Vol 1 Number 7 Part 2 The Mystery

One could say with theological accuracy that the Church was within the
Godhead for eternity, just as was all creation was awaiting to be spoken forth, or if you will, birthed.
Remember in Genesis 1 Moses wrote "and God said, Let there be...and there was..." Whatever God was creating on that particular day as He spoke it it came into being. All throughout the Bible God speaks and then something happens. There was the creation of the universe and all that exist within, above, around, and on that God spoke into existence. The God who speaks also said that it was not good for man to be alone. Thus from the side of man He brought forth a new part of man. A part that was already there, but now a new part. This God who spoke, spoke a song. A love song of ultimate porportions. One that would last an eternity. This is God's Song. It is romantic song of passion, of longing for companionship even beyond the Godhead. An endearing relationship with mutual friends and lovers.
Just as it was not good for the first Adam to be alone, God saw that it was not good for His Son to be alone. Just as the 'woman' was taken out of Adam's side as he slept, so God took from Jesus' side at the crucifixion (where the blood and water flowed) a 'woman.' As he slept in death a woman was coming forth from Jesus. This woman is the mystery that the Godhead had waiting to reveal for centuries.
This was all part of the divine plan that Adam was created in loneliness to reveal the loneliness of the Godhead to share Himself with someone else. The loneliness of God can be seen in the willingness to make humankind in His own image. Just as Adam was created alone and needed someone to share his life with, the Godhead wanted "another" outside of Himself to share Himself with.
The first Adam expressed loneliness as he completed naming all the animals. God saw that it was not good for the man to be alone. This is not an afterthought on God's part. As stated earlier, it was all part of the divine plan. So from within the first Adam the first woman was birthed. A shadow(something that would be revealed in Jesus later) of what the Godhead had in mind for the Second Adam's Second Eve---the Church.
As Jesus hung on the cross ans was split at his side a new woman came forth. This second Eve, the church, the mystery which Jesus had declared earlier that he would build was not of man's doing.

Well, that's me Jus Thinkin' (Later on there will an addition to these two.)

Vol 1 Number 6 Time

Time.
Before time, what was there...?
Time is a measurement of basic seconds, minutes and hours. Was there measurement of time "in the beginning?" Some scholars have answered, "NO" and then proceeded to inform us that before "time" there was only eternity.
I suggest that the genesis of time itself was overlapped in and by eternity. Now the two not only exist, but they co-exist.
One thing for certain is that time wasn't new to the Godhead even though they lived in eternity.
Some have pontificated that at the genesis of creation the Godhead did not know "Time" only eternity. But that could not be due the fact that God is The Godhead. The All -knowing is all knowing.
Why so much about time? Only to propose the aforementioned questioned, "Before time, what was there?"
My answer---the Godhead---the ageless purpose of the Godhead that underscores all the mystery of why are we here?
This ageless purpose is the revealing of a mystery. Something that has been hidden but is being revealed. Paul stated in Eph. 3:4,5 that "the mystery of Christ...has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets." He then later went on to say that this "great mystery...I speak of concerning Christ and the chuch." Eph. 5:31,32
So why ask,"before time, what was there?" is to suggest that within the Godhead the mystery, the Church, has always been the ageless purpose or drama that the Godhead has sought to unveil.
The church referred to here is not the institution or the system of religion that we see all too often today broken in fragments around the world called denominations or even 'movements', but the true church that Jesus himself said that he would build and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. These broken fragments are not the ones that I see being victorious in these latter days. It is this one unfolding romantic drama that not only survives but remain strong and fluent. This is a priceless girl, so expensive that only the blood of God could puchase her. She is the divine representation. A drama that has been set to the opening music of a beautiful romance.
This purpose, this drama, this mystery is and has been in the Godhead waiting to be revealed or better yet to be reflected back to the Godhead. As if to say, the Godhead was pregnant with all of creation including the Church.

Well, that's me, Jus Thinkin' . Part 2 later.

A Friend

On Sun. evening I received word that a close friend has been diagnosed with a second type of cancer. The tears flowed as I thought about what he has already gone through and having a kidney transplant.
I sat on the porch and thought about his other two brothers; one who is still facing problems resulting from cancer, and the other who passed away last November. Oh, how I wept and fought back my anger at this disease. And yes, honestly I had to ask God "Why?". My friend has already gone through so much why not a reprieve?
Yet in the midst of my tears, anger, and questions I know that my friends faith will remain strong. He has seen God work in his life so many times. No, healing's haven't come in miraculous ways but they still have come in other various manifestations.
My heart grew so heavy that it hurt as I sat on the porch wondering why was this continually happening to not just this friend, but to this family?
No, the answers did not come. I knew that my thoughts, tears, and questions were my prayers at the time.
Sometimes our struggles are not taken away from us. Sometimes we seem to be bombarded with more and more until everything within us and under us is about to break. Sometimes it does break and in that falling, screaming flight we remember God does love us. He has and will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us in our struggles. Struggles for our friends and for ourselves never separate us from His love for us. He is even praying for us during these times. Just as He did for Peter, who even though denied Jesus, yet came to know Him in such a way that he died for Him. That kind of prayer is for us as well. Not just prayer through the struggles, but afterward . "Lord, help us hang in with YOU."
[there are scriptures that support the last paragraph, but I did't include them. all found in NT]

