more highly of Jesus than it does about Mohammed.

Despite this body of evidence, both groups affirm ‘God is ONE, ergo, Jesus cannot be God, as claimed.’  

Accepting Jesus as The revealed Son of God, and as God in human flesh is just one of the many Godly conundrums we are asked to believe in faith. But does it really take that much faith? Consider this, for example.

You, my Friend, are similarly a conundrum. You are uniquely one, made in the express image of God. Yet, you both present and express yourself as a tripartite being, an unseen, but very much alive spirit; exercising your soul (comprising your mind, will, emotions, intellect, and imagination); all of which are housed in a temporary, physical body. Your physical body will die, but your soul and spirit will live  forever. So tell me, are you still uniquely ONE?

The obvious answer is Yes …and No! Your component elements beautifully integrate to present you as ONE within this Earth-bound existence. Yet they remain separate and still distinctly YOU.

Command:  ‘Let the REAL you please stand up, and engage!

In response to such a command, your physical body may ‘stand up’ for all to see, yet God can see whether your spirit (heart), which is the seat of your motives, may be sitting down in defiance to this command. Through interaction, intellectual onlookers may be able to ascertain the extent to which your mind is or is not standing up and engaging. So in response to a unique command, you, as one unique person, have the ability to respond in multiple manners. Imagine that.

If we can do this, and we are created in God’s express image, can we, the created, limit the abilities of The Creator to reveal and express Himself similarly? Yet this is exactly what Muslim and Jewish believers are doing in rejecting Jesus’ claim to be God. Just as we do, God reveals and expresses Himself in ‘Three Persons’:  The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. So who are we to say pridefully,

Hold on, Mr. Creator, You can’t do that

because our puny minds cannot grasp it!

Conclusion:  Jesus is as much fully God, as your mind, your body, and your spirit, are fully you.

As we rejoice, celebrate and contemplate God’s purpose for your tripartite life, join me in musing a number of other ‘Godly Conundrums!’ 

See: Is Jesus God? (Series w/Fresh Insights!), especially Part 2.

Godly Conundrums (Poem)

Interestingly, God invites each of us to:

"See" that which cannot be 'seen'.

Be that which has not yet been.

Come to where we cannot yet go.

Go where our foot says, No!'

Do what self loathes to do.

Refrain when self says, "Bien venue!"

Rest in the midst of working.

Work in the midst of resting.

Eat in the midst of famine.

Fast for needs not yet arisen.

Give, even when our accounts are low.

Receive as others into our souls sow.

Believe what's unseen.

Doubt what's on the scene.

Sing when life says, "Mourn now!"

Mourn when life says, "Sing, wOw!

Receive forgiveness for sins we still commit!

Forgive when others on us spit 'n twit!

Bear Fruit of The Spirit in a dry and thirsty land.

Be fruitless in the world against which we stand.

Pray for the unrighteous who from Him are shorn.

Pray for the righteous who are yet to be born.

Reign as a King who is yet to be crowned.

Live as a servant who is Heaven-bound.

Rejoice in the midst of an apparent sorrow.

Shout for VICTORY in a promised tomorrow!

Believe in God Jehovah, so uniquely ONE!

Yet accept Jesus, revealed as His Son!

As we, in FAITH, embrace these conundrums,

God promises to lift us up from our doldrums.

We'll receive His Grace ... ungirdled!

And enjoy His Strength ... unbridled!

Root Examination (Poem)

If you are abiding and there's little or no fruit,

I encourage you, Friend, examine your spiritual roots.

Allow the Holy Spirit to direct this examination,

To reveal if there may be any worldly contamination

That may be clogging spiritual veins and arteries;

Things like worrying about winning some big lotteries.

Is it worry about paying all those lingering bills?

Or cumulative effects of all those shots 'n pills?

Such things prevent the sap of God's Word and Grace

From flowing, keeping you from VICTORY in life's race.

The Spirit's fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

Gentleness, self-control, faithfulness and goodness.

Against such things there is no law to bring a charge,

Or limit how much you do, have or pay as surcharge.

This fruit we bear as we abide in our Vine,

Allowing His Word our heart's desires to align.

If truth is confirmed by 2 - 3 witnesses, so routine,

Then see how often "abide" appears in John 15!

Since Jesus spoke of it so boldly, as savant,

Abiding must be something critically important.

Life's circumstances act like a big magnifying glass,

Checking the amount and kind of fruit we amass.

We can lie there, being inspected and re-inspected,

Or let this remind us that we are well CONNECTED -- 

Connected to The Vine, with Grace power as an Abider,

To crush circumstances into powdered fertilizer.

'Circumstantial fertilizer' generously applied to your roots

Will help you produce more and much better fruit!

But consider how stinky fertilizer sometimes smells,

And don't allow the stink drive you ... 

...from where your Glory dwells!