tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42229007364892141992024-03-14T00:32:49.997-04:00Nacreous KingdomSpeaking My Truth with Grit and GraceTracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-78040133666577338972017-09-04T12:10:00.004-04:002017-09-04T12:44:32.717-04:00The Nacreous Statement<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">There's been a lot of buzz lately about the Bashville Statement (I will be calling </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Nashville Statement </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">this moving forward, since the very city who holds the most legitimate claim to the name, has disavowed themselves of it) came out last week. Many are opining on whether the statement is "right vs. wrong" or "true vs. false" and even "good versus bad." And many counter-statements can be easily be found. This is my attempt to articulate my concerns with the Bashville Statement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Such statements (statements which seek to draw lines of inclusivity and exclusivity, which seek to make clear where the line is that demarcates the supposed boundary that separates those who are "in grace" and those who are "out of grace") are nothing new. The many church creeds that we all know and claim were created to delineate the difference between orthodox belief and ideologies that had drifted into heretical thought. These statements were based on the gospel and were written to clarify and to promulgate the gospel. In short: they were Gospel Products. But the Bashville Statement, despite it's claim to be one such statement, is not one of these. The Nashville Statement is not a Gospel Product. Here's why...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">The problem that we have here is in definitions. Definitions prescribe premises and premises produce products. I'd like to assert that if you start out with an ill-defined premise, the product you produce won't be capable of producing the result you had intended. Bear with me on this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">In order to be able to bless the world, our understanding of God (our theology) has to be on the mark, so to speak. As Karl Barth said: <b><i>"If we get God wrong, we get everything wrong." </i></b> Likewise, if we get the gospel wrong (our understanding of salvation and what Jesus came to proclaim and enact), we get everything wrong, as well. Our sotieriology and our understanding of gospel has to be accurate, but it has to be charitable, relevant, meaningful, and attractive as well. That is what it means to be “the aroma of Christ”- our understanding of the Triune God should be such that it is irresistibly compelling. We need to be able to speak the language of those around us, and we need to have eyes that see the world through their eyes. We need to know that the world is evaluating our behavior and are well aware of our hypocrisy when we sit around and ruminate about our theologies and doctrines, but fail to actually <i>be</i> the gospel. We need to be able to move ourselves from our sanctuaries into the world and theologize with our actions. Christian theology is most compelling when it <i>acts out</i> its understanding of God in palpable ways that actually flesh out our oftentimes ambiguous and otherworldly conceptualizations. This starts with our understanding the gospel and enacting it well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br />What is often described as the "core business of Christianity" (i.e. forgiveness of [personal] sin [behaviors]) is considered by many to be "the gospel." This is generally the byline of the subset of Christianity we know as 20th century evangelical Christians. But Christianity is an old and wide river, and this is only one small rivulet in the stream. To many others, this understanding of the gospel is considered to be a stripped down (anemic) characterization. Indeed, it is <i>some</i> of the gospel, but <b>not</b> all of it. Not by far. This stripped-down version takes into account what <i>some </i>of the Pauline writings say about salvation (albeit through the lens of late-day theologians such as Abelard and equally watered down explanations of justification...but that's a post for a different day). <b><i>It doesn't even bother to take into account what Jesus himself said the gospel was.</i></b> Seriously, if Jesus' death is what the gospel is about in it's entirety, then it is impossible that he himself could have preached the gospel (because it had not even happened yet...). <i>But Jesus did preach the gospel</i>, the Bible tells us so. So, what is the gospel, then if it is not merely about the cross? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">A robust gospel is about way more than personal sin and individual soul-salvation. It takes into account the restoration of all things; the reconciliation of all of creation to God, to God's intent, and to each other. It is holistic and all-encompassing. It includes physical healing, justice for the socially deprived and oppressed and outcast; it is saving and freeing in its barrier-demolishing and merciful hospitality. It begins with the prophetic good news to the poor...of restoration of sight to the blind, freedom to those in bondage and oppressed, that Jesus preached about in that little synagogue in Nazareth, when he said that scripture had been fulfilled "in your midst". Did you get that? The gospel had been fulfilled...right there and then, mind you... and the Cross Event had yet to take place! This Robust Gospel moves to The Mount of Olives where it is proclaimed from a hillside to thousands…no mention of the cross here or of soul salvation, mind you... And it was circulated throughout the towns and villages where it is preached and it was taught and it always was preached and taught accompanied by healing. A Robust Gospel heals. A Robust Gospel saves, to be sure...body, souls, mind, spirit, relationships....ALL of creation! A Robust Gospel demolishes strongholds. A Robust Gospel proclaims that the kingdom is here and now, just as Jesus proclaimed "the kingdom is among you". A Robust Gospel has less to do about "getting people into the kingdom" than it does in helping people to recognize the kingdom is already within them. A Robust Gospel doesn't have "social justice" as an add-on, neither does it expect that the "government will take care of problems". A Robust Gospel addresses everything because it's the real deal. A Robust Gospel draws all things to itself. A Robust Gospel delivers (in both senses of the word). A Robust Gospel doesn't appeal to itching ears, but it doesn't offend the nose, either. A Robust Gospel smells like Jesus. <b><i>A Robust Gospel does not produce products like the Nashville Statement. <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br />So that's where the differences begin: in our basic sotieriologies (our theologies of salvation). Unless we have a theology that describes God as hospitable and which attributes to God a mission of offering healing, release, rescue, haven, solace, <i>hospitus</i>, to the stranger-other (not over and against, but combined with- or more accurately- as part of the salvation/conversion process)...then we have a less-than-robust sotieriology. Such a sotieriology/gospel is inadequate to speak to us and is not able to help us to rightly form our imaginations regarding our mission and our response to our neighbors. Such a sotieriology cannot produce a robust "product" that is capable of drawing anyone toward transformation. But it can produce a diatribe. Because it's roots are established in an anemic gospel, for all its fancy verbiage, for all its well-crafted language, the Bashville statement is a product that is incapable of performing the most basic function of the gospel...healing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">And for this reason...bereft of a true understanding of the gospel of love, The Bashville Statement (as the Apostle Paul would opine)... rings hollow in the end and is incapable of either proclaiming or promulgating the gospel. So this leaves me scratching my head: what, then, was the point?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-64083982417129785972015-03-29T09:30:00.000-04:002015-03-29T09:50:28.238-04:00PALM Sunday: To The One who rode in on a gentle donkey, and not a warhorse- Be all praise and honor forever<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"></span><br />
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DID YOU KNOW: The Palm Sunday story is in all four gospels, yet Jesus' birth narrative is in only two?</div>
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Be blessed on this VERY important day!</div>
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May you each feel the deep solemnity and joy of this Holy Week.</div>
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HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!</div>
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...To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph 3:21)</div>
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</span>Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-79427556752524994132015-03-28T11:31:00.000-04:002015-03-28T12:07:18.807-04:00But Lord...He Stinketh...<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">
Today is Lazarus Saturday, the day that the "Church universal" traditionally </div>
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commemorates Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus was one of Jesus' three documented death-to-life miracles, but is the most dramatic and significant. </div>
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The reason for this can be found in the words of Martha, Lazarus' sister. First...the story, which is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 11, verses 1 to 45. </div>
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Jesus is out of town, a messenger comes to tell him that his best friend Lazarus is deathly ill. Because it has taken the messenger days to reach Jesus and his group, any reasonable person of that time and place would have assumed that the man spoken of would be dead. Jesus did, and in the practical and pragmatic way of the Ancients, stayed put. This seems a little off to us, after all, we know what's happening in real time and it's in our cultural DNA to respond swiftly and effectively to issues. Not so in the Ancient Near East. They responded to a different rhythm and lived at a different pace. When Jesus does finally make his way back, Lazarus who has been dead a number of days, embalmed, buried and placed in a tomb is eventually raised to life again by Jesus' prayer to his Abba father God. </div>
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But the story-within-the-story is really the juiciest part... Bookended between verses 27 and 39 we see the mini story of Martha's conversion. We see her tell Jesus in verse 27 that she believes in him, and she declares he is the Christ. Then, she runs and calls her sister to come to Jesus and the two of them spend some seriously formative and emotionally intimate time with Jesus communally processing all kinds of raw feelings and being vulnerable and present to each other. Then Jesus gets ready to move beyond the emotion to action, and Martha<i>... confused by the facts... says</i>: "But Lord...he stinks...he's putrefying!" Seriously...she went there<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">: Buzz kill. MAJOR buzz kill.</span></div>
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In those mere twelve verses, the writer takes us through all the major steps of conversion (wrestling, belief, joy, desire to draw others in, shared intimacy, and <i>tada</i>: disbelief). And that's the beauty of it. I don't know about you, but this story bolsters me and comforts me immensely. Why? <i><b>Because Jesus doesn't let the story end in a buzz kill.</b></i> He doesn't let Martha's temporary insane disbelief be the last word. He doesn't let her speak <i>her </i>reality into <i>his</i> plans to showcase a new reality...one in which death has no power, and the impossible is possible; one in which putrefaction can be purified and repurposed. </div>
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So, dear friends: </div>
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Let's not let our "this stinks beyond redemption" moments be the last word. Let us allow Jesus' redeeming, healing, repurposing-of-putrefaction-power have the Final Say in the midst of our messy lives!</div>
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May You Be Blessed on this gloomy Lazarus Saturday, in the hopeful knowledge that Resurrection Sunday is coming!</div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-13082987602864637442014-07-17T14:26:00.000-04:002014-07-17T14:28:57.537-04:00A Call to Be Attuned to the Rhythms of Emptying and Filling~<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As for the very first
time, I hear the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant.
