Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 or Zechariah 9:9-12
Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13 or Psalm 145:8-14
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Comparisons and contrasts, forgrounds and backgrounds are helpful way of looking at the whole. If you are in the world of 3-D or stereopticons you may be familiar with free-viewing where you loosen your foreground and background viewing to let things merge and reveal in the middle what isn't available either close or far. If you want lessons in this go to this free viewing site
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
ReplyDeleteIf we are going to start with 16-19 we need to include 20-24. We can't compare right hands, but need both the right and the left. In fact, we may need more than right and left and to call on Kali.
How do you foreground learning gentleness, if not against a background of bringing Hades?
Romans 7:15-25a
ReplyDeleteOne of the aspects I most appreciate about the progressive understanding of not fully understanding is living in the midst of ambiguity. I've been accused, more than once, of appreciating it too much. However, given the choice between choice and non-choice I choose choice.
We know the difference between good and evil, it is our birthright. Hope keeps us from doing all the evil we know and fear keeps us from all the good we know. Now we can work out whatever salvation might be within these realities.
Jump to, O saint and sinner, there's living to be done.
Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13 or Psalm 145:8-14
ReplyDeleteWow! 3 choices. The only thing that could be better for a trinitarian is identifying their oneness as well as their differences.
Enjoy the comment from The New Interpreter's Bible on Ps 45:17 -- "Memory and praise promise permanence to the king (or perhaps the princess)." Ahh, yes.
One connection is the connection between memory and promise. These two polarities reinforce one another. As you read each of these passages -- find the memory, find the promise.
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 or Zechariah 9:9-12
ReplyDeleteA marriage broker, a midwife, a messiah. All are key transition figures from promise to reality. Folks are espoused, babies are born, wars are dismantled.
As you look around, what needs a facilitator of a desired future? That which you see is the arena of your call. Between everything that has gone before and that which is to follow, you are at the right place at the right time to see that better living occurs. Will it take your life? Well, of course. That doesn't mean that you will die on the job, teeth still gritted. It does mean that your heart and head and hands and health will be harnessed toward a better end.
Romans 7:15-25a
ReplyDeleteHere we abide -- 'tween sin and grace. What a glorious place. We are not puppets, even of grace. We are co-creators. We are partners. We are free to do what we do do, well.
Obviously this is going to have political overtones whether that is making decisions on our own, in some semblance of family or community, or in governmental arenas. As far as we know each of these impacts the others. So we might as well be bold about announcing that and proceed to be involved at each of these levels.
There will be no time to second-guess ourselves, even when we don't understand what it is that has prompted us to particular responses to opportunities. It is important to choose a clear governance that acknowledges our tendency to mess up even when we are so careful not to. Checks and balances are a spiritual matter, as are regulations.
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
ReplyDeleteMight you be burdened by not knowing GOD? Have you been striving for that and seemingly spinning your wheels? It's good to know we can blame Jesus for not letting us in on the unity game.
The sadism of this kind of predestinarianism is supposedly mollified by having this burden recognized and being relieved of it. Somewhere in here things start careening around barns at a crazy tilt.
Tell you what, it is possible to have rested souls, no matter what. Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds and sabbath is proved by resting in GOD (which, of course, can be very active, indeed!).
We are sometimes burdened through laws that turn us into fodder for sabbath blue laws. We look for the manner in which the sabbath is intended to energize us. When we find that rest, our behaviors are set free and we can dance to any tune and eat at any feast.