Delicious Taco Truth

Go ahead, believe:

For I have come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:38-40)

I have read the bible and now I am reading The Bible. Let us break this down for my clarity and yours, addressing verses 38-40 as our starting point:

• Jesus came down from heaven
• Not to do His own will
• But the will of the Father that sent Him
• The Father's will is that He, Jesus, should lose nothing of which He hath been given
• He should raise it up again at the last day
• The will of the Father, is that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life
• He, the Son, will raise him up at the last day

The shell

This is how my brain works dear reader. I have to bite size everything to acquire the flavour of an idea, of a message. Jesus layers information like a taco. There is the shell, the container for the information to be held in. The shell in this taco is Jesus' statement For I have come down from heaven

This information is huge, no matter when it is delivered, whether in history as recorded in The Bible, or as you and I investigate the statement here and now. 

• Can you say you came down from heaven? 
• Have you ever heard anyone else make such a bold, unapologetic claim? 

This is a crunchy, delicious piece of intel, it is the bread on which the rest of the proclamation is built

A bed of lettuce

Lettuce, I mean let us, add a bed of lettuce to the bottom of our shell, a watery contrast to the crunchy outside. He came to do the will of the one who sent Him, from heaven. When we sprinkle in this truth, we start to see the build, that there is unison. There is will. Jesus has His own will, and He clearly states that He came from heaven to do the will of Someone else, the one who sent Him, the Father.

Forgive me dear reader, if I am stating the obvious to you, but listen well... we have will, free will. Jesus is speaking of coming from heaven, sent and will(ing) to do what is asked of Him. 

• Can you make the same claim? 
• Are you will(ing) to submit to the will of the One who sent Jesus?

The meat of the matter

I like to add spicy hamburger next, and here is the meat of the matter dear one. Jesus came from heaven because He was given to from the Father: this is a reference to souls saved:

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:11-13)

He came from heaven so that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing. He came on a mission and His statement, in our vernacular, sounds something like this:

I came from my position in heaven, giving my self up to the will of another, to go to the place where people get lost, caught up in their own will, and making quite the mess of things. But you know what, I didn't have to do it, I wanted to do it: so I did. You can believe me, or not, but the ones that were given to me cannot help themselves (and they know this). They are mine, and they will be raised up on the last day: they will be raised up from death

The final verse

Dear reader, we must now go to the final verse in our mini study, and it is the cheddar, hot sauce, and toppings, that make a well built taco so mouth wateringly delicious. Jesus seems to be almost subtle after stating He came from heaven; that He is doing the will of the one who sent Him; that none He has been given will He lose, and that He will raise them up on the last day. Jesus delivers an unmistakably clear message in verse 40 above:

• His Father is the God of heaven
• His Father has a will
• He is His Father's Son
• Everyone who looks to the Father's Son and believeth on him, will have eternal life

Raised up at the last day

Look at the way this message is delivered, dear one. God gives a message, then He gives it again, without leaving anything to the imagination. What could be more clear than this? The first taco tasted so good, it tasted like I-want-another-please. 

He makes it super easy for us

God leaves nothing to chance. He puts all of the ingredients in front of us and we get to think, feel, acknowledge, piece and layer it all together, and when we get the combo out of order, He makes it super easy for us. He hands us the finished product and says here you go, stop struggling, just eat.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:35-37)

Layers, dear reader, delicious layers ...

John 6:66

There is much turning away from Him

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him (John 6:66) 

The number of the beast dear reader, is represented in the turning away from the Christ. Easter approaches and there is much turning away from Him, denying Deity. God Friday (I did not miss an o, you read correctly) approaches, and the question I ask you is Do you walk toward, or walk away from who Jesus claimed to be?

He addressed the twelve Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? (John 6:67).

Allow the question to sink into your psyche, and absorb into your being. He asks you directly dear one, and this is a tipping point, a pivotal moment in your time, here on earth. Being in His company, following Him, and seeing all that He had miraculously performed with hundreds of witnesses, was not enough for the crowds. Hardened hearts turned back, no longer following Him, and this may be you dear one, but it doesn't have to be; you could be like the rock, Simon Peter, professing truth irresistibly

Eternal life or finite 

Jesus, hanging on the
cross for our sins

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God (John 6:68--69) 

Eternal life or finite. The ever after or the here and now. When looking into the eyes of Jesus as He asks Will ye also go away? Do you see into forever or do you look to your today, and walk away, like Judas?

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve (John 6:70-71)

Infamous Judas
Do you see it dear one, the betrayal of Christ in the turning away? If you have followed Him, if you have watched and witnessed Him, and He has touched your heart tenderly with love, do you dare  betray Him by walking away, just as the infamous Judas did? How could you do such a thing dear one, to The One? The Holy One of God? If He has called you, chosen you, will you be a disciple or a devil?

6:66, the mark of the beast is on those who knew Him and walked away... 