As you have said, let it be done to me." (Luke 1:38, The Voice)<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tracy/Documents/Nacreous%20Kingdom/2014/A%20Call%20to%20Be%20Attuned%20to%20the%20Rhythms%20of%20Emptying%20and%20Filling.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>,
and I understand at a much deeper level her prophetic declaration in her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Magnifica</i>t, when she says:</span></div>
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<span class="text"><sup>46 </sup>My soul lifts up the Lord!</span><br />
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<span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup>47 </sup></b></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My spirit celebrates God, my
Liberator!</b></span></div>
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<span class="text"><sup>48 </sup></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">For though I’m God’s humble servant,</span></div>
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<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">God has
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<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">Now
and forever,</span></div>
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<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">I will be considered blessed by all generations.</span></div>
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<span class="text"><sup>49 </sup></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">For the Mighty One has done great things for me;</span></div>
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<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">holy is God’s name!</span></div>
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<span class="text"><sup>50 </sup></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">From generation to generation,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">God’s lovingkindness endures</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">for those who revere Him.</span></div>
<div class="line" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><sup>51 </sup></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">God’s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">The proud in mind and heart,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">God has sent away in disarray.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><sup>52 </sup></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">The rulers from their high positions of power,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">God has brought down low.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">And
those who were humble and lowly,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">God has elevated with dignity.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><sup>53 </sup></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">The hungry—God has filled with fine food.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The rich—God has dismissed
with nothing in their hands.</b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="line" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;">
<span class="text">(Luke
1:46-53, The Voice; emboldening mine)</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Tracy/Documents/Nacreous%20Kingdom/2014/A%20Call%20to%20Be%20Attuned%20to%20the%20Rhythms%20of%20Emptying%20and%20Filling.docx" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Because of a fear of
being sent away empty-handed, I have heretofore, read myself into the station
of the hungry one(s) mentioned in verse 53a.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Metaphorically</i>, I have oft
reasoned, I am hungry for so many things of The Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have not been honest, for fear of being
turned away from the God who gives me my very sustenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I have learned to re-read these words
through the lens of the concept of kenosis,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tracy/Documents/Nacreous%20Kingdom/2014/A%20Call%20to%20Be%20Attuned%20to%20the%20Rhythms%20of%20Emptying%20and%20Filling.docx" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> I
have moved from a place of defensiveness to a place of security. Reading Mary's
words with kenotic eyes gives me the courage to be honest with myself and with
my God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What have I to fear from Him,
for He is my Abba and has my best interest at heart?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be dismissed with nothing in my hands no
longer seems daunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, it seems
freeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, empty hands are more
capable of receiving and reaching out. Empty hands are also more available for
extending, and ...for embracing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Theological hope
can only come from a radical experience of our poverty. </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As long as we are
rich, we rely on our riches. </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To learn hope, we
have to pass through impoverishment. </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These experiences
are the prelude to experiencing </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the goodness,
faithfulness, </span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and power of God in a quite extraordinary way. </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Blessed are the
poor in spirit”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—those stripped of
everything by the Spirit—</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven." <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">~Jacques
Phillippe, Interior Freedom<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br />
<div clear="all">
</div>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tracy/Documents/Nacreous%20Kingdom/2014/A%20Call%20to%20Be%20Attuned%20to%20the%20Rhythms%20of%20Emptying%20and%20Filling.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Luke 1:38, ibid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tracy/Documents/Nacreous%20Kingdom/2014/A%20Call%20to%20Be%20Attuned%20to%20the%20Rhythms%20of%20Emptying%20and%20Filling.docx" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Luke 1: 46-53, ibid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tracy/Documents/Nacreous%20Kingdom/2014/A%20Call%20to%20Be%20Attuned%20to%20the%20Rhythms%20of%20Emptying%20and%20Filling.docx" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kenosis is a term, although not
mentioned specifically in scripture, is alluded to in the abovementioned
Philippians passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than humility,
kenosis is "The spiritual act of pouring out oneself, of 'emptying' the
self of its prerogatives..." and is "derived from the Greek word, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kenoo, </i>found in this passage of
scripture which refers to Christ, and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>which
means 'emptied himself'...'made himself nothing'..., and...'poured himself
out'. from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pilgrim Heart:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Way of Jesus in Everyday Life</i> by
Darryl Tippens.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-67703744423908042532014-04-19T21:17:00.000-04:002014-04-20T21:19:36.430-04:00 A Holy Saturday Compline (Prayer Before Bed)<br />
May you find a sense of peace in the quiet and darkness as you fall to sleep. May the commemoration of this day remind you that, like Jesus' tomb, even in the stillness and silence and in the areas of your life that seem dead and irredeemable, God is present and actively working out His plan of redemption and reconciliation. Rest well, knowing that, With tomorrow's dawn, His mercies will break forth anew and JOY will triumph! Amen.<br />
<br />
Tracy B. Dickerson, 2014
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">©</span><br />
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-39948074456340096722014-04-19T12:00:00.000-04:002014-04-19T12:00:05.159-04:00LENT DAY 40 (Post #2): DARK<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFTKe7_FU-TmfFEU42IyAxHeeKVLh-KI9vcwa0c4c0Dg9y0p7Se29gaJ5Sm7BZWznFwaao7XKzNQxCb7iuAbYYbiUC1dizeDEPF94B_UWcDXhNCiahfOBUJQ4sCmp9ozOPhQWtbV0GZBX/s1600/Bird+Singing+in+Dark.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFTKe7_FU-TmfFEU42IyAxHeeKVLh-KI9vcwa0c4c0Dg9y0p7Se29gaJ5Sm7BZWznFwaao7XKzNQxCb7iuAbYYbiUC1dizeDEPF94B_UWcDXhNCiahfOBUJQ4sCmp9ozOPhQWtbV0GZBX/s200/Bird+Singing+in+Dark.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457769649727016482" style="display: block; height: 98px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 130px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<div align="center">
We can only imagine the abject terror that filled the hearts of</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
Jesus' followers on this day some 2000 years ago...</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
It was surely an unimaginable dark nightmare for them.</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
At times, God puts us through the </div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>discipline of darkness</strong> </div>
<br />
<div align="center">
to teach us to heed Him.<br />
<br />
Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and </div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<em>we are put into the shadow of God’s hand until we learn to hear Him…</em><br />
<strong>Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, </strong></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>or in your life with God?</strong><br />
…<strong><em><span style="color: #000099;">When you are in the dark, </span></em></strong></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em><span style="color: #000099;">listen, </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="color: #000099;">and </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="color: #000099;">God will give you </span></em></strong></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em><span style="color: #000099;">a very precious message </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="color: #000099;">for someone </span></em></strong></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em><span style="color: #000099;">when you get in the light.</span></em></strong><br />
<br /></div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-39540435445426049142014-04-19T00:00:00.000-04:002014-04-19T00:00:02.351-04:00LENT DAY 40 (Post #1): WAIT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqLev1aaCJinA37BZlsj12CD1q8BU41OW4vEq6ZLiYgOfVWVN9uDiVzonrZGaeTiiRnmQNpAAzs1xWUXP0__Nf1leXz5M2_kra4jM8u1Gbhuw10NMJIHtMKqqXnSc-5UZtmkUEzbSrraS/s1600/jesusintomb.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqLev1aaCJinA37BZlsj12CD1q8BU41OW4vEq6ZLiYgOfVWVN9uDiVzonrZGaeTiiRnmQNpAAzs1xWUXP0__Nf1leXz5M2_kra4jM8u1Gbhuw10NMJIHtMKqqXnSc-5UZtmkUEzbSrraS/s200/jesusintomb.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454620303460645602" style="display: block; height: 166px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong>Black Saturday- The Silence of the Tomb</strong><br />
<br />
Today is the day we call “Holy Saturday,” or more appropriately “Black Saturday.” Today, after the pain and suffering of Good Friday, everything, more than ever, is silent as we WAIT for God. On Black Saturday, the Lord Jesus lies dead in His tomb, a shroud over Him. Take a moment to think about that and what it means. His tomb is wrapped in stony silence- the silence of death. As he had predicted, his frightened disciples are scattered and in hiding.<br />
<br />
If we take time to recall, we are reminded that silence is a method God uses to speak to us. Silence such as this is not at all lack of communication; it refers not so much to the absence of sound and activity, but to a deeper awareness of things. The essence of the silence of Holy Saturday provides us with an understanding of the deep, essentialness of God in our lives. For, when we taste even the slightest withdrawal of Him from our presence, it is then that we understand fully that it is only in Him that we live and move and breathe.<br />
<br />
In Hebrew the word ‘Shema’ means ‘listen to this’ or ‘hear this.’ In fact, a more accurate translation of the word ‘Shema’implies that you <strong>listen or hear </strong>and <strong>then act upon it</strong>. The title comes from Deut 6:3 which says, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God! The LORD is One!”<br />
<br />
<em><strong>In the quiet of Holy Saturday</strong></em>, <strong>God bids you to take action and listen for His voice...</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
Today, on Black Saturday, <strong><em>take some time in thinking about your life </em></strong>for a while. Perhaps recently, there is an area or aspect in your life where you are having difficulty finding God: it may be in prayer, a relationship, at work, at home, or some personal issues you may be facing. In other words, there may be an “empty tomb” in your life...<br />
<br />
