Tag Archive: men


Shadow of the Almighty IV

It had been a few years since that last experience, the magi, angels, Gaspar, a few bales of hay and a stall to bear a king in. Now we see Jesus, God and man, at the age of approaching adulthood, which in Hebrew culture is the age of 13. We pick up a few years  later from His birth.

“Joseph, how many are in your family.” Asked Mecana as they where walking up to Jerusalem for the yearly sacrifice. “Oh, just my wife and son.” Replied Joseph while pointed some yards back to Mary who was chatting with some other women. “Why?” “Well, I don’t know you that well, but you are the best carpentar and everyone knows it. And every time we go buy your place you have just all these kids laughing, playing and hanging around. Some of them even look like you.” Joseph laughed out loud. “No, Mecana those aren’t my kids. They just love the place and there’s enough to keep them busy.” “Plus I tell them stories, something they seem to thoroughly enjoy.” ” I suppose.” Said Mecana as together they crested one of the hills that seemed to never boast a top of reachable height. “You know, I make this trip every year.” Stated Mecana who after a few seconds pause resumed, “Every year I make sacrifice, and every year I am read to from the Prophets, letters those of Isaiah, with forth telling of the Immanuel.” “Joseph I am 57, I’m getting old, this trip is getting longer and still have I yet to see this King, this Redeemer who will take away all of my transgression, all of the need to sacrifice.” ” My existence on this earth bears no sign of a coming entity that will change the course of time forever. Doesn’t it strike you as odd?” Joseph didn’t really know what to say. He could see the scenario folding out in front of Him. Quickly he allowed himself to picture it. He saw himself telling his good friend that His son was the foretold fulfillment of prophecy and that an angel told him many things many times and such goes the list and that He was the Redeemer, that He was Immanuel. And at that moment Mecana would laugh so hard hiccups would follow and everyone would ask why Mecana was slowly dying, and Mecana would speak his disease to all and Joseph would be highly criticized. Not even to mention the trouble this would bring with the Sanhedrin council, if such word were to travel with accuracy to his name. Having thought of this in the space of two seconds he answered, ” To this day evidence has yet to be seen, in the world of the Christ, I would say tho, now would be a good time. Speaking of time, what time is it?” Said Joseph trying to push the cart in a new direction so to speak. Mecana obviously on a new course answered that it was just after the 2 hour. Joseph then took this opportunity to exit back to the line of women not far and discuss some things with Mary. While making his way back Joseph thought to himself, “Someone is going to find out, and when they do, it will not be an easy thing.”

Touching the Sceptor.

Most people are familiar with the book of Esther. Most people know of the ratio that was existent applied to her to be picked as the replacement of the queen. Most people are familiar with the plot against the race of Jewish lineage such as Queen Esther was as well in the line of. Most people know the phrase,” for such a time as this.” One of the things that people also know is that Esther was a Matriarch and a saving entity in her day. Most people don’t remember why. Those well versed in the Bible and its stories will recognize and pick up the small details, but the majority won’t.

Esther was an orphan girl who knew little of the world definition of wealth, happiness, and the fulfillment of life. She was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin. So was David, Christ, Gideon, Saul. I mean come on! And I love this because God is so backwards. He’s the one who takes the people who everyone else deems unqualified.  Well, there was a king, who had a wife, the queen. This queen received a request by the king to come and perform in front of the honored guests that he was holding in the court. This was a 180 day party followed by a 7 day feast. A huge elaborate display of his power. But with immense power comes people who want you to die and your end to be near. The queen refused the request and was shown the door. Long story short, the country needed a queen. So one was to be picked. Now let me lay out for you the staff of the court. We have Haman,  King Xerxes, Queen Vashti and the servants of the High Court, Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas.

