~ emerging thought in Montana ~

Just wanted to share a cute story about my son.

My wife was taking him to the Doctor today and the parking lot was full... My wife said a quick little prayer, " Jesus, help us find a close parking spot." As she needed to get Fischer and Ciana both in the build and the other parking spots were across the street.

As they came around the corner my wife saw a truck beginning to back up, and stated to Fischer and Ciana, "look Jesus has a parking spot for us!"

Fischer, stated, "Jesus has a parking spot for us?"

TES (my wife) said, "Yes.", as she pulled in...

Fischer stated, "Thank you Jesus."

TES then said, "Jesus is saying thank you, back."

Fischer smiled his broad smile and stated..."THANK YOU JESUS."

I know that there are huge atrocities out there, and people everyday pray and seem to get no answers... yet I know that God answers all prayers, according to His good and perfect will. In that things to us might not make sense... but I believe even in the hardest of things, God has a parking spot for us.

Be blessed,

iggy

Distinguishing between Jacob and Esau by A.W. Tozer

Ingrid Schlueter of Slice of Laodicea and Hope in Laodicea (both a bit ironic of names if you understand what happened biblically to Laodicea) has been often on rants against "contemplation" and "meditation" in which the emerging church has "latched" onto. Now, this is not the same as some Hindu practice... nor is it a derivative of it, though some practice a version of Yoga in which they focus on God and scripture and prayer...

Now the thing is that amazed me is that Ingrid in all her rants often turns to the Puritans for inspiration and either never really read this PDF form or missed what the writer stated... in a way it is not that far from something Doug Padgitt or Brian McLaren have stated. Here is the quote that caught my eye... I have added the bold to emphasize the part that Ingrid missed

"We rightly criticize those who engage in transcendental meditation and other mindrelaxing exercises because these practices are connected with false religions, such asBuddhism and Hinduism, and have nothing to do with Scripture. Such forms of meditation focus on emptying the mind to become detached from the world and to merge with the so-called Cosmic Mind, not to attach to, listen to, and to be active for a living,personal God. Yet, we can learn from such people the importance of quiet reflection and prolonged meditation." (PDF FILE)

So now it seems that IF Ingrid approves of a "form" of prayer it is fine, but if the emerging church practices it, it is worldly and of Satan...

I guess the Truth is that some see that some would rather exchange Jesus' righteousness for their own righteousness and judge others by themselves as the high standard... yet then turn around and practice and teach what they also judge others for doing.

Romans 2: 1-5
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. "

So is Ingrid now the new "emerging guru"?

Be Blessed,
iggy

Matthew 16:24.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. KJV

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. NKJV

Now I am not even going to even talk about which version is better... as I think they still state clearly the same thing.

Jesus states that a man has a will and can come after Him... there is not much difference in saying "If anyone desires" as a desire is out of a man's will...

In other versions still the idea is conveyed... such as the NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Yet, it seems that though some teach that man has no "free will" Jesus taught that man can choose Him. Now, be careful not to take me as saying man has a part in their own salvation as that IS of God and God alone... the point is that the Father draws a person ( John 6:44. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.) Yet, still man must make that decision to follow after Jesus.

In that decision, one must realize that as Jesus stated one must then die to self to be able to follow Him. With that free will is exchanged for God's will through Jesus Christ.

Romans 6: 5-14 is rich with this teaching of being dying with Christ on the Cross and now where our Life comes from.

"If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."

Now as one who died with Jesus and as Paul stated, "because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." we know a dead person no longer "sins" so we also find Life at the Resurrected Life of Jesus.

Now, we all will sin... we all will fail as we still live in the "mortal body" Yet, we are no longer slaves to this "mortal body" for if one is in Christ, the sin in us has been judged and put to death, and we Live now "in Chirst" by the power of the Resurrection. We have exchanged our "sin and death" that reigned in our mortal body and not Christ Jesus reigns in us and gives us His very Life...