<strong>Maybe</strong> <strong><em>God is inviting you this Holy Week to "roll away the stone" and to look for Him in the very emptiness and silence of that place.</em></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eh2VcS96Oxw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eh2VcS96Oxw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></div>
<br />
If this is what you are feeling, God may be inviting you to Embrace his silence, which is the Silence of the Empty tomb…the Silence of His Hidden Presence in your life.<br />
<br />
In order to sense God’s presence in the ordinary and to recognize his action, even in our suffering and wounds, we need the silence of the empty tomb.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/428ibQD6JEY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/428ibQD6JEY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<strong>This Holy Saturday, may you find a sense of peace in the quiet anticipation of this day. May the commemoration of this day remind you that, like Jesus' tomb, even in the stillness and silence and in the areas of your life that seem dead and irredeemable, God is present and actively working out His plan of redemption and reconciliation.</strong>Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-25205454156322968972014-04-18T12:41:00.001-04:002014-04-18T12:41:16.920-04:00Lent Day 39~ Good Friday: MOCK<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26Eg3GcS96utydsVgjHRs_vZ4_OGnD79ak1oMKFCGxj9lepo80zgUlMsP0hY8t61Q6evod81D2umWB-kOrLaUgIdCtREpYYBKgtbFRSEYK9sEcXWs1qC88PZJEIjGjrPbOI6mEzdpfAqx/s1600/jesus-cross1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26Eg3GcS96utydsVgjHRs_vZ4_OGnD79ak1oMKFCGxj9lepo80zgUlMsP0hY8t61Q6evod81D2umWB-kOrLaUgIdCtREpYYBKgtbFRSEYK9sEcXWs1qC88PZJEIjGjrPbOI6mEzdpfAqx/s200/jesus-cross1.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455574838357527634" style="display: block; height: 132px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<br />
On Good Friday, as Jesus was hanging upon the cross, the mockers milling around at the base of the cross yelled up at him, <em>“If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross and we will believe you.” </em><br />
<br />
Where have we heard these words before? Who was speaking through those who mocked Jesus on Good Friday? The words of those who were mocking Jesus on Good Friday sound eerily similar to the words that Satan used in the desert ("If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down...").<br />
<br />
No doubt, Satan and his banished band laughed at the the foot of the cross. Their glee can be heard, even now 2000+ years later through the voices of the people who they animated with their vitriole.<br />
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The mocking must have been unbearable to hear, both for Our Lord and for the small band of onlookers that were His friends and family. They did not have the advantage that we have- the advantage of hindsight.<br />
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Neither those who were spouting vitriole, nor Jesus' faithful handful, knew how the story was going to unfold...But Jesus knew...<br />
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Darkness enveloped the world that day. I do not believe we can fully grasp the despair that must have been felt...<br />
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Perhaps a Still Small Voice spoke to the hearts of those faithful onlookers in order to steel their faith and said:<br />
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<strong>It’s Friday- But Sunday’s Coming!</strong><br />
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Perhaps they began to understand at a core level Jesus' teaching about the "Sign of Jonah"...We do not know for sure.<br />
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<strong>On this Good Friday, let us remember the mocking that Jesus bore... </strong><br />
Let it be a reminder to us when we are assaulted and mocked by our Enemy and his minions... although we may not know the outcome, Jesus knows...<br />
<br />
Let us know, as truly as we can know any truth...<br />
<strong>Even on Our Darkest Day- We Know <em>The Light</em>!<br /><br />Here is a Campolo Classic for you today…</strong><br />
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<strong>Lift Up Your Heads, Rejoice!</strong><br />
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<strong>May Your Day Be Filled With The AWE of It All!</strong><br />
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<strong><em>For God DID NOT send His Son into<br />the world to condemn the world,<br />but that the world, through Him, might be saved.<br />~John 3:17</em></strong></div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-92090273159278130712014-04-17T00:32:00.000-04:002014-04-17T00:32:03.833-04:00Lent Day 38: LOVE<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
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<strong>Maundy Thursday</strong></div>
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Blessed Maundy Thursday! The word "maundy" comes from Middle English and French and means "command". And so today, on the day where Jesus had his Last Supper and commanded his followers to always remember him, may we reflect on the idea that he bore the darkness of the cross so that we could step out into the light and be the adopted Children of Light.</div>
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Let us use this day to reflect on the words of the Apostle John:</div>
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John 13:34-35 (Contemporary English Version)</div>
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But I am giving you a<strong> new command</strong>. <strong><em>You must love each other</em></strong>, just as I have loved you. <em>If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.</em></div>
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In <a href="http:/"></a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20john%204:7-8&version=NIV">these</a> verses he expounded upon Jesus’ command, and described what it means to be His disciples.</div>
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May you love as you are loved...</div>
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may others know you are a disciple by your love...</div>
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</span>Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-10931080764219773322014-04-16T13:12:00.000-04:002014-04-18T13:12:36.170-04:00LENT DAY 37~ Holy Wednesday: PRAY<strong>Holy Wednesday</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8OSSFyg7Ekd2AFPjrfKoIMIqdM2NYTrUsKNcMqMqQOa1fShbYi6uL9qNLJt_UePpmP0g0x5YLFxxWnvaLlRYFD2O7kZCCScjhV6NQG3dkIqord-p_mZQ5gAZwMOGVjJcbkbIrwgMyi0G/s1600/jesus-in-gethsemane.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8OSSFyg7Ekd2AFPjrfKoIMIqdM2NYTrUsKNcMqMqQOa1fShbYi6uL9qNLJt_UePpmP0g0x5YLFxxWnvaLlRYFD2O7kZCCScjhV6NQG3dkIqord-p_mZQ5gAZwMOGVjJcbkbIrwgMyi0G/s200/jesus-in-gethsemane.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454638351675865234" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 135px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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On this Wednesday of Holy Week, May you take some quiet time to contemplate THE PRICE that was paid for YOU, and the PRAYERS that were made for you...because you are PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT! <br />
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As we remember the time Christ spent in Gethsemane, we remember to carve out time to “have prayer” with God. When we stop talking <strong><em>at </em></strong>God…when we sit in the silence and are willing to listen and wait…we WILL hear His voice.Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-23909893581498282242014-03-26T23:23:00.002-04:002014-03-27T15:54:59.333-04:00Lent Day 19: LOAN<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPx7nickKju_O0vdsPMCCiTMhmzAqzeWo_efJum_xavsXITTEWShp77C0QO_Q31mUmjkWd0QzWRwybkpfezbh8LCqJbgZTyUydWB0_8rGqPpB4J_z8aFgBGGuolGBOLdyadeBzc4s-3hu/s1600/loan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPx7nickKju_O0vdsPMCCiTMhmzAqzeWo_efJum_xavsXITTEWShp77C0QO_Q31mUmjkWd0QzWRwybkpfezbh8LCqJbgZTyUydWB0_8rGqPpB4J_z8aFgBGGuolGBOLdyadeBzc4s-3hu/s1600/loan.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;">Today's post will be brief, as I am a little under the weather. I hope that your day was a good one, and that you continue to make the attempt to recite the Shema in the morning and evening. </span></div>
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Today, on this Nineteenth Day of Lent, I have only a brief observation, followed by minimal commentary. </div>
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As I read my Facebook newsfeed, I notice an interesting string of threads with juxtaposing themes: </div>
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My younger friends post stories of the trials of having small children and my older friends (sorry guys/gals) post stories about how they miss their grown kids, etc.</div>
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Most poignant was one I saw recently, posted by a friend from nursing school. It <span id="goog_605280829"></span><span id="goog_605280830"></span>read something like this: "I love my kids. I so miss the days when I was a young mother with small babies."</div>
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Today's message is brief: our loved ones are on LOAN to us from God...in fact, our very lives are.</div>
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Today, may you enjoy the people and time that is on LOAN to you to the fullest.<br />
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Blessings to you...</div>
</span><br />Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-37910752986833077892014-03-25T17:50:00.001-04:002014-03-25T22:10:39.144-04:00Lent Day 18: SAFE<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong>Recite the <em>Primo Credo</em> Today in the Morning and in the Evening: </strong></div>
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Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; <br />
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, <br />
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.<br />
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. <br />
There is no other commandment greater than these.<br />
~Mark 12:29-31 </div>
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Today, on the Eighteenth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo. We will be meditating on it over the period leading up to Resurrection (Easter) Sunday; and we will be trying to remember to recite it daily, once in the morning and once again in the evening. For over nearly three weeks now, we have stressed the importance of intentionality; thinking, feeling, and meaning the words as we repeat them- not just hollowly reciting them. Our goal is to let the words work in us, and hopefully through us, and back out of us. </div>
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<strong>Today’s Scripture Reading: </strong></div>
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<div class="poetry top-05" style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span class="text Prov-1-33" id="en-NIV-16434">"...but whoever listens to me </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span class="text Prov-1-33">will live in <span style="color: #c27ba0;">safety<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16434A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-1-33">and be at <span style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0;">ease,</span> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-1-33"><span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79;">without fear</span> of harm."</span></span></strong></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-1-33"><strong></strong></span></span> </div>
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<strong>Proverbs 1:33 </strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: xx-small;">New International Version (NIV)</span></strong></div>
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In the Message Bible it reads like this: </div>
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<strong><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">First pay attention to me, </span></i></strong></div>
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<strong><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">and then relax. </span></i></strong></div>
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<strong><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Now you can take it easy...</span></i></strong></div>
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<strong><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">you’re in good hands.</span></i></strong> </div>
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It should come as no surprise that the concepts of "hearing" and "listening" keep coming up in our conversations. We've also talked about obeying and abiding and keeping. If you didn't know me, you might think I were legalistic, but that is actually far from the truth. </div>
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Those who know me well, know that I tend to ask a lot of question, give a lot of push-back, ask for reasons and explanations...and just generally annoy the cr*p out of anyone trying to order me around and get me to blindly do what they tell me. Oh yeah, and then there's that...I curse like a sailor. So "a legalist" is so what I am not.</div>
