Not a Single One


They assemble at dawn.  Each one taking his place along the benches provided.  The thickness of the wall dictates how many will assemble.  There is then, a fixed limit.

What do they do?  They pour out wisdom mixed with mercy.  If they preach, it is a quiet whisper.  Let the passing crowd listen as they will.

Let a man stop and ask.  Let him ask for advice or judgment in a matter.  This one has a right to expect truth from these aging men poised to serve.

 

Mercy clothed them as they made their way.  Their own failings accompanied mercy’s making.

The Righteousness of God is ever-present.  Let mercy attend their dispensing of truth.

Which one of them can perform the entire Law of God?  The answer is “not a single one”.

Are those who pass by any more able than those who sit in the city gate?  The answer is “not a single one”.

 

Then let mercy attend those who pass, just as it attends those who sit waiting to serve.

Let justice be dispensed with understanding.  Let wisdom be filtered through a man’s own willingness.

 

The dance of men moves with Grace, to the sound of God’s mercy.

Listen, you wise of God.  Listen to the sound of Love.

Dance with your partner, who strives alongside you in fear.

Learn to restrain your own feet, lest you step on the toes of your brother.

 

Such is the wisdom dispensed in the Gate of the Gospel; “the Good news of Peace from God”.

“Enter in to the store house of Righteousness.  Enter in among the Holy Army of God.

But let it be known that all who enter in will stand.  For the Master is able to make them stand.

Be merciful, my lovely servants; those who dispense the wisdom of God.  Be merciful to those who pass you by.

For they too will, some day, take their place in your well-worn benches.”

Winter


Holy Father I thank you for your majestic wisdom.  You tell us truly, that we are all without excuse before you.  For the things you have made, and the place where we live, testifies brilliantly of your Holiness.

You have caused all men to consider these things.  Not one man lives, but that he considers the nature of the place you have caused him to live.

You have written this way in unmovable stone, and it will not be taken out of the way.

Sovereign Father, by the mercy of your Holy Son, I come to you for explanation.  In your righteous expectation we are to understand and to obey.  So I am right to expect an answer.

In all that you have done, creating this place. you have made all things as they appear.  You are righteous Holy Father.  Therefore what you have done is what must be done.  But I have failed to grasp the meaning of Winter.

I understand that you are pure and pure light; the Light of righteousness, life, holiness and eternity.  And so you have made the snow to fall pure and white, virgin and innocent.

Your righteousness is deadly to all that stands against you.  For sin cannot appear before your Holy Throne.

In my imagination I perceive that the heat of our judgment to be burning and endlessly hot.  Yet with all that could be we find things as they are.

My mind is betrayed by a lack of understanding.  How is purity that appears in the coldest and deadliest of times?  Yet it does not appear in the time of heat.

It is not possible that this can make no sense.  It is therefore the weakness of my mind to fail to understand.

————–

In the purity of winter man is forced to rest on the previous days of labor.  It is a time of extensive difficulty.

If he has prepared well, survival is guaranteed, but for the weakness of flesh in disease and sickness.  But if he has failed to provide, during the time if necessary labor, difficulty will increase even unto death.

To venture into the purity provided, a man must be properly clothed.  Anything less then what is appropriate will surely demand too much.

It is a time of forced rest.  The time of preparation is past.  It is the severest season of testing.  And brilliant purity will force it on all.

————

You are Holy and true.  You have set a place which is unavoidable to all men.  You will command and we will appear before you.  The labors of our days will be tested.

If we have prepared in your Holy Son, we are dressed in his pure clothing to protect us from the onslaught of your judgement.  But who can stand that day without your loving compassion?

It is a time of abject horror for those who have not considered its demands.  And no man can provide for himself the things that are necessary.

————

Hide me in your majestic shadow Sovereign Father.  Dress me with the strength of your Holy Word, even Jesus your Holy Son.  Have mercy for my weakness.  I appeal to you by your promises. 

You are True, Holy, Righteous, Pure, Eternal, and your compassion is endless.  I run to you, that you may burn away to things that are displeasing.  That what remains may live.

All my letters are signed, “By His Grace”.  You taught me to do this many years ago.  May my soul appear before you with that signature.  For salvation belongs exclusively to God the Father and God the Holy Son.

The spark of life


Blood for the heart and thoughts for the mind, the soul is the essence of man. The soul is captive in the body with millions of silver light chords. What God has done in the making of man is unspeakably wonderous and great.

Yet break a few of the cords and the soul becomes untethered. Life within perception ceases. And the realm of man is shattered. The soul is tethered to flowing blood and the gell which is the brain. Who can fathom the mystery of life?

Let the blood stop flowing, or render a sufficient bump on the head and the essence evaporates from our perception. We would say, “The man is dead.” but we speak from fleshly eyes. For what cannot be seen is that which does not die.