Jesus is the only "immortal" (1 Timothy 6:16) and by Jesus we will one day exchange "the mortal with immortality". (1 Cor 15:53)


God is good, for He draws a person to Jesus in whom we choose to follow... there is no doubt be one Calvinist or Ariminian that one still must "believe and receive" (Philippians 1:29; 1 Tim 1:16; John 3:16-17; Matt 10:40; John 1:12; John 20:22)
so that is not the debate... at least I would hope. (note: I re-read and noticed a bit of fuzz in that sentence so yes it is edited)... For a person can only freely love another if they are free to choose to do so. If they are not given a choice then how can a man love freely... God freely chooses to give grace to WHO he chooses... in that act of Love, man can and must respond to it... but without the ability to freely choose... it is not pure Love.

Be Blessed,
iggy

The other day I heard Slice of Laodicea was once again no more. Ingrid apparently lost her site for some reason and tells us she still has hope in her private little Laodicea. Though she promised it to be a kinder gentler place, she took no time in getting back to her regular scheduled swipe against others so much for a new improved quite place.

Now, Ingrid is who she is and in that she is accountable to God for her actions and words and in that I am not complaining... I am just letting you know what is going on since I have written here about Slice before. If you need a bit of Old Slice you can get the general idea of how Ingrid would "correct" and try to restore others here.

So, does complaining really change things. I mean some have pointed out that by the standards of Ingrid and those other watchdoggies, that this would be divine intervention as God just did not like or want Slice around... I mean God is sovereign.

Interestingly, Jesus warned Laodicea to get hot or cold or He would spew them out... and Jesus did. There is not much left of the Biblical City or Church of Laodicea... so how ironic that no matter how one Slices Laodicea, it seems that the story still plays out.

So today for my Tozer devotional (Ken Silva's favorite and oft quoted mystic)... (which is really very good!) I know this is something everyone struggles with... (not just Ingrid and Ken) I know I do also. So enjoy!

Be Blessed,
iggy

The Next Chapter after the Last
Chapter # Four
Complaining: A Disease of the Soul


The Illogic of Complaining

Among those sins most exquisitely fitted to injure the soul and destroy the testimony, few can equal the sin of complaining. Yet the habit is so widespread that we hardly notice it among us. The complaining heart never lacks for occasion. It can always find reason enough to be unhappy. The object of its censure may be almost anything: the weather, the church, the difficulties of the way, other Christians or even God Himself. A complaining Christian puts himself in a position morally untenable. The simple logic of his professed discipleship is against him with an unanswerable argument. Its reasoning runs like this: First, he is a Christian because he chose to be. There are no conscripts in the army of God. He is, therefore, in the awkward position of complaining against the very conditions he brought himself into by his own free choice. Secondly, he can quit any time he desires. No Christian wears a chain on his leg. Yet he still continues on, grumbling as he goes, and for such conduct he has no defense.


Prayer
Deliver me from complaining, Lord. Rather, teach me to praise You and thank You for the opportunities to grow.

Scripture
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.
— Philippians 2:14-15

Thought
The cause for complaint is often a God-given opportunity for growth and praise. What at first appear to be thorns may prove to be divine prods that move us closer to God.

In all honesty though it is rare, when I find someone who reads this blog I get a bit "worried"... now I know most people read me and may not comment... some do comment and say nice things... yet some say some pretty nasty things... yet...

Sometimes those who mean to "get" me do say something that I think is what I need to hear.

Today though I met a person who has been a reader for sometime. The funny thing is she and her husband have not commented... though they do read on occasion.

I think that much of her story matched ours... TES and me that is. It seems she was pregnant at the same times TES was... and that they moved a bit... much as our story.

Now the weird part... they know Dan Carter... as they are either friends with or related to Miss Sara's (who is now Mrs. Sara Carter) mother... (I think I have that right.)

But there is more!!!!

She also knew Levi and Bethany Fuson... who knew a couple from Wyoming who knew pastor Alan Hodges who pastors Vineyard Church here in Billings.

Now... this is there it gets interesting...

Scott and Tracy (the couple who I am referring to... though I only talked to Tracy) began reading my blog and were thinking about joining me when I was doing Word of Mouth Fellowship... which I gave up to join in the Vineyard Church plant we are currently with... they had attended the former Vineyard... and when they saw TES and I were then going to Vineyard they have joined us there.

So, one Sunday... TES was talking to Tracy and Tracy suddenly stated... "Oh! You are iggy's wife!" (And yes it was meant as a good thing! LOL!)