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<strong>So then- why all this talk about obedience...</strong></div>
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<strong>listening to God...</strong></div>
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<strong>doing what Jesus says...</strong></div>
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<strong>loving God and Jesus by keeping their commands?</strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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Because I've found through trial and error (read here: A LOT of trial...) that when I follow through on the instructions I find in the Word of God, my life is simplified in that I tend to feel more at ease, less anxious, more relaxed, with less fear. SAFE, even. </div>
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In a nutshell: God and Jesus know what they are talking about and give great advice; they know how to keep me out of the self-imposed messes I tend to get myself into. When I listen to them, I'm in good hands.</div>
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Today, may you find comfort in the safety of God's good hands.</div>
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Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-81750353572815456392014-03-24T22:54:00.000-04:002014-03-22T20:11:27.395-04:00Lent, Day 17: WARN<div align="justify">
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<strong>Recite the Primo Credo Today in the Morning and in the Evening: </strong></div>
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<div align="center">
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. <br />
~Mark 12:29-31 </div>
<br />
<div align="justify">
Today, on the Seventeenth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo. We have been meditating on it over the Lenten period leading up to Resurrection (Easter) Sunday; and we have been trying to remember to recite it daily, once in the morning and once again in the evening. For the last two and a half weeks, we have stressed the importance of intentionality; thinking, feeling, and meaning the words as we repeat them- not just hollowly reciting them. Our goal is to let the words work in us, and hopefully through us, and back out of us. </div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>Today’s Scripture Reading: </strong></div>
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<strong>All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. </strong></div>
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They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, </div>
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a time is coming when everyone who kills you </div>
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will think he is offering service to God. </div>
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They will do such things because </div>
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they have not known the Father or me. </div>
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I have told you these things so that when their hour comes </div>
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you will remember that I warned you. </div>
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John 16:1-4 </div>
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He may not have waved a red flag, but he might as well have... <br />
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Jesus warned his disciples of a time that was not going to be so pretty. He did this immediately after telling them a bunch of other important information. Remember from previous posts, that we learned that Jesus stressed (in John 15) to his disciples the importance of abiding in him and KEEPing his commandments. He used an analogy, describing himself as the VINE and admonishing his disciple to abide in his love, keep his commandments, walk in his ways, to love one another. He did this for a very important reason- he wanted them to understand that it is only by doing these things that they would be able to withstand the difficulties that were inevitable in their futures. </div>
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The same goes for us. Unless we stick with Jesus and stick with each other- we’re in for a bumpier ride than if we follow his battle strategy. </div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%;"><strong>Jesus’ battle strategy involves solidarity. </strong></span></div>
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A friend of mine likes to use the game Red Rover as an analogy of what Christian unity and solidarity looks like. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbJOdSRgebpNSkNrI_eQqaQQCq1UIvOE7_rurIr9v-zmFN3_4-79gA8sMMhgTs2xX_v0xBLGlpfHnZvTN1P7Z4ZCdvtCEkD35h9DOPBid8meWkHm_DtobLAe4GRuJ5b6BfDYBmCHDrXHP/s1600/red+rover.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbJOdSRgebpNSkNrI_eQqaQQCq1UIvOE7_rurIr9v-zmFN3_4-79gA8sMMhgTs2xX_v0xBLGlpfHnZvTN1P7Z4ZCdvtCEkD35h9DOPBid8meWkHm_DtobLAe4GRuJ5b6BfDYBmCHDrXHP/s200/red+rover.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588774911172944226" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 118px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3QNeedOdGKVreANJCtUbcmca6JJc5ZFVFkU2njhi6NpuKcgm-CZ9JXX6KYQay4Kcu7LGggXiFzy0OCDrYrhTcSsTuxBkbp2Xrq03_uX9tZYqHoLmbBwaJchPEUvuQDZE6TzsYXo3q00f/s1600/red+rover.jpg"></a><br />
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She aptly describes a scenario in which, if elbows are not linked and locked tightly, a fatal “break” occurs and we are vulnerable. </div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%;"><strong>That is why Christian love is a command, not an option. </strong></span></div>
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We do it to survive and to thrive as individuals, but more importantly, it is through our unity and solidarity that the Gospel moves forward (even in the face of personal injury or death- as was the case for the disciples). </div>
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Today, as you go throughout your day, may you meditate on Jesus’ Red Flag warning that love should be the tie that binds us, and may you reflect on ways in which you play “Red Rover” with your brothers and sisters in Christ. </div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-54769036194017088012014-03-23T11:57:00.000-04:002014-03-21T21:56:04.280-04:00Third Sunday of Lent: REST<div align="left">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjns2pmqlX-CwueHRviji_WY0ddZa1snR1ATbocRHahc0GxBZ4iruZGX8ZXctln67pdd8xwXj89vuPlh5t4Phv-SrNO10OpAtn43jyXsqBQ-EoWyt4ytQT4kgRcg75YvtpmP7FftTHXfUcY/s1600-h/rest.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjns2pmqlX-CwueHRviji_WY0ddZa1snR1ATbocRHahc0GxBZ4iruZGX8ZXctln67pdd8xwXj89vuPlh5t4Phv-SrNO10OpAtn43jyXsqBQ-EoWyt4ytQT4kgRcg75YvtpmP7FftTHXfUcY/s200/rest.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442013981409444866" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 133px;" /></a> <strong>Recite the Primo Credo Today in the Morning and in the Evening: </strong></div>
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Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. ~Mark 12:29-31 <br />
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Today is the Third Sunday of Lent, and it is not a day included in the “40 Count”. Every Sunday, we will pause to REST and REFLECT on what we have learned over the past week (in this case, four days). Today, we will continue to reflect upon the Primo Credo, (a variation of the Hebrew Shema Yisrael that Jesus himself told us was the bedrock of our entire belief system.) We have been meditating on it now for ten days and will continue to do so until Resurrection (Easter) Sunday. We have been reciting it every morning and every evening, as faithful Followers of YHWH have been doing for thousands of years. We will take a “break” every Sunday through the Lenten period in order to REST. We will recite the SHEMA today and we will also spend time memorizing the passage below, which is a passage that we will be using in our continued discussion of the Shema. </div>
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<strong>Today’s Scripture Passage: </strong>Psalm 16:8-9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) 8 I keep the LORD in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. </div>
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Today, as we reflect on the above scripture, we think about we have learned over the past week with regard to keeping, abiding, walking/talking, and loving.' Today, may you gain a deep understanding of how keeping The LORD in mind always, loving Him deeply and abiding in Him will lead you to a place of love for others that you could not achieve on your own. May you meditate on His abiding in you and how it is only through His persistent love toward you that you are able to abide in Him at all and therefore love others. May you rest in the knowledge that He is the one holding it all together.</div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-24594841339764000142014-03-22T14:59:00.000-04:002014-03-21T21:57:00.940-04:00Lent, Day 16: VINE<div align="justify">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0p-9GKBAeZKWoyhnMj3FgEU1cdHStlm1bxWb82dgHKHyI2RBaGI5GhdBz8itnLBGsMH8e9su9ZUIbA0i461F7-G63Tiuu4-oyyylMsU_BEZZ2Jdaif3fOkIZdSsPeZ9Yjt5F6BUn5qD0v/s1600/I+am+the+vine.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0p-9GKBAeZKWoyhnMj3FgEU1cdHStlm1bxWb82dgHKHyI2RBaGI5GhdBz8itnLBGsMH8e9su9ZUIbA0i461F7-G63Tiuu4-oyyylMsU_BEZZ2Jdaif3fOkIZdSsPeZ9Yjt5F6BUn5qD0v/s200/I+am+the+vine.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588848523654047666" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 135px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a> <strong>Recite the <em>Primo Credo</em> Today in the Morning and in the Evening: </strong></div>
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Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. ~Mark 12:29-31 </div>
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Today, on the Sixteenth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo. We will be meditating on it over the period leading up to Resurrection (Easter) Sunday; and we will be trying to remember to recite it daily, once in the morning and once again in the evening. For over two weeks now, we have stressed the importance of intentionality; thinking, feeling, and meaning the words as we repeat them- not just hollowly reciting them. Our goal is to let the words work in us, and hopefully through us, and back out of us. </div>
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<strong>Today’s Scripture Reading: John 15:1-17, esp v. 5 </strong></div>
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<strong>I am the vine and you are the branches; If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; Apart from me, you can do nothing John 15:5 </strong></div>
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There is something poetic about the word “abide”. It brings to mind thoughts of safely and stability. These are concepts that are meaningful and necessary to an effective Christian walk. The actual word in the Greek text is “meno.” In chapter 15, John stresses the importance of believers abiding in Jesus by attributing the word “meno” to Jesus eleven times in this chapter. Interestingly, John utilizes the word twenty-seven times in his epistles (I, II, and III John). There must be significance to the concept and we can perhaps understand it if we take time to understand the point Jesus was making with the VINE analogy. <br />
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First, we need to read this passage and hear it with First Century Middle-Eastern ears (not 21st century American/Western ones). When Jesus used this analogy, the disciples were sure to have understood it in the context of “the vine” being Israel. There are lots of passages in the Old Testament where the term vine is used for Israel, such as: Ps 80:8-16, Isa 5:1-7, Jer 2:21, Ezek 15:1-8, 17:5-10, 19:10-14, and Hos 10:1. The vine to Israel was as symbolic as the bald eagle is to America. In fact, the vine was even put on some of the coins made by the Maccabees in the century BC. Additionally, this symbol was pominently displayed above the gate of the Temple- according to <a href="http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=123&letter=T#ixzz1HolmZo00">ancient historical accounts</a>, including those of Josephus, there were golden vines and grape clusters as large as a man over the Temple gates.</div>
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To the people of Jesus’ day, the symbolism of this was similar to the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty- we can be quite sure that the symbolic significance would not have been missed on them. So, Jesus was not making a new analogy, per se, but he was attributing the symbolism differently- and that was what was so novel about what he says in John 15. When He says: “I AM the TRUE VINE”…that is one heck of a claim to be making! So here Jesus re-cast himself in the role of the true vine, making a clear statement that Israel as the vine was insufficient. He also re-casts the disciples (for they were Israelites/Jews) as branches. </div>
