Paul spoke of a great mystery.

The Bible teaches us to die to self....
We are the Church...
Is it then logical for God to want the Church to die to self?
God said it was not good for man to be alone... It was the first time God said, "It is not good".
We the Church are the Bride of Christ...He still does not want us to be alone.
Paul desire when we present ourself to the Groom we would be pure...
Is it not reasonable that we are to give ourselves in purity and sweet surrender to the Groom?

We are the Church, the Bride of Christ, made pure and holy by Him as when we honor the union of man and wife. Consecrated and set apart for and to each other... to die to others and for each other...
If we are the Church, then will we not die to self and give ourself as a living sacrifice... of pure love as a Bride without shame gives herself to her Lover the Groom.
Paul spoke of a great mystery....

Blessed,
iggy

the mad man screams out to chaos

Beyond our perception that one sees as chaos is God, to find God is like the calm of a great storm. to leave the center is to be destroyed, to live in the center is to live in peace as the storm rages. the turtles hide don't they, they see the storm and crawl into shells, can't see so no harm. Don't move and no hurt. But, I am damaged goods... the sick one in need of the doctor, my bones need broken to be fit right, my spirit to be broken to be healed and reconditioned for the weight of Truth and Grace. I squirm and wiggle and pray that no one steps on me. Maybe to be used to catch fish...a worm for the Greatest of Fisher of Men. I am laid low to be lifted up... as my savior was before me. To be beaten and to be stripped for all to see... No martyr complex, but a silent prayer to the One to calm my fear, to not run as Judas but to be restored as Peter. Both committing sin against God but differing in their self view of their sin... One who felt unredeemable and one who thought he never would need to be redeemed lifted up and restored to be Jesus' Rocky.So, do I leave the fighting of the former life... abandon the ones... or do I cause enough pain and torture them with their theology until they give up on me... in hopes as Jesus may have hoped that maybe, at the last supper, Judas may turn and say to Him, "what must I do to be saved?"

When is it the time of Salvation?... for God is Salvation.. so as God is, Salvation is....Now.

blessed,
iggy

Point of View

I was recently told I am coming across very judgmental. I try to explain it is not that modern churches are right and wrong as such, but a different focus and values...(sound familiar jok? Check out ginkworld.com) She did not see it this way. I then asked her to remember what happened when we found grace and how legalism was everywhere. It was hard to find fellowship. As we grew in grace we then grew to be able to extend it.
I do feel at times like I am standing in a doorway and at first just looked in. Now I feel I have crossed the thresh hold and am looking back and seeing things very differently. I went on to explain that soon I won't be so judgmental as I focus on Christ and the new values He is instilling in me. I still may be more modern in thought than some, but understanding does not always happen all at once. Then that is part of doing my Blog is therapy. To blow off steam and to share in what Jesus is teaching me.

Blessed,
iggy

Living an Abundant Life

Living an abundant life
Often I am shocked by some who focus on the "do's and don'ts" and miss the "who" when it comes to our faith. We all claim a faith in Christ yet then put laws and restrictions on ourselves or worse others. It is clear of the freedom and rich blessings we have in Christ...it is clear by scripture we also "will not sin" as in it is all covered as we abide or as I say live in Christ. I see this concept like this;
I live in Montana, but abide in Billings. I live here in Billings. Yet this is were most people stop. I think the next step is "my very life depends on receiving the sustenance from this town.... for example I work, become involved in politics, have my friends, raise my children...
In other words my whole life depends on my relationship with this town and it revolves around this town.
This is how I see Christians should live, and I think is true. That to really live is to have Christ be the air we breathe and the food we eat, as this is also represented in communion service.
Many stop at Savior, some go to Lord and Savior, yet with out understanding what it means to have a lord. To have a lord is to have no life outside of his. You completely serve the lord. He owns you and can do whatever his will is with you, and you without hesitation obey. We don't like this concept in America, mostly because we are "rugged individuals" but in Christ there is no "rugged individualism" only Christ.
Now, lately I have been writing about something even greater than Jesus being Lord and Savior…but entering into Christ Jesus in a relational aspect. What I mean is this…. He is my life. He is my Lord… yes… but to quote Song of Solomon, chapter 7: 10. I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me.
I see Jesus is a Lover of lovers… for He is God….and God is Love.
When I teach about Sabbath I teach the person it represents, Who is Jesus. I teach how it relates to Christ and how this in turn shapes our relationship with Him. I feel badly for so many who stay in the desert and see this only as a day...but as a friend pointed out...if it is a day to you, serve God as you have faith. I do not condemn anyone with this view but do weep for them as they do miss a deeper richness that is Christ and Christ alone.

Blessed,
iggy