Chapter 2 starts out with an assination plot for the king by way of a piano dropped on his head by two french peas. ( Veggie Tale Flashback.) Mordecai, the uncle of Esther alerted the king of this plot and because of it the kings life was saved. However, Mordecai was never rewarded for this great and noble deed. This of course is where Haman comes into play. Haman had been promoted in the palace and much authority was given to him. In this palalce there was a personal historian and timer to the king. This entailed a very detailed account of what happened during the course of the day taken down and recorded. These where then read to the king upon his request. This particular time the hours where read of Mordecai and his saving the king, who then asked what was done for him, upon which the reply, nothing. So king Xerxes asks the historian,” Who is in the court?” Upon which the reply that Haman was in the Court. The Bible records it like this- ” When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?”  So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor,  have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head.  Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” This all happens after Haman manages to get an edict for the death of all Jews because Mordecai would not bow in respect to his new position.

Though this story has some real nice plot and sequence to it, it isn’t about Mordecai, the king, or Haman. It is about Esther.

The high point of this story is that after preparing herself for a year, she would be ready to be seen of the King. But, the year wasn’t over.

Esther has the odacity to come before the king without having finished the preparation required to see him. She comes on behalf of the race to which she belongs that is about to be annialated. She comes and the phrase that she uses is priceless, ” if I perish, I perish.” She comes and after all the time that she has put in it, is willing to lay it all down and give it all up because it isn’t about her. This is so amazing to me, because I know that the mark of a true leader is not only the one who shows holiness, and walks in obedience and the presence of God, but they also that take the risk of their life all for the will of God, for the sake of the call of the kingdom. And the story goes that the king found favor and upon the touch of the sceptor, the first steps to the freedoms of many were restored and evil was done away with. The point I want to make here is that we miss the sceptor. Alot of the time we miss the very thing that lets us into the realm and presence of God. We bypass the doors and the sceptor and we go straight to the king, filthy, with issues and demanding. I would encourage you, get your act together, get cleaned up, make yourself ready, because if I’m not mistaken Christ is coming back for a pure bride and a glorious church.

Rediculously doing it, intentionally planned.

With a new year comes people making new decisions about whatever, making plans to do something, always saying that they are gonna do what they’ve actually planning for the last 9 years. Well, I in some areas am one of those people. But something has changed for me, something so drastic that even words are almost not enough to give the full meaning of the plan. I have challenged myself to two things this year. One I will describe for you, another, talk about, the last I want to share with you.

1. Twice a day, morning, and night, read Dueteronomy 6:4-9

2.Write a book called “Unveiling.”

3. Rediculously doing it, intentionally planned.

This is it. This is not just an idea of mine, it is actually from the well told many time story of Abraham and Isaac.

Abraham has always been looked to as a hero of the faith. He has been regarded as a person of great faith who God used to make the nation, such as they are blessed and spead life throughout the ages to the present time of today’s inhabitants being the see of himself. However there is a character of this same man that not to many people beg to pay attention to. Two such people are Ken Wilde and Mark Driscoll. In the past week I have see something and heard something that is uterly unerving and profound. This will blow your mind. Follow me as I set a new stage for what I am writing on next.

It’s like 4 in the morning and Abraham is snoring his flies away. Come on now, Abraham was loaded, right? He owned the flies that flew around his tent. It’s a typical morning, he’s not typically up at this time, no reason for it. Absolutely no reason to do it. So whilst he’s conked, Isaac is following in Daddy’s footsteps by creating a few earth tremors of his own, between the two they might need to buy some new spots. However, just as Abraham is ready to release some nasty spew and noisy awlfulness God shows up. Now, you have to be a pretty special person to have God come visit you at a pretentious time in the morning. It’s like 3:30 or 4 in the morning. Abraham trying to sleep, he’s rich, God loves him, and he needs his sleep. Nope. Here comes God. Knocking on the flap. Tearing the flap. Beating him with the flap. Just kidding, but seriously. God wakes him up. Abraham crawls out of his tent, but only because God tells him to get out. It’s not like he hadn’t been up this early before. He was a rancher! Seriously. But this was not the most opportune time. Having been out for a few seconds, God gives him the word that He originally came to tell. Now stop right here. We’re talking a God that when he says something he does it. Whatever He said He’s going to do, He will do, you can bet your life on it. As sure as the sun came up this morning, He’s gonna GETRDUN!. God comes down and gives Abraham a word. This is the same Abraham that for 25 years waited for the promise of a son. Finally it is fulfilled, and Isaac is the product of that promise. However, this God, that I’m talking about, the very one that I serve, says this to Abraham. Rise, get up and go to the place, the which I will show you, take Isaac your son, sacrifice him there as a burnt offering. All rediculous grammer and retarded use of writing aside, this is Abraham’s goal, calling, and must do order from God.