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Then, Jesus makes it clear that the branches have a responsibility. Johns uses the imperative verb “abide”- which indicates that direct and deliberate effort must be expended in order to maintain a close personal relationship to the true vine. Now, to be clear, we do not expend effort to abide in Christ, to gain salvation, or even to keep our salvation; we abide in Him because our fruitfulness as believers directly correlates to our intimacy with Jesus. Our Spiritual health and our Christ-walk are inseparably connected (entwined and engrafted) to Him, and apart from our continued intimate connectedness to Him, we can do nothing…we cannot bear fruit. </div>
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It is important, also here to understand that Jesus spoke of “abiding” in two senses. He used it as a synonym for saving faith (6:56). However, He also used it to describe the intimate relationship that those who have exercised saving faith need to cultivate with God (8:31). All believers abide in Jesus in the first sense, but all do not abide in Him in the second sense (John 5:10; 1 John 3:24). It is in this second sense that Jesus spoke of abiding here (cf. vv. 9-10). He stressed the importance of believers abiding in Him by using the word meno (“abide”) three times in this verse. </div>
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In John 15:5, Jesus continues to stress the importance of believers abiding in Him (i.e., cultivating intimacy through loving obedience, 14:23; 15:10) to bear much fruit. So abide then has two distinct qualities or senses: the first is security (which includes, but is not limited to salvation); the second is a healthy, vibrant and flourishing intimate relationship. </div>
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I can think of nowhere else in scripture where the sense of security and healthy intimacy are captured than in the following scripture passage: </div>
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<strong>Psalm 16:8-9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) </strong></div>
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<strong>8 I keep the LORD in mind always.</strong></div>
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<strong>Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. </strong></div>
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<strong>9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. </strong></div>
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It is clear from this passage that a life lived in “abide-ience” (under the Lordship of Christ) is hallmarked by… </div>
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-stability,</div>
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-contentment, </div>
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-joy, and </div>
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-security. </div>
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Today, as you reflect on your relationship With YHWH, may you experience and ever-growing sense of that unshakable confidence we have in and through the person of Jesus Christ. </div>
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Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-77264004242428045712014-03-21T09:53:00.000-04:002014-03-21T11:50:14.716-04:00Lent, Day 15: KEEP<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJOTxGRxBfSKj8rpRlL0SAMK_2mZStp50HLffyJ0ljOGxIuv8CGkV6mVMfR7xeTmWE388CSASZFl_3TBoJ3HNKgjmG79DL1-zAg9VRAxLTEMUfBh2eD_4DX5uZ51SKSqlGC_kcG-3ChG5/s1600/keep+my+commands.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJOTxGRxBfSKj8rpRlL0SAMK_2mZStp50HLffyJ0ljOGxIuv8CGkV6mVMfR7xeTmWE388CSASZFl_3TBoJ3HNKgjmG79DL1-zAg9VRAxLTEMUfBh2eD_4DX5uZ51SKSqlGC_kcG-3ChG5/s200/keep+my+commands.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588766713463313106" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 193px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>Recite the <em>Primo Credo</em> Today in the Morning and in the Evening: </strong></div>
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Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. ~Mark 12:29-31 </div>
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Today, on the Fifteenth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo. We will be meditating on it over the period leading up to Resurrection (Easter) Sunday; and we will be trying to remember to recite it daily, once in the morning and once again in the evening. For the last two plus weeks, we have stressed the importance of intentionality; thinking, feeling, and meaning the words as we repeat them- not just hollowly reciting them. Our goal is to let the words work in us, and hopefully through us, and back out of us. </div>
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<strong>Today’s Scripture Reading: </strong></div>
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<strong>John 13:34 </strong></div>
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This is the Way I’ll Know You Love Me: Keep My Commandments (John 14:15) </div>
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(In other words: This is How I’ll know you love me-->If You Love One Another.)</div>
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This is the Way Others will know you are my disciples--> </div>
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If You Love One Another. (John 13:45) <br />
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<strong>Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear </strong></div>
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<strong>the word of God and put it into practice." Luke 11:28 (New Living Translation, ©2007)</strong><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> It really is that simple.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 130%;"><strong>Jesus doesn’t just call us to BELIEVE. He calls us to BE LIKE… </strong></span></div>
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Jesus says: </div>
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Follow me… </div>
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Keep My Commands… </div>
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Love me… </div>
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Love one another… </div>
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Love your neighbor. </div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-size: 130%;"><strong>Being a Follower of Jesus involves your body, </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-size: 130%;"><strong>not just your belief systems. </strong></span></div>
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Today,</div>
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may you find ways to go beyond just believing in The Way of Jesus;</div>
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May you find ways to</div>
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KEEP</div>
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living The Way of Jesus...</div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-10757361195458570902014-03-20T11:01:00.000-04:002014-03-18T14:09:03.042-04:00Lent, Day 14: TALK<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZCbQtALZAJpakvE4F-KE6aI022kyix6W17SIre6YDH-IfsqN-EaBekyRCA3Dtu-QLVr6HzAo32JQv8z2w-KmbvDpPoLX6OAJJQ76C3_kxlo-uXZ-RFBXBX6x8DWfqVVtZ8nGGpncsVk6/s1600/walk-the-talk.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZCbQtALZAJpakvE4F-KE6aI022kyix6W17SIre6YDH-IfsqN-EaBekyRCA3Dtu-QLVr6HzAo32JQv8z2w-KmbvDpPoLX6OAJJQ76C3_kxlo-uXZ-RFBXBX6x8DWfqVVtZ8nGGpncsVk6/s200/walk-the-talk.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587669850424515458" style="display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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Recite the Primo Credo Today in the Morning and in the Evening: </div>
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Hear, O Israel:<br />
the Lord our God, the Lord is one;<br />
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,<br />
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.<br />
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.<br />
There is no other commandment greater than these.<br />
~Mark 12:29-31 </div>
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Today, on the Fourteenth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo. We will be meditating on it over the period leading up to Resurrection (Easter) Sunday; and we will be trying to remember to recite it daily, once in the morning and once again in the evening. For the last two weeks, we have stressed the importance of intentionality; thinking, feeling, and meaning the words as we repeat them- not just hollowly reciting them. Our goal is to let the words work <em>in us,</em> and hopefully <em>through us</em>, and <em>back out of us</em>.</div>
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Remember, the <em>“Jesus Creed”</em> (Scot McKnight’s coined phrase) / <em>The Primo Credo</em> (my name for it) was taken from the scriptures of Jesus’ day- Deuteronomy 6: 4-9:</div>
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4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. </div>
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5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.</div>
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6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. </div>
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<em><strong>7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home </strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. </strong></em></div>
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8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. </div>
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9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. </div>
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<em><strong>"TALK about them when you are along the road, </strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>when you lie down, and when you</strong></em> <strong><em>get up…"</em></strong></div>
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Aside from being profoundly beautiful and expressive poetry, this sentence bears significant meaning for the Christ-centered Life. These words give us powerful imagery of what an effective Faith Walk looks like. </div>
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<em>“Our children,”</em> of course, means our offspring, but I do not believe that it is limited to them. Jesus called Peter to a life that validated his Jesus-love through the nurture of his spiritual offspring (John 21:15-17). Interestingly, this passage interchanges several different Greek words for love- possibly emphasizing to the reader that love of God is prismatic in its expression. Additionally, we are told by Paul that “what really matters” is our faith (what we believe) expressing itself to others in love (Galatians 5:6). Finally, St. Francis of Assisi (Founder of the Franciscan order, 1181-1226) has been quoted as saying: </div>
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<strong><em>“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” </em></strong></div>
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As a parent, I know that the job of raising my sons to believe and walk in the way of Jesus is extremely important. Further, I know that simply dragging them to church or putting them in Sunday school or in a Christian school setting will not be sufficient. Ask any young adult who has left the church and you will find that there is an amazingly common thread- they have observed hypocrisy. I believe there is only one way to mitigate hypocrisy- it is by being more intent on letting my life talk about my walk with Christ, than my talk.</div>
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So, “Impressing God’s laws on our children” can, in its most plain sense, be understood as a directive to teach our children about God and His laws, to give them instruction on the scriptures, etc. But in a broader reading of this verse, we can see that we are called to a discipleship program that includes instruction, but which also must include leading by example.</div>
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<strong>Today, may you meditate on God’s word to us, and may you TALK AND WALK a life that glorifies God.</strong></div>
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<strong>MAY MY LIFE SPEAK </strong><br />
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Speak I this day<br />
…of the strong power of the Trinity.<br />
…of the Three in One, the One in Three,<br />
Eternal Father, Spirit, Son.<br />
…of His Great Power to Transform Both You and Me.<br />
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Speak I of the Father,<br />
Speak I of the Son,<br />
Speak I of the Spirit,<br />
Speak I of the Three in One.<br />
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God, and Spirit, and Jesus,<br />
In My Life-Walk By Light of Day...<br />
On My Life’s Path By Dark of Night...<br />
Ever on My Heart,<br />
Deeply in My Soul,<br />
Always On My Mind,<br />
Speak I of You with My Words and Life<br />
That I Might Win the Fight. </div>