Well, that's me. Jus Thinkin'

Vol. 1 No. 4 In The Funk

Have you ever heard that phrase "in the funk"? It comes from an old Dutch word that means depression.
Now that can be looked at in from a few different lens.
At one time in the funk meant you just didn't know what was wrong, but you knew that something was not right. Another way of looking at it was to get in a rithymic flow of music that took you as the artist into a different zone as well as the listener.
There is another approach to this phrase. "In the funk" has a lot to do with the way we see things that going on around us as well as what is happening to us.
We may be experiencing drama all around us that yes may be effecting our view of life. This seems to 'cause our lens to be askew. How we see things that is effecting us, our family, our friends causes us to see that is how all life is. We begin to bemoan our circumstances and will probably fall into a deeper black hole that we seemingly can not escape from. That is depression.
When life seems dark and dreary you contemplate why even trying.
Others are concerned. Some will judge---"well why don't they just get on with life?!?" Others may go to the extreme to accuse you of doing something that has caused you to be this way and so all you need to do is repent and walk on.
Experiencing "in the funk" has been an ongoing struggle for me for many years. Medication helps for the most of the time, but then those times seem to just sneak on you and you find yourself "stuck". And let me tell you everything looks badddd!
A commercial asks,"Does depression hurt?" "Who does it hurt"?. The first answer is yes. It can cause one to feel achy all over like you got the flu. The answer to the second is everyone. All those around you are touched by your "funk." Some are brought down by it, others judge you as mentioned above. While still others get "religious".
I have experienced this treatment as well as other forms of so called help.
The only thing that I have found so far is the fact that I know beyond all doubt that God loves me NO Matter what. In John 17:23 I am even assured that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus. Now that's alot and I have to trust that to be able to get through it all.
Whenever you're faced with being "in the funk" take a moment and contemplate John 17:23 and the FACT that God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. The funk may not go away, but you will get through and survive another episode.

That's me. Jus Thinkin.

Vol. 1 No.3 A Puzzle?

Have you ever said to yourself, "Why is the Bible so hard to understand?" Yet, with all my educational background I still had problems. No commentary can help, because that's just one or more persons opinion and we all have opinions. Now granted there are Bible teachers that seem to be more on track than others and for that reason I began to do some thinkin.

Why is it that I have such a problem with soome and not with others? Well, happily I finally discovered my answer.

For way too long I was taught to read the Bible from cover to cover. I have even done the "Read the Bible in a Year" thing. But that didn't help with my understanding. Oh sure, I prayed before I would read that Holy Spirit would help me understand. And I am not saying that He did not. That is His "job" you know. But why couldn't I put it all together? Why did it seem like a jigsaw puzzle?

Then I came across an article that dealt with just that subject. It was written by Frank Viola of Gaines ville, Fl. and his explanation brought me back to my seminary days. All the books of the Bible were put together by a 'committee', yet they were not chronological. I acquired a Narrative Bible which was done [?] chronological.? The Old Testament read great helping me put times and places with events that unveiled the story better. But when it came to the New Testament, that was another story.

So I read on in the aforementioned article. This brought new insights. The New Testament as we have today was nothing more than a jigsaw puzzle haphazardly put together. As concluded the article I read the New Testament as the author suggested. WOW!!! What a difference it made.

I am recommending to each of you 1] a book that will give insight into the New Testament and will help you as you read, and 2] a quick run down of the order of the New Testament.

1] The Untold Story by Frank Viola [web site ptmin.org]

2]Begin reading Galatians, James, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1& 2 Corinthians, Romans, Mark, Matthew, Luke, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 Timothy, Acts, Hebrews, Titus, John, 1,2,3 John, 1 Peter, 2Timothy, 2Peter, Jude, Revelation.

Now remember---This is the written chronological record. In other words Matthew was not the first New Testament book written, Galatians was and so forth.

Galatians was written in 49 AD and Revelation in 70 AD. So over about 20 years the New Testament was written.

I really encourage you to read the New Testament in this order and if you can get Viloa's book.

That's me, Just Thinkin.