still listening

Jason Upton One Thing Conference 2003

Reading a passage from a book, author not mentioned.

"The minds preoccupation with things of space affects to this day all activities of men. Even religions are frequently dominated by the notion that the deity resides in space within particular localities like mountains or forests, trees or stones which are therefore singled out as holy places. The deity is bound to a particular land, holiness a quality associated with things of space, and the primary question is; where is God?
There is much enthusiasm for the idea that God is present in the universe but that idea is taken to mean His presence in space rather than in time, in nature rather than in history; as if He were a thing and not a spirit."

This writer goes on to say that the reason that we love to make God a thing or a form or even worship or experiences or church ,religious activities a form, is because

"things of space are at the mercy of man, though too sacred to be polluted, they are not too sacred to be exploited. To retain the holy, to perpetuate the presence of God His image is fashioned, yet a god who can be fashioned. A god, who can be confined, is but a shadow of man.”

Full teaching (video) can be downloaded here; http://www.jasonupton.net/audiovideo/vd_onethingKC03teaching.htm

JESUS IS ENOUGH

feeling sober, thinking out loud

How many times has the enemy come to us and tried to convince us that Jesus isn’t enough? How many times have you heard these words; “Sure you’re saved but… ,”Yes Jesus loves you but…” knowing you were about to be instructed in the ways of ‘higher-christianity’.
Jesus is enough.
“Yes but…”
Jesus is enough.
“But don’t you want to be in His end-times army?”
Jesus is enough.
“But you have to .....”
Jesus is enough.
“Don’t miss your destiny!”
Jesus is enough.
The enemy wants you to believe the finished work of the cross…isn’t really finished, that what started with Jesus…ends with you doing the right things and making yourself right for Him.
If we receive another gospel, fear of falling short, not measuring up, not being ready etc… takes center stage in our hearts and minds. What Jesus has done takes a back-seat to what we must now do to maintain our place at the Fathers table.
The invitations have already gone out. What we need to understand I think, is there really isn’t any fine print at the bottom that reads; ‘BYOR’ (bring your own righteousness)
Jesus is enough.

STAY

moved to poetry page ------>

POEM-ish

I’m sure there’s lots of reasons to be mad
…but I just can’t think of any right now.
I have a feeling I won’t be mad tomorrow either.
How will I manage?
Tomorrow’s a new day and even as I sleep, I trust He’s speaking…sneaking even…
moving things around so I won’t be able to find them
What if… I woke up tomorrow and my evil plan to dominate the ‘confrontation pending’
wasn’t where I left it?
would I know what to say?
maybe the exchange will be
that for every rotten line- a blessing?
am I ready to be nice already?
I must be
zzz…zzz…zzz…

WE THIRST

…And we thirst.

Isa 55:1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat. Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Someone I respect very much spoke these words; “To be thirsty is good, but to drink deeply is much better.”
Being thirsty for God is rarely the trouble. Learning to recognize whose well you’re drawing from that’s another story. We draw from wells, we drink, and we thirst.

There are so many voices, so many contradictory representations of Jesus, that over the years I found myself spending more time in confusion than in communion. So whose well have I been drawing from that I could remain parched for so long?

Reading JOHN 4, Listening to Jesus at Jacobs well

THE LABYRINTH

...everything I need to know about Jesus, I knew when I was 6.
fall leaves
wind and quiet songs
secrets I would never tell
and I could tell You everything

a new wind came and I must have bumped my head
I fell asleep and woke to silence
the song was over
I thought my Jesus went away