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©Tracy B. Dickerson, 2011<strong></strong> </div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-22232077051195051862014-03-19T00:06:00.000-04:002014-03-18T13:48:02.492-04:00Lent Day 13: ICON<div align="left">
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Recite the Primo Credo Today in the Morning and in the Evening: </div>
<div align="center">
<br />
<br />
Hear, O Israel:<br />
the Lord our God, the Lord is one;<br />
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,<br />
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.<br />
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.<br />
There is no other commandment greater than these.<br />
~Mark 12:29-31 </div>
<div align="justify">
<br />
<br />
Today, on the Thirteenth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo, a variation of the Hebrew Shema Yisrael that Jesus himself told us was the bedrock of our entire belief system.<br />
<br />
We have been meditating on it now for twelve + days (becasue Sundays are not included in the 40-day Lent count) and will continue to do so until Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.<br />
<br />
We have been reciting it every morning and every evening, as faithful Followers of YHWH have been doing for thousands of years, and today, we’re moving back toward talking about the key focus of this season for us: the Primo Credo and the Shema Yisrael.<br />
<br />
The focus of our meditation will be on ICON. We will be discussing the concept of being an ICON- and will be exploring what being an “Image-Bearer of Christ” means in the context of a Shema-shaped Spirituality (one that commands love of God with heart, soul mind and strength).<br />
<br />
We will be asking ourselves what it means to follow Jesus’ example of Shema-shaped Spirituality.<br />
<br />
<strong>Following Jesus…</strong> We throw the phrase around an awful lot, but do we really stop to think about what this really means? Do we take time to count the cost, or to fully digest the implications of such a thing?<br />
<br />
When I was young (and for a time, even when I was older, but not necessarily wiser) I thought that the idea of following Jesus began with a prayer, an intellectual assent…and pretty much ended there. But, tragically, my life didn’t really change. I continued to go to church and do all the things that I saw other people who had made this same affirmation a part of their lives do<strong>. (<em>Note here an important word: same.)</em> Same, same, same. </strong>I was the <em>same</em> as the others, I swam in the <em>same</em> culture, I hung out with the<em> same</em> kind of people. Truth is, I was the same old self. <strong>Self, self, self.</strong> This lack of transformation was due to the fact that <em>while I was a believer in Jesus, I was not yet a follower of Jesus.</em><strong>As a mere believer of Jesus</strong>, I was missing a very important concept: Jesus was really different, and Jesus calls his followers to that same kind of life-changing difference. In fact, one might even say that the words “SAME” and “SELF” are truly four-letter words to him. Although we might have claimed this difference, I’m now not entirely convinced that we were. Truth be told- we really weren’t much different than those around us. We still worshipped the same cultural idols and still possessed the same values (in fact, it may be that those values actually possessed us). We were still self-absorbed and self-centered. Even our reductionistic conceptualization of salvation was rooted in this self-sustaining, self-preserving mindset.<br />
<br />
<strong>A lot later in life, I became a Follower of Jesus…</strong> I learned that to truly follow Jesus, one has to actually love God the way Jesus does, wholeheartedly; one has to actually do the things Jesus does, like laying down His life for God’s mission; that one has to think in ways that Jesus thinks, which are often counterintuitive, paradoxical, counter-cultural, and frequently make very little sense to others; and finally, one has to love the people that Jesus loves with every fiber of one’s being- and that means a willingness to put our selves aside to be with, harbor, and redeem people whom others might think unsavory. Oh what a difference coming to understand this has made!<br />
<br />
<strong>Jesus calls to us: “Follow me!”</strong> What he is demanding of us involves a complete giving over of everything to him. He calls us to even give over our right to our identities. We are called to take on the nature of Christ, to be in his image, to have his mind. Simply put- we are to die to ourselves and become ICONs of Jesus. Strangely enough, we don’t do this as any cosmic self-improvement scheme, either. Although improvement is a nice perk, the self gets put to the side, and any concept of ‘self-improvement’ appears lackluster in comparison to our true goal. In this endeavor of following Jesus, our chief aspiration is to become Christ’s image-bearers to the world for the improvement of the world and the ultimate glory of God. Ironically, then- that which is improved ultimately is an entire world, not merely one small part of it (me).<br />
<br />
As I’ve moved from my understanding of the Gospel being one of microcosmic self-improvement and a plan for my own personal ‘salvation’ and eternal self-preservation,<em><strong> I’ve come to understand a more vibrant, abundant and more full Gospel whose aim is transformation, salvation, and redemption on a much larger scale. </strong></em>I’ve come to a transformational understanding that calls my previous conception of following Jesus into question.</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
Whereas my prior goal was to achieve eternal life by being conformed to an <strong><em>image of godliness</em></strong>, now I understand that my goal is to allow the Holy Spirit to shape me into the <em><strong>Image of Christ</strong></em>. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
As I move from SELF to ICON, I can much more clearly see the difference that Jesus wants to make through transforming our lives to transforming the world…for His glory. </div>
<div align="center">
<br />
<br />
FOLLOW I THIS DAY<br />
<br />
<strong>Follow I this day the Father,</strong><br />
<strong>Follow I this day the Son,</strong><br />
<strong>Guided by The Spirit, Follow I the Three in One.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>God, and Spirit, and Jesus,</strong><br />
<strong>In Obedience Every Morning… </strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong>In Submission Every Night…</strong><br />
<strong>Replicate I with my heart,</strong><br />
<strong>Emulate I with my soul,</strong><br />
<strong>Imitate I with my mind;</strong><br />
<strong>Follow I with my might.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">©Tracy B. Dickerson, 2011</span> </div>
Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-24729972565935324482014-03-18T00:04:00.000-04:002014-03-18T09:30:03.731-04:00Lent Day 12: LOVE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXUnYe6sW59X-o7G3DR1CwkLI9zUz0JHS8G6nkymS0hdGtpMwW7nnA5i57AOSclMr9fpHFIwwFO0JaAULffV1U9nDI5G1WzxTzsVwHaL8UkhDCoH8_de-RpFHvRdCSmWQz5bBbWwbInb-/s1600-h/first+kiss.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXUnYe6sW59X-o7G3DR1CwkLI9zUz0JHS8G6nkymS0hdGtpMwW7nnA5i57AOSclMr9fpHFIwwFO0JaAULffV1U9nDI5G1WzxTzsVwHaL8UkhDCoH8_de-RpFHvRdCSmWQz5bBbWwbInb-/s200/first+kiss.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443376871135722210" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 160px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Recite the <em>Primo Credo</em> Today in the Morning and in the Evening: <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Hear, O Israel: </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>the Lord our God, the Lord is one; </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>There is no other commandment greater than these. </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>~Mark 12:29-31</strong></div>
<br />
Today, on the Twelfth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo, a variation of the Hebrew Shema Yisrael that Jesus himself told us was the bedrock of our entire belief system. <br />
<br />
We have been meditating on it now for eleven + days (today is day twelve. and we've had two Sundays that don't 'count' in there, as well) and will continue to do so until Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.<br />
<br />
We have been reciting it every morning and every evening, as faithful Followers of YHWH have been doing for thousands of years, and today, we’re moving back toward talking about the key focus of this season for us: the Primo Credo and the Shema Yisrael.<br />
<br />
The focus of our meditation will be on LOVE. What does love mean in the context of the Primo Credo? This is a multi-faceted answer, but we will start with the first kind of love that we experience when we begin a relationship with The Lord.<br />
<br />
Emotional…Passionate…Life-changing…All-encompassing…<br />
<br />
The beginnings of relationships are often hallmarked by this kind of crazy, overpowering passion. The lover cannot keep from talking about and thinking about the object of their affection. No matter what they are doing, their thoughts are on one thing…This is the state of heart God wants us to model with regard to loving Him-that of an Ardent Lover. This is reflected in today’s scripture passage.<br />
<br />
<strong>Today’s Scripture Passage:</strong> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>Impress them on your children. </em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>Talk about them when you sit at home</em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em> and when you walk along the road, </em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>when you lie down </em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>and when you get up.</em></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Deuteronomy 6:7 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(New International Version)</div>
<br />
<br />
The medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides, wrote that the language of the first paragraph of the Shema is best understood through the near-universal experience of falling in love, the author sees the remaining two paragraphs as the love that follows "falling in love."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"What is the love of God that is appropriate? </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>It is to love God with an exceedingly strong love until one's soul is tied to the love of God. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>One should be in a continuous rapture, like a person who is 'lovesick,' </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>whose thoughts cannot turn from his love for a particular woman. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>He is preoccupied with her at all times, whether he is sitting or standing,</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em> whether he is eating or drinking. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Even more intense should the love of God be in the hearts of those who love him, </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>possessing them always as we are commanded </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>'with all your heart and with all your soul' (Deuteronomy 6:5). </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>This is what Solomon expressed allegorically 'for I am sick with love' (Song of Songs 2:5),</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em> and indeed, the entire Song of Songs is a parable for this concept."</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Maimonides, <em>Laws of Repentance</em>, 10:3</div>
<br />
<strong>Today, may your thoughts be on cultivating a relationship with God that is characterized by this kind of passionate, ardent love.</strong>Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-17262794679838366942014-03-17T00:05:00.000-04:002014-03-18T13:25:44.556-04:00Lent Day 11: CELT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGjShcO4KSUlN0GSVriOUrMnODBxBraUq4MQpciNN79mpRmz1F-gHErLOzF6U-YDhb-Io0jinAIiTYzIB03Hw6A-J4mAyzzQjydIjf92yNpYo_HNPlVd1Hzd_wo2wbhDP_LlBNywKiWY-/s1600-h/st+pat.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGjShcO4KSUlN0GSVriOUrMnODBxBraUq4MQpciNN79mpRmz1F-gHErLOzF6U-YDhb-Io0jinAIiTYzIB03Hw6A-J4mAyzzQjydIjf92yNpYo_HNPlVd1Hzd_wo2wbhDP_LlBNywKiWY-/s200/st+pat.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449008425632509730" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 133px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Today, we're breaking away from our regular format because it's a holiday...in fact- it's in honor of one of my favorite people ever...St. Patrick. Yeah, I gotta admit- he's one of my "faves". That said, I'm giving him a full day of "press" today.<br />
<br />
A bit about the life of Maewynn Succit (St. Patrick): He utilized and perfected "relational evangelism" in which the seekers among the Celts (the indiginenous people of The Emerald Isle)were first invited to enter into community, and then they eventually converted; as opposed to "conversion evangelism" which requires a conversion experience prior to a person fully being accepted into the community. <br />
<br />
Which is better, do you think? Patrick's way of <strong><em>Belong, then Believe </em></strong>or the standard way of evangelism that demands a person to <strong><em>Believe, before You Can Belong</em></strong>?<br />