Now, it was fun to hear Tracy's perspective as she told me which posts she liked the most and how she prayed for me when some began to attack me on personal levels with their attack blogs.

It is a good feeling that some of you are out there... praying and are enjoying my crazy journey.

I confess I am not always the best example... I try to be good... really... yet it seems I am still human and in need of a saviour.

Now, the purpose was and has always been to tell the story of my journey of faith in this postmodern world. I will not change that. I think though that some that are being used of Satan have distracted me from my true calling. I am not saying I will not stand up for truth, yet I do hope and ask you who read to pray that I can focus more on the calling God has on me and my family. I hope that I can focus more on teaching and encouragement and less on this pseudo "war" that some have declared on "truth"...

I have had a very interesting day... not all "good"... but still in all the "stuff" I have been hit with lately... I see God's Hand in all and see that He is in charge and is so good to me.

Blessings,
iggy

The fourth step of this ladder of love is that whereby there is caused in the soul an habitual suffering because of the Beloved, yet without weariness. For, as Saint Augustine says, love makes all things that are great, grievous and burdensome to be almost naught. From this step the Bride was speaking when, desiring to attain to the last step, she said to the Spouse: ’set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love—that is, the act and work of love—is strong as death, and emulation and importunity last as long as hell. The spirit here has so much strength that it has subjected the flesh and takes as little account of it as does the tree of one of its leaves. In no way does the soul here seek its own consolation or pleasure, either in God, or in aught else, nor does it desire or seek to pray to God for favours, for it sees clearly that it has already received enough of these, and all its anxiety is set upon the manner wherein it will be able to do something that is pleasing to God and to render Him some service such as He merits and in return for what it has received from Him, although it be greatly to its cost. The soul says in its heart and spirit: Ah, my God and Lord! How many are there that go to seek in Thee their own consolation and pleasure, and desire Thee to grant them favours and gifts; but those who long to do Thee pleasure and to give Thee something at their cost, setting their own interests last, are very few. The failure, my God, is not in Thy unwillingness to grant us new favours, but in our neglect to use those that we have received in Thy service alone, in order to constrain Thee to grant them to us continually. Exceeding lofty is this step of love; for, as the soul goes ever after God with love so true, imbued with the spirit of suffering for His sake, His Majesty oftentimes and quite habitually grants it joy, and visits it sweetly and delectably in the spirit; for the boundless love of Christ, the Word, cannot suffer the afflictions of His lover without succouring him. This He affirmed through Jeremias, saying: ‘I have remembered thee, pitying thy youth and tenderness, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness. Speaking spiritually, this denotes the detachment which the soul now has interiorly from every creature, so that it rests not and nowhere finds quietness. This fourth step enkindles the soul and makes it to burn in such desire for God that it causes it to mount to the fifth, which is that which follows.

Book Review: God Touches (finding faith in the cracks and spaces of my life) By Dan Gilliam

I have been getting to know Dan Gilliam over the last couple of years. I was privileged to be one of those who had a chance to read the book as he wrote it... and even more to be able to read the finished product.

Dan Gilliam is a poet, songwriter, painter, speaker, and now author. He has been in the ministry for many years... and has had many struggles. Dan is open and genuine as he talks of his trials and misadventures and struggles in his life such as having to step down from ministering over an addiction to alcohol... all to find God in the cracks and spaces of his life. It is an encouraging read as he finds his Life is in Christ Jesus.

Each chapter is set up with an opening quote that gives a bit of heads up as to what the chapter will be about. With that, each chapter is set up so it can be used as a devotional, or for contemplation. I see within these pages and Dan's struggles a person who was found by God and now seeks to bask in His Glory. There are some very practical things taught and some things that may stretch a few out of their comfort zone. To me that is a good thing as if one is not stretched, then one is not growing. Some of the more interesting thoughts are in his reflections on Rich Mullins. Yet, through all the chapters, there is a positive message of hope to all, that Jesus is there even when we do not see Him at work... He is what holds this crack vessel together. I recommend the book for just reading, or even doing small groups around especially if one is involved in a 12 step program. The chapters on the Big Quite are the biggest challnge to me as I tend to live loud and large.