Prevenient Grace

Before. Pre. Antecedent. Anticipatory. Prevenient speaks of this. This is a new word for me dear reader. Is it for you too?

Holy coincidences
Over the past couple of days, I have experienced holy coincidences, otherwise known as Gods hand. He takes all the details, piecing them together for my tiny mind to connect the dots, so that I might catch a glimpse at a minuscule central section to the blueprint of the life, that you and I are currently living. I stumble and fall into and onto the truth and today, a million pilled high pink soft rose petals cushioned my descent, as His glory was revealed through the gospel of John.

He knows before we do
Jesus knew. He knows. He sees each of us not only as we are, but as we will be. The extenuating circumstances that hold us in a pattern of "here", He gracefully accepts. 

He knowingly sees past our current state of innocent ineptitude, to who we will become. Thus prevenient grace is the gift He gives in the present, with an understanding we will not be staying where we are: we will move from glory to glory:

But we all, with face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Imagine looking into the mirror, and the glory of the Lord is reflected back, as you

changed into the same image...

 

What? This is an amazing promise from the God who created the universe, and each and every creature in it!

Cutting to the chase
I am going to cut to the chase, and give you the skinny on what I am writing about. You can then take what you are reading, and consider for yourself, if God knew and knows you, then, now and yet to be. 

Here are some crazy conversions that stand out as astounding. Brief biographies that I admit are completely inadequate, and huge hints to you, dear reader, to take note and do your own research: if you know, if you have an inkling, that God is not done with you yet.

Brief inadequate biographies:

• Saul: a Christian hunter and killer, becomes Paul, a proponent willing to die for Christ
• John Newton: responsible for the enslavement and death of thousands of men, women and children, becomes an Anglican clergyman, and writes the forever famous song, Amazing Grace
• Simon: abandons and denies Christ the night of His arrest, is renamed Peter, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail (Matthew 16:18)

You

Now dear reader, it is your turn. This is about you, and God 

• Who you are now and who He designed you to be?
• The rest of His story, as your very own history in the making? 

Prevenient Grace. He is filling you in dear one, it is only just, a matter of time

Log Cabin

Wooden walls warm embrace

Do walls have ears?

Yesterday I packed up my belongings and left the cottage I was staying in for the weekend. My friends loaned me the space so that I could audio record my book of blogs, Love Master. I have stayed there before, and felt the warm embrace of the cottage owners and the cottage itself. Somehow, the wooden structure has a personality, and I can't help but feel it enjoys people, as strange as this might sound?

Running the gamut of reactions and emotions
While there, I ran the gamut of emotions, with congruent reactions and chosen expressions of pent up kinetic energy: 

• Sitting, I would attempt to record a story, and trip over my tongue. Some of the tongue tripping was entertaining and so, I teased and mocked myself for the new words I created 
• Next, I would straighten up and fly right, directing myself out loud to take my work seriously, without tension. While reading a story with flow, the end zone of the last story line in sight, the furnace or fridge would have their say, interjecting their noisy opinions. Apparently, they had a job to do too 
• Periodically, I would laugh at the interruptions, and at other times, I had full blown temper tantrums with cursing and accusations: my tirades did not last long, and when I went silent again, the cottage was still there, it stayed. It didn't get up and leave, or give me heck, or tell me that I had been inappropriate or ask, how could you feel and act that way?

Interruptions and irritations
The interruptions served me well dear reader, because I stopped and started so many times. With each time, whether it was self imposed or cottage created, I had to take a look at me, and figure out, what was going on inside of me, and showing up on the outside of me?

My writing is not about words thrown onto a screen or page. My writing is about feeling, knowing, being in, and out of myself, being in, and out of relationship with you, and whomever I encounter, or come close to. It is about interruptions, noise, and emotions that need to be expressed and explored. 

All by myself, I laughed, cried, danced, lied down, read, prayed, ate, drank, practiced guitar, liked myself, irritated myself, joked and even screamed my frustration: all the while the wooden log walls absorbed, as though listening. I got to be me. As I typed this last line, I got to be me, my left ear started to open... I did not know it had been blocked.

Are you blocked?
Dear reader, are you blocked too? What is going on inside of you that is pent up, keeping you from fully expressing who you are, and what you feel? You must know, you must explore this part of you to be free dear one; it is essential.

A gift of time and space
The log cabin, it was a gift of time and space given to me this weekend by generous friends. I was not alone there, not really. The One that stayed with me is forever by my side, and He witnessed all of me and loved me through it. I am me and He is good with this truth. 

Dear reader, know this: He, loves you, too. 

Drink

I am so tired I just have to sit down. Can you get me a drink?

Thirsty and hungry business

The scene is set for an intimate conversation, one with intrigue and some playful misinterpretations that lead to a drum roll finish. We are talking thirsty and hungry business here, a travelling missionary, one woman, and a band of obtuse kitten like minstrels who have yet to open their eyes to the astounding reality they are living. We also have some scoundrels, who go sniffing around to see what dirt they can dig up about some guy, who is gaining too much popularity. This is where our story begins.