<br />
Which did Jesus use?Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-30561869741422931692014-03-16T16:00:00.000-04:002014-03-16T16:01:36.367-04:00<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Second
Sunday of Lent:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
Recite the Primo Credo Today in the
Morning and in the Evening:</div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hear,
O Israel:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
Lord our God, the Lord is one;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and
with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There
is no other commandment greater than these.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">~Mark
12:29-31<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
Today is the Second Sunday of Lent, and it is not a day included in the “40
Count”. Every Sunday, we will pause to REST and REFLECT on what we have learned
over the past week. Today, we will continue to
reflect upon the Primo Credo, (a variation of the Hebrew Shema Yisrael that
Jesus himself told us was the bedrock of our entire belief system.)<br />
<br />
We have been meditating on it now for ten days and will continue to do so
until Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.<br />
<br />
We have been reciting it every morning and every evening, as faithful
Followers of YHWH have been doing for thousands of years.<br />
<br />
We will take a “break” every Sunday through the Lenten period in order to
REST. We will recite the SHEMA today and we will also spend time memorizing the
passage below, which is a passage that we will be using in our continued
discussion of the Shema.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Today’s Scripture Passages:</i></strong><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm 16:8-9 (Holman Christian Standard
Bible)<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">8 I keep the LORD in mind always.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Because He is at my right hand,<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I will not be shaken.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">9 Therefore my heart is glad,<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and my spirit rejoices;<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my body also rests securely.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<br />
Recite the <em>Primo Credo </em>Today in the Morning and in the Evening: <br />
<br />
Hear, O Israel: <br />
the Lord our God, the Lord is one; <br />
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,<br />
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.<br />
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.<br />
There is no other commandment greater than these. <br />
~Mark 12:29-31<br />
<br />
Today, on the Tenth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo, a variation of the Hebrew Shema Yisrael that Jesus himself told us was the bedrock of our entire belief system. <br />
<br />
We have been meditating on it now for nine days (today is day ten) and will continue to do so until Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.<br />
<br />
We have been reciting it every morning and every evening, as faithful Followers of YHWH have been doing for thousands of years. <br />
<br />
Yesterday, we talked about the TESTS we often go through in life; how Jesus went through TESTS, also and passed them, largely as a testimony to His incredible knowledge of and appropriate use of scripture against The Enemy. We discussed the SHEMA and how Jesus used it and the scripture passage that it is plucked from during his time of TESTing during those Forty Days in the desert. We also talked about how, during Lent, we simulate TESTS (such as practicing disciplines of prayer, recitation and self-denial) for Forty Days in order to put us in a somber and penitent frame of mind as we remind ourselves of the tests Jesus went through to atone for us. <br />
<br />
<strong>Today’s Scripture Passages: </strong><br />
<br />
Hebrews 4:14-16<br />
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.<br />
<br />
Psalm 73:26<br />
My flesh and my heart may fail, <br />
but God is the strength of my heart <br />
and my portion forever.<br />
<br />
“Failure is not an option” is a phrase that sometimes makes me do a double-take. I get that it is meant to convey a driven perseverance that won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. As Christians, it is good for us to have this attitude, for we are reminded by scripture that “If God is for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31); and also that Jesus is “able to keep [us] from falling” (Jude 1:24). In Christ, we can claim victory over Satan and his lies.<br />
<br />
But, I’d also like to propose that it is an indisputable truth that, at times, we fail. On one hand,failure is not an option…on the other hand, it is a fact of life. As Christians, we live within this odd tension of two seemingly opposite ideas. So, does that mean that scripture is lying, or what? Well of course not. But when scripture talks about failure, it is terms of either temporary or ultimate. We may have temporary setbacks, but if we persevere, we will experience ultimate success. <br />
<br />
No other passage puts it better, in my opinion, than Proverbs 24:16:<br />
<br />
“Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up. <br />
But when trouble strikes the wicked, that's the end of them.”<br />
<br />
So, with the help of Christ, we make every effort to stand strong against Satan; but if we fail, by Christ’s strength we rise again. Today, as you approach the ¼ mark into Lent, you may have done poorly with the commitments that you made. You may have failed, you may have fallen…It’s okay. Get back up and try again!<br />
<br />
<strong>Prayer:</strong><br />
<br />
Jude 1:24-25<br />
To him who is able to keep you from falling<br />
and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority,<br />
through Jesus Christ our Lord, <br />
before all ages now and forevermore! Amen.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwcPGT-7mItjx0K5omYlFhGHPY2-YD0vOgJoneIIlzPkXIfmUduUGvEVGLzzjRJymw5rprMl7mLHFxVQ0IiN3Mzp0xU9L69nTeneDUJx8Bulr92LAoHsY8ipExoRVrWZ_cr-0U7N_VgqH/s1600-h/Gods+Hands+Words.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwcPGT-7mItjx0K5omYlFhGHPY2-YD0vOgJoneIIlzPkXIfmUduUGvEVGLzzjRJymw5rprMl7mLHFxVQ0IiN3Mzp0xU9L69nTeneDUJx8Bulr92LAoHsY8ipExoRVrWZ_cr-0U7N_VgqH/s200/Gods+Hands+Words.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442620551792962002" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 147px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a>Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-61495921650695739452014-03-14T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-14T00:00:05.095-04:00Lent Day Nine: TEST<br />
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<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Recite the Primo Credo Today
in the Morning and in the Evening:</strong><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hear,
O Israel:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
Lord our God, the Lord is one;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and
with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There
is no other commandment greater than these.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">~Mark
12:29-31<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today, on the Ninth Day of Lent, we continue to
discuss the Primo Credo, a variation of the Hebrew Shema Yisrael that Jesus
himself told us was the bedrock of our entire belief system.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We have been meditating on it now for eight days
(today is day nine) and will continue to do so until Resurrection (Easter)
Sunday.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We have been reciting it every morning and every
evening, as faithful Followers of YHWH have been doing for thousands of years.</div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Today’s Scripture Passages: <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deuteronomy 6 and Matthew 4:1-13 and
Luke 4:1-13 (pay close attention to the footnotes of Matthew and Luke)<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lent is a time of introspection and penitence
during the forty days before Resurrection Sunday. During this Holy Season, we
take the time to not only look inward, but to look outward and focus on God’s
ongoing reconciliatory work in the world.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The forty days of Lent are symbolic of the forty
days that Christ spent in the desert, fasting and praying and being tempted by
Satan. The forty day period that Christ spent in the desert is also
significant, in that it represents the forty years that the Israelites wandered
and were tested in the desert. In both of these ‘desert scenarios’ there were
trials involving physical need/provision, concern for physical harm, and major
moral dilemmas (especially with regard to who to worship).</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
During Lent, we take the time to contemplate that
the trials commonly associated with “flesh-life" have been modeled and
mastered by God Himself through Christ Jesus. It’s not only a beautiful
thought, but a tremendous comfort to know that God’s Son did not come into the world
as an official ambassador, with privileges, perks, and diplomatic immunity; but
He came as a full-fledged citizen who was subject to the same physical
limitations, needs, and vulnerabilities that we are. He leads us like a
shepherd, and by example. <em><b>We can truly say that we have a God who “gets”
us!</b></em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus
is “Our Daily Bread,” but we, as humans, have the propensity to gnaw on the
stale crust of “Our Daily Dread,” instead.</span></em> Let me explain what I
mean. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We are aware that the Powers and Principalities
of Man (our societies) are set up to promise the provision of physical needs
(such as food), protection from harm, and preservation of moral values. We
recognize that there are significant limitations to the protection that the
Powers and Principalities of Man can offer us, yet we prefer the imperfect
promise we know to the perfect Promise we don’t know…hence the dread. We are
not sure where to put our trust, and so we straddle the fence between the World
and God’s provision. The Israelites experienced this very dilemma after leaving
Egypt, they had not been well cared for under Pharaoh’s care, yet when in the
desert, they longed for the “discomforts of home.” Sound familiar?</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the Exodus wanderings, as the people
transitioned their allegiances from Human principalities and powers to Yahweh,
they underwent several tests: 1) the test to trust God for provision; 2) the
test to turn to God in obedience, in the face of personal injury; and 3) the
test to totally surrender to God, and worship Him alone. Sadly, they failed miserably
each time. We don’t fare much better than they when we face the same dilemma.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As part of the atonement work created for Jesus
to do, three scenarios occurred that re-created the Israelites’ desert trials:
Jesus was tempted to trust God for provision; Jesus was tempted to turn to God
in obedience, despite fear of personal injury; and Jesus was tested with regard
to total surrender- would He worship god, or choose to be worshipped? Yet Jesus
succeeded triumphantly!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What was the difference? What was Jesus’ secret?
Well, we could (and often do…I know this is how my though pattern invariably
goes…) just blow off the significance of Jesus’ desert experience by thinking,
“Well, he was god, so it was easy for him to do those things.” But we forget,
thereby diminishing his efforts, that Jesus was 100% man and that His suffering
in the desert was just as difficult for Him as it would be for you or me. If it
wasn’t- then the event wouldn’t really matter. But it does matter.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, as a 100% human (capable of failure) - how
did Jesus bar Joseph resist the devil’s wiles? We need to find out, because the
answer will be immeasurable valuable to us. Part of the answer is in The Shema
and the scriptures surrounding it.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday, we discussed meditation on scripture
has the capacity to create a fused connection to The Word of God. When we
meditate on scripture, we become wiser and gain insight, and even have the
ability to have victory over those things which oppose us (enemies, and the
like). (See Psalm 119: 97-99) Jesus knew this and did it. We’ve already
discussed that, as a faithful and devout Jew, Jesus recited the Shema at a
minimum of twice a day. But we know that Jesus didn’t hollowly recite or merely
pay lip-service to the Shema. We know that he actually did what the Shema
commands- he meditated on it, and thereby “bound” the scriptures to himself.
This is how we know…</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The sixth chapter of Deuteronomy is without
dispute one of the most important passages of scripture for the Jewish people.
