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February 17, 2015 · 1:48 pm

Presence of Sanctuary

2015-02-16_589987_63823545 Why is there a fence around a U.S. Embassy or bodyguards around a U.S. Ambassador? One of my favorite biblical and spiritual concepts has to do with the term “Holy Ground”. I think old western movies and old vampire movies portray this concept the best. When adversaries who were trying to kill each other step on to church property or “Holy Ground” they are compelled to suspend those efforts. Automatically a time out and a ceasefire was invoked while in that location. They experienced a sense of sanctuary, where peace has prevailed. While simply standing on “Holy Ground” the experience of living in a transformed reality becomes apparent.

Matt 28:19-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, …

1 Corinthians 15:45 “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

The idea of making available for people a place of safety is the true spiritual idea behind the term Holy Ground. God establishes this concept today as the prevailing authority for humanity through the ministry of His Son, Jesus. God also provides the power to enforce this concept through the ministry of His Holy Spiritual Presence. This spiritual authority and power, which is active and available in the earth realm today, is delegated through Disciples of Jesus. As Disciples once we have been trained, understand and have become familiar with God’s Presence, love and desire of all humans He will release us to perform our duties as ambassadors of His Kingdom.

Today, Disciples of Jesus stand as the last Adam did when He redefined the human job description of being in God’s Presence. In the full authority given to Jesus, we Disciples provide life-giving sustenance to any persons needing it. Since this holy ground is spiritual in nature there are no fences or a particular place in the dust of earth, where holy ground can be located. Like any ambassador, the Kingdom of God is enthroned in the personal presence of the Disciple. In other words, the Kingdom of God is “within” the person and not outside at some GPS location.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Like ambassadors, Disciples of Jesus are trained in the legalities of the spiritual realm and especially in the rules and concepts that govern God’s Spiritual Kingdom. Rescue, sanctuary, ransom and safety are concepts of our Fathers Kingdom. When humans realize the treacherous and precarious ground of sinking sand that they have built, their lives upon they, like me, will run with all abandonment to the only place of safety. That is, into the Kingdom where ambassadors wait with open arms and non-judgmental attitudes representing the grace and mercy of God.

Today, more than ever God’s Kingdom is in need of the next generation of ambassadors. Our world population is moving rapidly toward a population of 7.5 billion people. Also true is that the majority of people on earth have not experienced the true Kingdom of God as a sanctuary from the world system. Even more true is that the majority of people in the world are only beginning to understand the dangerous implications of the world system. The sanctuary of peace, health and prosperity of God’s Kingdom is available for all humans. This is why we need true Disciples of Jesus to work as Kingdom ambassadors.

Matt 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Luke 10:8-11 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’

It is my encouragement and hope that more humans will take up the call to become true Disciples of Jesus. Sometimes and unintentionally, the Christian religion stands as gatekeepers preventing people from entering the Kingdom. It has never been God’s intention for Christianity to be an exclusive club. It is also my opinion, that there are too many cases where discipleship programs have become a recruiting tools for religious human kingdoms.

Being lost implies that people are blind to the facts that God loves all humans equally and that sanctuary form the material world is available to all. The world system really has to be offering fun and riches to keep people away from taking up an offer of safety. While that may be true in America most humans live on less than $5 a day. However, what most humans are hearing from religious Christianity is that unless you hold a certain cultural passport or are willing to give up everything the Presence of God is not available to you.

We as Disciples must use our authority from God and present the truth of God’s love for all. Many are reaching death before they have heard and many disciples are saying that is not an excuse if you failed to hear or make that choice before death. Many religious stand in the false comfort that I have chosen well so everyone should have been able to do the same.

Only our Father’s Presence can generate the love that creates the Holy Ground of sanctuary. Too many are obsessed with the geographical borders of Israel and miss the spiritual meaning of the concept of Holy Ground. In the Presence of God, there is fullness of Joy. Inside each Disciple of Jesus is the fullness of God’s Presence. Therefore, it is also true that wherever we set our foot is Holy Ground and sanctuary for any human is there where we stand. We must understand that when a person or creature comes into our space they are on Holy Ground.

We must ask God and continually check ourselves so we do not act as religious gatekeepers holding up a standard that is keeping people out of His Kingdom. We are Disciples, ambassadors and children of God, ushering in the people of the world into the only true place of safety and peace known as the Kingdom of God’s love.

I did not directly answer my original question.  So comment if you think you know the answer. Why is there a fence around a U.S. Embassy or bodyguards around a U.S. Ambassador?