The best part about all of this is that Abraham gets up. He doesn’t go back to sleep so that at a descent time in the morning he can wake up and do this is at a better time, when He’s thinking a little more clearly. He doesn’t argue, in fact, the Bible doesn’t even record him having spoken anything after answering God when He came. He just goes and gets ready to go. He gathers enough animals to pack the load, servants to follow, himself, Isaac, wood and everything else he would need. Since he didn’t know where he was going he had to pack plenty to get to wherever that was. As the morning goes on I can just imagine Abraham’s thoughts as he gets ready. “Here I am, for twenty five years, I waited for this. This is something that was promised to me.”   Seriously, picture the torture and the confused thoughts that were going through his head as the morning progressed. Pretty gnarly! As the morning goes he tells his servants to make ready for a trip and he gets all his supplies ready and heads out. Part way up the path that God told Abraham to travel, Abraham turns back and says to his servants, you stay here the boy and I will return after we are done.   Now we know very clearly the instruction to Abraham was that he was to go where God would show him and then there sacrifice his promised son. However, Abraham tells the servants that HE AND HIS SON will be coming back, or returning. Interesting, Abraham not even there yet believes that God wouldn’t do this and that in faith he would come back not alone, but joined of the company of his son. So he does this. He goes, and again part way up is asked another question, this time from Isaac. Isaac is not an innocent kid, Isaac is coming soon to manhood. He knows that all of this means offering, however what he doesn’t see with them is the offering that normally every other time they brought with them. So he asks. “Dad?” ” Here I am my son.” Answers Abraham. “See the wood? And the fire, the provisions for a sacrifice. But where is the sacrifice, a lamb or something. Where is it at?” Not being able to answer his son and tell of God’s plan, Abraham again believes that since he will come back with his son, that God would provide. God would provide because God was the one who had promised. To which he answers, “God will provide for Himself a lamb.” Also notice that he didn’t say, God will provide for us, or for you, or for I, but for Himself. He states that this is God’s sacrifice which juxtaposes that Abraham considered the sacrifice that was to happen a sacrifice that God would be offering, and not him. This was not a quedropro situation. This was a demand, or order from the word of the LORD delivered from the same. As Abraham starts to build the Sacrificial alter at the command of the LORD, he continues to ask why, to contemplate why he is even in this spot, maybe what he could have possibly done to get to this point where this was the command of God to be asked of Him. One of the things that I see in Abraham that I admire alot, is that Abraham considered the Word more important than the promise. This is clearly and solely a faith action. Obedience like this cannot be in existance, it cannot happen without faith. If you do not have faith, than completing a task like this will not work. You cannot physically do it on your own. Sure you could just kill him and have it over with, God tho, was not desiring the action, he was desiring obedience from his heart, not his hands. And even as the knife was drawn in the air for which Abraham was to kill his son, the LORD calls him in it. In the very act. Now….what if Abraham had not been focused and missed the voice? What if he had not heard? What if he had completely missed it? The audacity……….

