TGIF

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26 Responses

  1. Babylon's Dread says:

    Another exile narrative…

    We have grown accustomed to ascendancy

    Now we will head off to Babylon…

    Dread

  2. Michael says:

    BD,

    Blame N.T. Wright… 🙂

  3. Michael says:

    I’m not sure we’re headed for Babylon as much as Strasbourg.

    A couple of years after arriving in Geneva, Calvin was given the left foot of fellowship and given 24 hours to get out of town.
    He fled to Strasbourgh.

    Three years later, the town realized they needed him and called him back.

    The effects of the “new morality” are going to be such that when they are exposed to the fullest, the culture may decide that Jesus knew what He was talking about after all and beseech His emissaries to return.

  4. A Friend says:

    It’s cyclical…more akin to a circle than a straight-line destination.

    I think mankind will keep rhyming history…just with more advanced technology….until the species goes extinct.

  5. A Friend says:

    It could very well be that the prophecy in the bible is metaphor and as such, it describes an evolutionary process that will result in “the new heaven and new earth”…could be aliens LOL. Could be that we open cracks in the membranes of other dimensions with the Hadron Collider. Could be that John of Patmos and the prophets were high on LSD.

  6. Erunner says:

    Thank you Michael. You have a gift for expression as do others here and it’s a blessing to us all.

  7. Michael says:

    Thank you, Erunner…I hope it is worth the time of the reader.

  8. Em says:

    definite worth the time, Michael

  9. Michael says:

    Thank you, Em. 🙂

  10. Erunner says:

    em said it well at #8. It’s why we’ve been here so long and why the ones who have left still lurk!

  11. Jim says:

    Great post. Easy for Floridians to digest. 🙂

  12. Michael says:

    Thank you, Jim.
    It’s probably easier for you than us Oregonians…

  13. Sarah says:

    So agree, Michael. Processing and trying to understand how we do this. How I do this in my space…learning I need to pray and listen much. I tend to be rash, and that is not what we are called to be.

  14. Jim says:

    Metaphors abound. I worked in the Florida sun/rain/bugs for 25 years. To do so, you have to get out really early and do the frog in the kettle. It’s 98 with nowhere to hide, and someone leaves an ac’d office complaining. You’re saying, “it’s not too bad today”.

    Kinda like saying, “yeah, Beyonce’s a good dancer”….

  15. EricL says:

    When the Roman Empire began to falter, it was the outer provinces that suffered first. It took many years before the disruption made life difficult for those living at the center of the empire. For some, it seemed like the empire was doing better than ever, with more glitz and glamour and Coliseum entertainment. So it might be with those in the Evangelical culture.

    Those near the outer edges who regularly interact with the “barbarians” will notice the changes and may start suffering much earlier, but they will also have more opportunity to show those outsiders that they needn’t keep living as barbarians. Offer them a more meaningful life.

  16. Captain Kevin says:

    108? Wuss! Try a different Phoenix! 😉

  17. Nonnie says:

    It’s in the 80’s here in the UK and we are all moaning over the unbearable heat.

  18. OCDan says:

    Michael,

    Love the metaphors. Of all you write here, you have such a way of expressing Biblical truth with metaphors and self application. BTW, who needs another phone app, I can just come here for Biblical apps, that are much better. I esp. love the kitty apps. God has greatly blessed you to do this. Keep up the great work.

    Have a Happy Fourth!

  19. Michael says:

    Thank you for the kind words, Dan…have a great 4th.

  20. Summer says:

    Wow, Michael! Excellent! My boys used to tell me we lived in a bubble. We shouldn’t think this strange. As a whole, we’ve been living in comfort for a long time. Being uncomfortable causes growth.

    Thanks for your thoughts. I always read.

  21. Michael says:

    Thank you, Summer…it’s helpful to me when lurkers raise their hands occasionally. -)

  22. Paige says:

    Very thought provoking Michael….thank you…I’ve had a hot week, in spite of great indoor air conditioning….. it’s kinda been a ‘burned at the stake’ kind of week.
    Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
    Keep cool….

  23. Em says:

    Michael’s post today was food for thought for sure….
    you know that song, “America…, God shed His grace on thee…?”
    if one thinks about the history of the human race, we’re a corrupted creation – i thank God for the past 100 years as something was holding back evil for a time – one nation under God didn’t quite work out, but it was a nice idea… and we almost persuaded the race that God’s way was the best way
    oh well, Thy Kingdom come, Lord – next year would be good

  24. Em says:

    “We were born for heat and dirt and pain… we were born to work outside” that must be a guy thing…
    i’d rather shovel snow than pull weeds… i don’t know what that signifies, exactly… but one thing this heat wave is impressing on me is the fact that i don’t want to go to hell…

    God keep

  25. passin throgh says:

    1980 — Francis Schaeffer “How Should We Then Live?”

    2015 — Conservative Christians “How Should We Now Panic?”

  26. Jonnyb says:

    My thoughts…

    You described So many churches. And so many people.

    Truly ministering to others is such a messy business. Casting out demons and evil spirits is the worst.

    The comfortable controlled environment eliminates such things.

    No one even being allowed to go to the restroom and allowed back in to the sanctuary once they leave etc…

    Demons don’t exist in my controlled environment.

    Even though the body is built up by what each joint supplyeth, there can only be one leader, me.

    The air conditioned me model.

    No risk.

    No surprises, just me being comfortable in my controlled environment.

    It is chancy to go to the streets and minister outside of my perfect environment.

    Things get uncertain and disturb my perfection obsessive compulsion for control.

    “Walking in the Spirit,” what’s that?

    No, I wanna stay where nothing gets out of my control.

    Predictability is perfection day in and day out.

    Ah but Paul said, I came to you…(not in word or deed but in the power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost.)

    He came to them?

    He left his place to go to theirs.

    Ship wrecked, beaten, stoned, chased around by those who would do him harm.

    All because he came to them…he left his place of comfort, his comfort zone of safety.

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