Luke 6:40  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

Galatians 4:1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

Matthew 25:31-40 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

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January 19, 2015 · 12:37 pm

Eyewitness To Creation

2015-01-20_376721_6842A popular idea of our times is the concept of living in the now. What we observe, perceive, through our five senses is our reality. Our worldview is a function of our memory of past events and concepts and beliefs we have of future possibilities. Our current grasp of reality is constantly changing and yet we are able to create a reality that gives our life meaning and stability.

A new and emerging global society is appearing as our reality and many are beginning to question what the source of this reality is. Those who believe that thoughts influence reality are idealist and participate with universities, think tanks, political parties, and other intellectual institutions. Those that hold beliefs that material objects shape reality are realist and participate in the science endeavors, multinational corporations, and military institutions.

Rev 22:2-3 (NKJV) In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse,…

Matthew 21:18-20 (NLT) In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. 20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

John 3:12-14 (NKJV) If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Is there another way to shape the reality in which we live? In the world where poverty and disease influence the lives of us all, is it possible for heaven to come to the earth and remain? Is there a possibility to achieve a reality where all 7.3 billion of us humans could experience unlimited resources? Is there an experience where we are all walking in the reality that we are daughters and sons of our Father in heaven?

As a Disciple of Jesus, it is obvious that Jesus experiences life in another reality even while He walked this earth as a human. In order to bring heaven to the earth we must first experience heaven. The number one goal of our experience as His disciples is to taste heaven.  This is the reason that people known to be blind since birth received sight when they encountered a Son of God. When a party runs out of wine, when children are possessed and not in their right mind, when people with all kinds of disease and even people that appeared to be dead, they all need the experienced of Heaven’s reality.

Gen 1:2-4 (NKJV) The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good;…

John 5:19-20 (NKJV)  Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

It is my understanding that we are most like our Father in heaven when we can look into the chaos of lives dressed in earthly flesh and see the light of spiritual reality unfolding as it becomes the new material reality. The process of creation is an ongoing part of the eternal now and is designed to allow sons and daughters of God to imagine its new configuration.

My hope and encouragement is that we develop the awareness of, our human potential, our relationship with God and our responsibility to His Kingdom. An heir, that never takes his or her throne will miss some of the greatest experiences during their life on earth. To hold beliefs that that our spiritual destiny is relegated to a life after we die and leave the earth is the traditional interpretation of scripture. However, God our Father has made it clear through the demonstrations of Jesus our brother, that we all have the potential for a greater relationship with God.

Overcoming the world has more to do with, our understanding and perception of reality. Traditional interpretation of scripture is always based on the light of understanding that was present at the moment the tradition was created. Likewise, we must read and interpret Scripture with the understanding that is present to us today. We must live today in our current daylight. Each generation has an opportunity to stand on the shoulders of the previous generation, to help humanity move closer to the reality of heaven as Jesus beheld it. Also, each generation must be given the next the freedom to use its spiritual tools to explore a deeper understanding of Jesus’s reality of heaven on earth.

The spiritual evolution of humanity is an ever-present process of eternal expansion. To give in to the pressures of perceiving reality only through the filter of the original apostles, or 16th century church, or even the view of our recent brothers and sister of the last one-hundred years is a missed opportunity, from my humble point of view. We were born for a day such as this. Our great grandchildren will be born for their day. We can learn from those of the past, but we should not be bound to their perception of reality, except for Jesus, who’s view of heaven is pure.

So while it is day, let us witness and participate with our Father in heaven, in the creation of heaven on earth. As disciples, we must learn to see and work with God in the same manner that Jesus did. We follow His pattern alone and not that of Moses or Paul. There is only one name under heaven that we have committed our lives too.

John 1:6-18 (NLT)  God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

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January 10, 2015 · 2:02 pm

Equality of Presence

2015-01-10_1288835_84823660An organizational hierarchy can be a valuable asset. An increase in efficiency of the labor output as well as being a vehicle for quick and thorough communication, are just two of the benefits of hierarchy. However, as a member of institutions, we have all experience what happens when the overhead functions of any organizational structure begin to consume more of the energy and resources that were originally identified for the individual members of the organization.