Shadow of the Almighty III

His name Shall be Called

“How are you feeling! That was a great question now, however that was five days ago. Five days ago she was ok, pregnant and fat, but ok. How am I feeling, well, considering I’m holding God, I’m rocking to sleep the Creator of the world, Fine.” At this Mary smiled to herself and thought about imagining other things that she would be doing that would violate all rules, and forms off nature known to everyone but herself. Who else gets to teach God how to walk, or speak, or teach him his law? How about even when she would need to take Him to Jerusalem and notice as he watched people making sacrifices and atoning their sins in front of their God a few feet distance. Maybe even the weirdest of all is when they would have too take all that they…..”And he shall be called, Wonderful, Cou…oh, and how is the stress of 14 hours!” Said Joseph trying very hard not to laugh and collapse on the floor in a spitting fit. Mary frowned. “Aww, come on I didn’t….” You have no idea.” Said Mary not even meeting his gaze. “Yeah but…” “Not even a clue.” Mary Interrupted. As Joseph opened his mouth Mary looked up and he very quickly closed it. At this the tiny form in the arms of the other tiny form started to wake up, however, unlike any other baby that she had ever seen, he didn’t so much as frown,ever. It took awhile each time to see this go around, but every time she came more to the reality instead of questioning it. It was like even in his incredibly vulnerable, small state, He knew what was going on. Even that He didn’t need to be told what was happening around Him. Silently Mary wondered if He could talk and chose not to. A baby choosing to not talk, this was too much. All of it was too much, why her? It absolutely amazed her about how God chose her to be the mother of a child when she had no experience with any other children of her own. Then it dawned on her, firstruits. Now it all made sense. Now she got it, but still, why this one, why her. Obviously, it was too late to pick someone else, and all of it was wearing her out, and she was tired already, in fact hadn’t she been up for like hours. 12 on a donkey, 14 in labor, and whatever else afterwards, so it was probably time to get sleep. Sleep, what a good idea, ideas, those are good things, things, things are….   “WOW!” “Well, have you got a time, or do you want to go at all?” At the apparently repeated question Mary decided that this would be a good time to pay attention to what Joseph was asking, “What, where?” said Mary very confused and entirely quilty. “Elizabeth’s, she asked you to come back as quickly as the baby was born.” “Yes, but I’m in far no condition to even consider making that trip again, right now. I’ll probably go, but I’ll have Him circumcised before I go anywhere, and we should do that here. This is His hometown. “Isn’t there some amount of time that we can tell her she should be expecting you for, you were there for 3 months! “There is so much to prepare for and to do that anything other than focus on the necessities would be of least importance.” added Mary. “Joseph, can we talk this over later, I’m absolutely done, I’m so tired….” “Of course, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You know that Star is driving me crazy, it’s so beautiful, and there isn’t another like it that I have ever seen in my…” “Yes, we know.” Droned Melchior interrupting Gaspar for the 6th or 7th time. “We all have eyes, and senses that will be fine provided you don’t scrape them off of our bare anatomical beings!” “Gentlemen please!” said a rather impatient Balthasar, “What is this now, time 7 that we are going to do this monotonous pretentiously annoying jibber whilst I study?” “Oh, hail…king…patience!” Screamed Melchior as he assumed a fetal position causing Gaspar to almost wet his tunic. Balthasar groaned and turned the exact opposite direction so the fire could then bake the other side of him, and then proceeded to continue to study the star that had more or less redeemed Gaspar of all sense of the ability to think or reason for himself. The man had a great intelligence and most of the time would pick up on the smallest detail, remember history that only ancient manuscripts could prove right, and one of the greatest of his abilities- deduce the meaning of the stars themselves. The only downside to the man was that at any given moment in time, he would lose 30-35 years and become a babilling nonsensical kid showing no signs of studious ability but that of rather being confused, and carefree. Now, was definitely not the time for any of that,yet, they both, he and Melchoir, had been blessed with this sudden outburst of craziness, of the form and like they never saw anyone else exhibit. Balthasar started to pick up on the faint strains of another argument, releasing him from the comfort of his observation time, and having been pushed to the limit, he raised up on one hand and…”Wait.” He mumbled to himself and listened closer. Gaspar was getting himself back. “Is it not like the Star mentioned in the book of Isaiah and in many written books of ancient civilizations?” said Gaspar showing the familiar look he wore when thinking and recalling something that was jogging his mind. “Yes, I don’t remember a whole lot of the description of it, however it seems acurately close, what do you suppose it means?” Asked Melchior hoping that all the arguing was putting Gaspar back in reality. “That’s just it.” “It has no pattern, and the Star itself is so large that any mathematical algorithm cannot work, the source is to strong. Unless that is it, it cannot be understood because the source is too strong.” “That makes alot of sense.” Melchior sarcastically added. “Aren’t the colors so different? Each star has their own colors depending on their make-up and origin.” These colors I’ve never seen.” Looking up, Melchoir noticed it as well. How did he miss that? “See.” said Gaspar, “It has no strict color pattern, because it is all white light. And the purest form of it, for there are no breaks in the glow or beam.” “How is it possible?” said the now astonished Melchoir. Upon hearing this Belthasar decided to peek at it, through Gaspars perpective.  It was true, this light from this star didn’t fit any prototype of any of the heavenly bodies that they were well known for understanding. Rarely could they not deduce the meaning of any particular star, because as everyone noticed, there knowledge was extensive and there understanding great. “It’s so pretty!” “Gaspar?” Asked Melchior cautiously as he slowly lowered his eyes to the man who was losing it. Again. ” Can I have it?” Yeah sure. “What are you doing?” Whispered Belthasar very loudly. “He’ll actually try to get it you scrit!” Too late. For by this time Gaspar was trying to fly. “Oh no.” groaned Melchior as yet again Gaspar enjoyed himself in the sand, flapping like a bird trapped in a wine vat. “Oh no. Oh no.Oh no.Oh no.Oh no.” Said Gaspar in a high pitched voice while laughing and flapping around, jumping histerically and rolling in the sand. “Suppose I kick you?” suggested Balthasar to Melchior. “Do it.” said Melchior egging him on. “Your sixty years old and can hardly pick up your own spoon!”  “I’d rather follow that star.” Said Belthasar noticing the dare in Melchiors voice. “Do it.”….”Stop saying that your gonna get him…” “Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!” “I’m going.” “Where?” “To the end of that Star!” “Why?” At this Belthasar looked at Gaspar and stretched out his hand for added emphasis even where not needed. Nothing more was said, and as Melchoir put out the fire, they left, all three to follow the Star, wherever it went.