The body remains among us. And even the most foolish will treat it with some measure of respect. But where is the soul? Where is the spark that once animated what now rots? Death leaves an empty tent. And the dweller has gone to his rightful place.

The simple man knows without having to be told, the soul has gone where it belongs. But the “wise” among us even doubt the soul exists. For the “wise” deny God.

With exceedingly weak words, the man of his own wisdom says, “The dead man has become memory and lives with us forever.” What a foolish thing to say for men who cannot remember what they did yesterday. And we will not add the things you did not know about the man who is now dead. How can the fragile memory of man cause the man to live forever? Hopeless, thoughtless and unholy are the thoughts of man without God.

I have entertained the words of those who are “wise”; those who perceive with fleshly eyes. I found them to be false and void of understanding. But to challenge their words in their face I also found to be useless. Their strength is their pride, and it is foolish to challenge. They will testify, “I am right, you are wrong.”

But I will challenge you here, you man of blood and skin. What the Lord has to say lay between us and through me. May he have mercy on you, that you will consider with sobriety. For you are drunk with the things of this world. Your eyes are fuzzy with dilution. You may define the word holiness, as men have defined it. But you know nothing more than that.

If there is no God. If flesh is the truth of all. If the sum of life is to gain what can be held by the perishing fingers of Man. Then explain to me the nature of death, if indeed you can.

Where is the spark of life when a body lay limp and lifeless? If all the things you hold so dear are true and irrevocable, why do they not dissipate with the life of the body? As if all the things a man has owned disappear to be with him forever. Even now the articles of those who believed such things are dug up and sold for money.

The folly of the question is evident. But those who deny God have not even asked.

You said you know. You proclaim that those who believe in God are foolish. Then “Wiseman”, answer me.

Where is the spark of life when a man lay dead? Has it gone someplace? Has it traveled some distance away? Travel takes time. So how long did it take for the soul to travel to its rightful place?

I say you are wrong. And I say those words with definitive strength. For I have the testimony of God Himself within me. Newness of life has come upon me that I did not know nor ask for. Understanding appears where once there was nothing but void.

You say there is no God. But you cannot answer the slightest of question. Where is your foundation for your feet as you stand to make that unholy accusation?

I will tell you what I know. And I will tell you I am ashamed of my lack. For I too am of flesh. And what I know cannot be perceived by skin. Though He has given sufficient to answer you.

You stand on ground you did not create. With air that is given, you fill your lungs. Your created mind conjures words. And with the glory of God’s creation you make them take life; only to live as death themselves.

You miss the most important things. For in him you live and move and have your being. Yet you proudly deny he is. You testify before him that you are foolish. I only point it out because you cannot see it. But folly is of itself. You are proud as if you know something. Perhaps it is time someone got in your way.

The essence of life, the eternal soul, goes to be with he who made it. It does not take time for the soul to travel any distance. For in him we live and move and have our being. Even your unholy words have reached him, for the were spoken with in him.

To you, the rules of this place are all that is. But this unholy place has blinded your eyes. And you do not perceive the light. As long as pride is your strength you will see nothing, and that in darkness. Humility sees far farther. For humility receives the mercy of God.

The flesh is for dirt. The soul is for Spirit. Neither to return to this place again. Men even testify to their destructive nature, for they bury what rots I lest it taint what regenerates.

If I spoke to you about these things without riddle, you would not understand. And you would not strive to ask. So I make no apologies for the cloak on these words. These words are not faultless, but they speak of he who is.

You have testified as if you know. I testify from what He has given. There is a chasm fixed between us. I will no longer cross over to you. But I urge you, with all sincerity, cross over to Him.

Kiss the Son Lest He be Angry


Jesus became angry with the leaders of the Jews when they refused to strive to understand His words.  It’s not like His language was foreign,  or spoken in such a way as to cause confusion.  In fact we often see the Jews understanding quite fine when they perceived He spoke something against them.

He was from them.  They had the Law He had delivered to Moses.  And He made sure understanding was close at hand.  No, it wasn’t due to the Lord Jesus that confusion reigned in their rock hard hearts.

Look over your shoulder as you read this.  Take note that I am not speaking foreign words to those who read my posts.  And when I speak to the world, it’s not a people from some strange land I’m addressing.   Yet who responds by softening their rock hard heart?

I am not Jesus.  And you are not Jews.  We are gentiles together.  And I speak the same language as you.  So how come my words seem to be so hard to understand for so many?

Look to your heart.  He did not hold the Jews guiltless for their unwillingness to listen.  He is not likely to treat any other man any differently.  Why not just cut to the bone and soften that rock?  You don’t have to hear what I say.  But if I point to the Son of God, why not go to Him?

He’s been waiting since before you were born.

By His Grace