Blessings,

iggy

In my life I have at times I have gone through some dark periods… Sometimes these are self afflicted as I am not even trying to listen to the Master’s voice. I have for some reason always heard… yet unlike many who say they do not I hear, but I wish to not listen.

I often wonder at this… for as some teach I am to hear this inner voice less, yet the times I fall farther it often moves from a soft whisper to the desperate cry of one who sees a beloved child walk into traffic without a clue to its dangers…

I guess that is me at times… clueless… and set in purpose to be one who chooses to stop the voice… yet… even at the farthest reaches I found, that though the voice is al but silent… I know that there is a home… a Father Who though I be a soul that wanders too far knows he is loved…

I was very young when my father died. Around the age of two as I have been told. I do not remember the man who was my father; I am told he loved me. Somewhere though as I grew older, I lost what that meant… or felt like. I knew my mother loved me…. As mothers do and are supposed to… which is a great gift, especially if one never has known the love of a mother…

I once was lamenting of not knowing my father…and that I felt a bit put out… My friend looked at me and stated, “I think it is better to not know a father, than to have a father you know who beats you every night.”

This shook me.

You see, I had heard something of a different Father. Someone told me He would be a Father to the Fatherless… and for some reason I wanted that… more than anything… I desired to have that Father that I lost… to be able to know that there was someone who would be there, give me wisdom, teach me how to ride my bike, and if it break fix it… someone who would teach me to when to fight and when to stand… teach me how to thread a worm on a hook… and somehow, I learned all that… mostly by trial an error, yet always knowing that there was someone… this “Father” somewhere out there watching over me.

My family was not religious… or maybe that is what they were… religious… It was private and we just did not talk about it. We would go to church on Easter, Christmas, and… funerals and weddings… (if they happened at churches..) and an occasional baptism which I don’t remember ever going to… maybe I was outside playing or I never actually went to one until I was baptized as a teen… Though my mother assured me at that time I had already been baptized sufficiently and almost took it as I was saying she did not do a good job… I was too young what did I know… even now… what do I still know?

This Father haunted me… ever there. Never there. A phantom like in those comics like Ghost Rider… I felt secure and yet… not.

I decided that the voice was not real. This calling out was tiresome to one who has no idea who or what it is about. I started to medicate and seek “true love”. I wanted a girlfriend… someone to stand by me fight for me and love me even if I was totally wrong… I was young… what did I know of love… at fourteen I deemed myself unlovable and tried to kill myself by taking as many aspirin as I could… I stopped counting at 20… went downstairs laid on the guest bed, drank a beer and did not expect to wake up…

I never understood why I did not go to my room… maybe for fear they would not find me in my room… the guest bed was not in a bedroom but in an open room…

I woke up and heard my mother yelling that it was time for school… I rose and staggered to the stairs and yelled something… like… “I donth fleel soth goodt”. I felt like my entire body was on Novocain… I went back to bed and slept.

That was not the miracle... For the people who die of overdoes on aspirin die from liver failure from it trying to remove all of the drug. I was supposed to die about two days later… boom, drop on the floor… (That is what I was told later…)

Yet, that morning I had my first revelation… This Someone out there… this voice… it/He, whatever, had a purpose for me. I would from that day be on that search to find that purpose…

Mind you I had heard of Jesus at a bible camp… but as of yet, did not make a connection… Yet, God in Him mercy, introduced me to Him… I can only say at my younger age, I was chaos incarnate… and when I met Jesus, that storm began to calm… at times it still rages… I focus on the waves and curse Jesus for sleeping as the waves flood over the boat… I am rebuked… not in anger, but in His firmness and kindness as He will call me on my lack of faith, yet still calm that storm…

Life is strange… I found a Father through Jesus… I found a brother who tells me of my family…

My family is not religious anymore… we have found Love… and for some reason… religion seems to not stay around genuine love… it finds it curious and dangerous… Religion is like a boarding school. There is discipline and authority… and obedience is demanded… Fear is what fills the heart.

I am reminded of the words of 1 John 4: 18 – 19 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us.

As I walk in the Love the Father has lavished on me, I find I have been adopted into His family… I do not know all He is… nor all I will be, yet I do know that I will be like Him for I am now His son…