From it comes The Great Shema. In the fourth chapters of both Matthew and Luke,
we see Jesus quoting from this particular passage of scripture as He stood
against Satan’s temptations in the desert. As Satan attempted to undermine
Jesus’ response to God’s call on his life, Jesus rebutted Satan’s taunts by
twice quoting from this passage. At one point, Jesus then quotes the context of
two verses from Deuteronomy, 6:13 and 10:20, “…for it is written, ‘You shall
worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Jesus’ response reflects the
command Deuteronomy 6:4-5, called by the Jews, the Shema: “Hear, O Israel! The
LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Later, as we have
already discussed, when Jesus was tested by a Pharisee and asked which the
greatest commandment was He quoted the Shema. (Mark 12:29) The text of
Deuteronomy 6 is clearly on that Jesus held close to his heart- Jesus did not
merely quote the Shema; He used it in context and applied it, even to the point
of using to rebuke a direct temptation. We should emulate Our Lord and do
likewise.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Often, in our lives, we find ourselves in our own
unique “desert” of trial, temptation, and/or tribulation. We should expect that
life will bring to us times like this. We are only able to respond
appropriately to difficult times in our lives in a God-honoring way if we first
“prep” ourselves by rehearsing our responses and memorizing scripture. (In
theological terms, this is called: “girding your loins.”)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is one of the purposes for doing what we do
at Lent. During Lent we re-create/synthesize a “desert” experience by causing
ourselves to address the pertinent issues of trust, obedience, and surrender
though prayer, fasting, scripture memorization, and other forms of spiritual
discipline. These disciplines train us how to react during adversity and remind
us what it feels like to experience adversity. (It’s “Adversity Training” if
you will!)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We re-create the “test” only to remind ourselves
what it must have felt like to take it. For most of use are ‘kinetic’ and
‘experiential’ learners and we better understand when we “do’ versus when we
‘hear” a lesson. Just as Christ entered into our suffering world to understand
and save us, so too, we enter into His suffering in order to more deeply
understand His salvation of the world.</div>
<br />
This Ninth Day of Lent, may you persevere under trial and pass the test. <em><b>May
you remember that Satan may test us, but God “gets” us.</b></em>
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<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recite
the Primo Credo Today in the Morning and in the Evening:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hear,
O Israel:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
Lord our God, the Lord is one;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and
with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There
is no other commandment greater than these.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">~Mark
12:29-31<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
Today, on the Eighth Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo, a
variation of the Hebrew Shema Yisrael that Jesus himself told us was the
bedrock of our entire belief system. <br />
<br />
We have been meditating on it now for seven days (today is day eight) and will
continue to do so until Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.<br />
<br />
We have been reciting it every morning and every evening, as faithful
Followers of YHWH have been doing for thousands of years. <br />
<br />
Several years back, I meditated on it quietly for most of the day while away
with my husband for a weekend get-away. During a two hour drive home, I closed
my eyes (don’t worry, my hubby was driving) and let the words of the first line
move through my spirit. My husband commented that I was sleeping. “No,” I
replied, “You didn’t hear me snoring, did you?” He laughed and concurred. I
really was awake that whole time with my eyes closed, fully focused on that
passage.<br />
<br />
As I meditated upon it that day, I let the words “read" me, several
things came to the fore that I really needed to know and process.<br />
<br />
I do not always have that level of success when attempting to stay focused while
practicing Christian meditation.(If you want to understand Christian meditation
and how it differs from other forms of meditation, I suggest you refer to the
following link:
http://www.allaboutspirituality.org/christian-meditation-faq.htm) <br />
<br />
I’m very glad that I’ve kept up with learning the practice and have not
allowed either my oft unsuccessful attempts or the misinformed concerns of
others to discourage me.<br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>Meditation on scripture has the
capacity to create a fused connection to The Word of God. When we meditate on
scripture, we become wiser and gain insight, and even have the ability to have
victory over those things which oppose us.</strong></i> (See Psalm 119: 97-99)<br />
<br />
That “fused connection” can also be called “binding.”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Today’s Verse is:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>
</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon
your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at
home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them
on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (New
International Version)</strong></div>
<br />
We are called to BIND the word to ourselves. Now clearly, although it is a
huge practice to wear tefellin or phylacteries (which are ornaments that have a
tiny copy of the Shema written on parchment rolled up inside that are worn on
the arm or forehead by devout Jews, even today), it is probably more likely
that this command is made metaphorically. For example, another passage of
scripture makes the command to “circumcise your hearts” but clearly if we did
that we would not survive. Likewise, the command to “bind” is not necessarily
meant to be taken literally, although I must admit the idea of wearing a piece
of jewelry with scripture written on it is rather intriguing…<br />
<br />
So, what does this command to bind all about, then? <br />
<br />
Interestingly, the Hebrew translation of today’s verse says: “Speak of them
while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when
you arise. Bind them as a sign upon your arm and let them be tefillin between
your eyes.”<br />
<br />
I think there is a clue, here in the phrase “between your eyes”…<br />
<br />
What I’ve got between my eyes is my grey matter. <br />
<br />
“Binding” has more to do with creating a permanent connectedness mentally to
God thorugh meditation than it does with adorning ourselves with fancy holy
jewelry.<br />
<br />
Creating a permanent connectedness to The Word of God…Now that is truly a <strong>“pearl
of great price”!</strong><br />
<br />
On this Eighth Day of Lent, may you bind God’s Word to your heart in such a
way that your connectedness to Him is enhanced. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Remember: whatever you bind on
earth will also be bound in heaven. Amen<o:p></o:p></i></b><br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong>BIND
I MYSELF<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I bind unto myself
this day<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the strong power of
the Trinity.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Three in One, the
One in Three,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eternal Father,
Spirit, Word.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bound to Your Word I
Ever Shall Be.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bound to the Father,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bound to the Son,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bound to the Spirit,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bound to the Three in
One.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God, and Spirit, and
Jesus,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In My Work By Light of
Day...<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">On the path By Dark of
Night...<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Enlighten My Heart,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Quicken My Soul,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Strengthen My Mind,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That I Might Win the
Fight.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">©Tracy B. Dickerson, 2010<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_T7iFdus_4gc%2FS4NW6XDc5aI%2FAAAAAAAAAEY%2FmY_GjEH5jxI%2Fs200%2Fbind2.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC675ExyBlAEE7Wq0KjiOlHpXlgvkAGq7lUoqQu6mUF8CSIGaF20wrIcvDD8XM7ofHYtkAg1cldxNctEP9xvYw_BOq5J1LU6vzyAbsajEuoYp78UQQW94l-L5w63l1PcXpYJYsmjtEBZJb/s200/bind2.jpg" -->Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-19396647765254648002014-03-12T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-12T00:00:05.520-04:00Lent Day Seven: LORD<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YehmoZ-kMrsUJbtpyyoGakx72XCCe0yAMP53QEo83208hD_y0SUKBIbG3aTB1hyW7R5bV9_TYiycR0Yu5SOmdOi3f7VRfDATseAYVc4YsX4OaKjXxhrHdnwqrwGS4JmlFGsHZbsrZ92L/s1600/LORD.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YehmoZ-kMrsUJbtpyyoGakx72XCCe0yAMP53QEo83208hD_y0SUKBIbG3aTB1hyW7R5bV9_TYiycR0Yu5SOmdOi3f7VRfDATseAYVc4YsX4OaKjXxhrHdnwqrwGS4JmlFGsHZbsrZ92L/s200/LORD.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583211799464191122" style="display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Recite the Primo Credo Today in the Morning and in the Evening:</strong>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hear, O Israel: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the Lord our God, the Lord is one; </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is no other commandment greater than these. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~Mark 12:29-31</div>
<br />
Today, on the Seventh Day of Lent, we continue to discuss the Primo Credo, a
variation of the Hebrew <em>Shema Yisrael </em>that Jesus himself told us was
the bedrock of our entire belief system. In fact, He said it was so important
that “all the law hangs on it.” <br />
<br />
And so, since Jesus is the “fulfillment of the law,” then we are going to
spend some time understanding these few short lines in the hope that we will
know The Truth more intimately.<br />
<br />
We have been meditating on it now for six days (today is the seventh day) and
will continue to do so until Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.<br />
<br />
We have been reciting it every morning and every evening, as faithful
Followers of YHWH have been doing for thousands of years. <br />
<br />
I have mentioned this from day one, and it bears repeating… As we recite the
Primo Credo, we must keep in mind that the mere recitation of any set of words
cannot gain us a single inch of territory in The Kingdom of God. We do believe,
though, that focusing on the Word of God intentionally, with great thought and
care, rather than practicing hollow repetition, places us in a position of
surrender to the Living Word of God, Christ Jesus. Our goal is to let The Word
dwell in us- informing our thoughts, feelings and actions; work in us, forming
us spiritually to be more like Him; and working through us, to transform the
world. Our goal is for us to learn together new ways of following Jesus and to
discover the difference that following Him makes, not only within us...but to a
world in desperate need of Him.<br />
<br />
<strong>Today’s Verse~</strong><br />
<br />
Colossians 1:15-2015 <br />
<br />
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things
were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him
all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be
preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and
through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.<br />
<br />
and...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The SHEMA in Hebrew: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shema Yisrael YHWH Eloheinu YHWH Echad</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hear, Israel Yahweh our God Yahweh is One.</div>
<br />
Yesterday, we discussed that YHWH is the third and fifth word of the Primo
Credo. You can read it above. (Remember Hebrew is read from right to left.) The
four letters (י-ה-ו-ה) are called the ‘Tetragammaton’ and are usually
transliterated from Hebrew as IHVH in Latin, and YHWH in English. This is where
we derive the name ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah.’ The Hebrew scripture limits the
writing of the name of God to these four letters out of respect for the name of
God, and as an act of literal obedience to the third commandment: “Do not take
the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)<br />
<br />
We learned that Rabbinic Judaism teaches that because the Tetragammaton, the
(י-ה-ו-ה/YHWH), is the ineffable name of God, it should never be read aloud.
Hence, in the Shema, it is traditionally replaced with the word “Adonai”
("Lord"). <br />
<br />
For this reason, the Shema is recited aloud as:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><strong>Adonai</strong></span> </span>Echad</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hear, Israel The LORD our God The <span style="color: red;"><strong>LORD</strong></span> is One.</div>
<br />
So yesterday we focused on the word “YHWH” and how it is an ancient name
that has been spoken, revered for generations… It is not a word we use in daily
conversation, and therefore may have little rue meaning in our hearts and
minds. <br />
<br />
So, today, we will be discussing the word “LORD” and what images and
meanings it conjures up in our 21st century hearts and minds.<br />
<br />
We talked yesterday about how the name YHWH denotes a “singularly
all-powerful deity.” Additionally, we used the word “preeminence” as we
discussed the power of the name of YHWH. In fact, we talked a lot about the
“oneness of God” and tossed around some really wordy, weighty, witty and
theological concepts.<br />
<br />
But seriously…<br />
<br />
<strong>What does “The Lord” really mean to us as individuals?</strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<strong>What does it mean to our daily activities of living?</strong><br />
<br />
Here are a few of my 'not so esoteric’ thoughts on this:<br />
<br />
<strong><em>A Lord is One to whom we pledge allegiance.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>A Lord is One for whom I act, live and breathe.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>A Lord is One whom I serve, for whom I get up in the morning.</em></strong><br />
<br />
For some people their Lord is…<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "AR CENA"; font-size: 14pt;">money…power…fame…success…accolades…their
children…a ministry…an altruistic
cause…drugs…partying…career...addiction…cigarettes…booze…heroin…busy-ness…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
…or a whole host of other things (good or bad) that “run” their lives.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your Lord is what makes your engine
run. <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your Lord has the power to crush or
to cherish you.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Depending
on what or who your “Lord” is, you will be either its slave- slavishly giving
it its due as it saps you of your very life…or you will be its beloved servant
and you will flourish. <o:p></o:p></i></b><br />
<br />
Only one LORD truly has the power to do the latter. His name is JESUS.<br />
<br />
So today, I have two simple questions…<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What did you get up for this morning?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What makes your heart sing?<o:p></o:p></span></b>Tracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.com0