Psalm 24:9-10 (NKJV) Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory

John 15:1, 9-15 (NLT) “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. … 9I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

God, as Trinity and God as Kingdom, values above all else, the maximization of each person in His human family. At the beginning of scripture, we see in the creation story the Trinity of God, each part, being one with the whole, in unity and manifesting the fullness of all existence. It is my belief that every human is invited to participate as a joint heir in the ongoing operation of creation by becoming a member partner with each member of the Trinity in this dance of unity with the Holy. Scripture acknowledges humans as ancient gates and everlasting doors through which the spirit and life of God are communicated to all of creation.

As a Christian, I interpret love to mean, to prefer others before myself. As a fan of Star Trek we find Spock’s quote that “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” a good piece of philosophy. However, I know that only the Kingdom of God is set up to maximize the potential of every individual person. Therefore, only in that type of hierarchical relationship is the sacrifice of the individual a benefit for the whole. When the reverse is true of hierarchy, individual sacrifice is merely a pawn for the good of the collective hierarchy, not for all of ones friends.

In my opinion, no other organization has the maximization of every individual human as its goal. It is also my experience that the sub-institutions of religion; like marriage, family, and spiritual community, are very often corrupted by one member of the relationship for their personal gain above the greater gain of every individual in the relationship. Non-religious organizations operating on a local, state and federal level, as well as the capitalistic and socialistic business models, very rarely state the maximization of every individual as their primary goal.

Therefore, the function of organizational hierarchy is mostly about the maintenance of the organization and the pursuit of its stated goals. In John chapter 15 where scripture talks about the interconnectivity of a branch and vine, it is referring to means by which life, love, and truth are transferred to each individual. In other words, the presence of God’s Spirit is experienced within the Trinity and Kingdom of God. More to the point is that this experience is instantaneously realized in the life of every human that is consciously connected as members of God’s Family and Kingdom.

The Spirit of Christ arises to remove the veil of ignorance that says the Presence of God’s Spirit is separate from the individual. Under Old Testament law and tradition, God’s Presence was organizationally revealed to only be embodied in the office holders of the Prophet, Priest and King of Israel. Many of today’s religious traditions reaffirm that only positions of hierarchy indicate God’s invisible Presence in someone’s life. Heaven on earth is simply that place where we understand and recognize God’s life, love, authority and truth as it freely manifests and operates.

 Galatians 3:27-28 (NLT) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:15-19 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

Galatians 4:1-3 (NLT) Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles[a] of this world.

Today there is dawning within the consciousness of humanity that is recognizing the equality of God Presence in all humans. Traditionally, we humans made judgments based on the use of our eyes, ears and other material senses as detectors for the spiritual Presence of God. However, through a more enlightened interpretation of scripture our faith is beginning to understand what science is confirming. That we are more interconnected and the world is less hard-wired by materialistic objects that we traditionally understood.

Quantum Science and Faith practices have a lot in common. They both understand that any attempt to observe the truth and make sense of the expressions in this material world is directly affected by the consciousness of the observer. Also true, is that judgments, concerning things that can’t be observed with the human senses is not something that can be done by using tools and techniques constructed with our material senses.

However, the revealing of God’s possibilities as depicted and interpreted through scripture can enlighten consciousness of the human observer to these invisible relationships. Also, bringing to light, material evidence of the invisible relationships that affect this material world can be consciously understood by everyone in humanity.

Luke 20:1-8 (NKJV)  Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” 3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” 5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV) By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3 (NLT) By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

My encouragement is that each human finds the freedom and confidence to see and hear the spiritual realities that govern all things in this material realm. Especially, if we consider ourself a Disciple of Jesus, I encourage us to focus on how Jesus is able to demonstrate the reality of God’s realm or God’s Kingdom. My hope is that people will rely less on tradition and become open to perceive the very nature of God’s invisible Presence. It is available to all humans, despite what we currently consider as common sense or believe to be traditional religious or scientific truths.

To start, I suggest we learn to recognize life and the beauty of it in every piece of creation. Assume that everything, that exist, is alive and has a purpose. Embrace life in all its multiplicity of forms and prefer relationships of love over relationships of fear. Finally seek a deeper understanding of our personal relationship with all that exist. With that, let’s begin to see if we can recognize an equality of God Presence in the existence of everything.

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers  Luke 20:9-15 (NLT)  Now Jesus turned to the people again and told them this story: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and moved to another country to live for several years. 10 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers attacked the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 11 So the owner sent another servant, but they also insulted him, beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 A third man was sent, and they wounded him and chased him away. 13 “‘What will I do?’ the owner asked himself. ‘I know! I’ll send my cherished son. Surely they will respect him.’14 “But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 15 So they dragged him out of the vineyard and murdered him.

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