A turf war that God refuses to fight, just walk away

"The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee" (John 4:1-3). We have here the beginnings of a turf war. The Pharisees saw a rival in this guy Jesus and a reconnaissance crew was sent out to eye spy what the damage to their territory might be. Underestimating the oppositions leader is always a sign of character flaw and poor judgment, because we all know that when what we have is replaceable by something far Superior to what we have ever experienced before, changing teams is not even a consideration! Alas, the crass crew of self-righteous and hypocritical Pharisee's did not see the writing on the wall, or should I say, the waves on the water? Regardless, Jesus didn't have time for their nonsense. He had work to do and I picture him brushing the dust off his heels, turning his back and going where his Father sent him, to meet a woman, at a well...

Jacobs well and a tired thirsty Jesus

"Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour" (John 4:4-6). It was high noon, Jesus was tired and sat down dear reader! This addition to the story made me glad. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is a working man. He walked and walked some more and he got tired and thirsty and hungry too, just like us. A man on a mission is like this: when our work is important, we just can't stop sometimes, isn't that right dear one? Jesus demonstrates that to sit, to rest, to replenish is important. While this is a wonderful part in the story, and you may want to sit a while with your coffee and savour the moment, the story gets richer and deeper. Come with me to see what happens next.

A request for a drink of water

"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman answered him "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (John 4:7-9). Here, right here is where our ears get to perk up and our eyes open wider in anticipation. She hasn't a clue what is coming and the thrill is ours as we watch closely to see the unfolding of the plot line as revealed by the Author of life.

Unwrap the gift and drink deeply

Jesus' answer "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir, " the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get living water?" (John 4:10-12). Grin. Hints are being dropped with foreshadowing building our excitement. This is the beginning of an astounding exchange between the woman at the well and the Godhead she sees simply as a man to have a semantics agruement with. I urge you to go to the book of John to read the full account of this conversation (let's be brief here, you don't have all day to read this... you too have work to do!).

I skip to this mind blowing reveal, drum roll please:

The woman said, "I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he" (John 4:25-26). Jesus shares with a woman that he is the Messiah, the Christ, the anticipated and hoped for Saviour of the world! This life altering truth (along with Jesus being able to tell the woman that he knows what her whole life has looked like prior to them ever having met at the well) has the woman running into town and declaring "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him to eat something. But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" (John 4:29-33).

The plot is complete

A woman, a well, confused disciples. A man who is God, some guys who don't like being challenged and pushed out of their place of power. A town full of people rushing to meet the Messiah... Living Water, Bread of Life. How is any of it different from our today dear one? Who are you in this story? You have before you many role options, except for One. Do you vie for his spot? Do you stir up dissension against him? Do you converse with him and recognize who he is and run into town to share The Good News? Is this just a story to you? He knows everything you ever did... how about that? How about that?

Missing the Point

Dear reader, have you ever missed the point? Have you reflected upon a conversation and observed yourself in it, reliving the exchange with another and realized, oh my, I completely missed the point? They, the person you spoke with, intoned one thing and you, staying on a well worn thought track, spoke of another, only to discover upon examination that an opportunity for true connection has been lost? I'm there right now dear one, shaking my head in consternation, because I know this is the case for me but alas, since I am writing and you are reading, it means I have grasped and taken firm hold of the point: which I am about to make.

John 3:16 may as well be Jesus 3:16, in fact, all Bible books from Genesis 1:1-Revelation 22:21 can be commended to Christ in all their God inspired glory. 

The whole of the Bible is authored by God. This is the point that I have missed, and am now grasping and taking firm hold. My study Bible has Jesus' words written in red, and it is He that is quoted in John 3:16, not John. While this may seem ridiculously apparent to many, it is a dumbfounding truth for me in this moment as I write, especially with Easter approaching. John 3:16 is well quoted, and if you have yet to read it, and record it on your heart as the indelible truth, then I encourage you now to do so (find it below).

It is John 3:19-21 that draws me to itself and I invite you to examine this with me:

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God (John 3:19-21)

These are not John's words or the words of a scribe; simply eye-witness reporting. These targeting words are those of Jesus Christ. Look at them again. Jesus speaks in legalese and this is the dividing line for many of us. 

There is a verdict of condemnation light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil

• Is this you He describes? Scripture shines light on us dear reader, on what we love
• Is it your desire to hide your deeds in the dark so as not to be exposed, so that you will not be judged and be given a guilty verdict?

Dear reader, you cannot hide: 

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18)

Condemned is a punishment, a death sentence dear reader; rejection of God's Son has within it the verdict of death. 

I ask you now, please do not miss this point. These are Jesus' own words, about Himself 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten So, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17)

He, loves, you. He loves you. He lovvvvvesYOU. Don't miss this point... 

He loves you