Something to ponder.

I Samuel 10:26-

 

Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.

 

 

Now why would Saul make sure that’s who followed him home? Read here.

1 Samuel 10:1

Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?”

 

Here in this passage we recognize that God has his hands on Saul. That phrase, “Leader over His inheritance.” God is on you when he makes you leader of His inheritance!

After everything that went on in the beginning of the chapter, Saul goes home. With the men I want to talk about.

 

 

This isn’t about Saul. It’s about the men.  

 

I truly believe that there are men and women called of God to lead his people. Even tho God has chosen them and placed his Spirit of prosperity on their life, doesn’t mean that they will go astray. Elvis Presley is an example of that. However when God grabs a hold of someone and literaly brings them to ground zero, it is amazing the fruit that comes from it! As I was reading in the selected verse, I noticed more than the other parts the statement, ” Whose hearts God had touched.  To me, that is so powerful, “…that God had touched.”  I believe that the only way we can truly serve the Lord, with everything and prosper doing it is only by the hand of God. God said, “….So shall My word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.- Isaiah 55:11   Notice he doesn’t say,” My people whom I send by my hand and are called by my voice, shall do exactly without fail what I tell them. Also it will always work and be good.”  No He says …”My Word!”   It is our choice to heed it or not heed it. There are consequences for that. ( Matthew 25: 28-30)

   What does it mean to be a man of valor?    A man who’s heart God has touched? When someone gives his life fully and completely to the Father, they surrender unconditionally. To what use would it be for an army to attack at the will of the crew? To do exactly what the commander said…..tomorrow!  It is of no use. They couldn’t function and they would be defeated! Same with us, God can’t use us if we aren’t in full or complete obedience to Him. One of the greatest reasons for the Roman armies successful triumphs in it’s day was because if a commanding officer told a soldier to walk over the cliff to his death, he would do it. We so need to be the exact copy! If God said, die for my sake. Would you do it immediately, in whatever He has for you. Would you ask then do it. Refuse? Question?

 

I believe when a man gives his life fully to the will of God, he gives himself away. Only then can God totally use him. May this be us, that someone could say at the end of your life, He was a man, whose heart God Himself touched.

 

 

 

 

-Canaan

While in the depth of the coming night….

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