tmi for murph

Posted: June 11, 2013 in Between the lines, God and Time, Truth and Grace
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TMIJesus, the disciples and Murphy (the non-disciple) are sittingt on saw horses during a short break. They’re knocking back Gaterades.

Murphy: I like working with you, Jesus.

Jesus: I like working with you, too, Murph.

Bartholomew: Me, too. But sometimes I think carpentry work is a real waste of your talents and after all, we have a revolution at hand if you are going to really be the Messiah.

Jesus (rolling his eyes): Bart, I keep telling you, I’m gonna die and rise again to redeem the world.

Bart: Well, let’s go on the attack, you can’t die, you’re the Son of God, man. What’s with stalling? You mean we are going to take a few setbacks before we can claim victory?

Jesus: We’re not talking “setbacks,” we’re talking death. I’m going to die and come back – nothing will change around here but your hearts and your perspective on what “Messiah” means.

Murphy: Hmmm. Die? How’s that necessary?

Jesus: My Father thinks it is and I think so, too. Whatever I see him doing, that’s what I do. He’s sacrificing everything, so, so am I.

Bart: I guess we still have a lot to learn before you become Messiah, huh?

Jesus: Actually, not so much. You’ve been following me long enough to know what I do. That’s it.

Peter: Yeah, but what about all the other stuff – policies, government, dealing with traitors, armies, Rome, reworking the Temple, baptizing, healing and…well, you know, the list of things is huge. I think about this stuff all the time.

Murphy: Not me. You mean we have to know all that? All I know is Jesus and you guys and how to frame a house – if you guys help me.

Jesus: Peter, guys, you worry to much about everything. You don’t need to worry about anything and you don’t need to be afraid of anything as long as you follow me. Fear flows from lack of faith. You don’t need to understand all that stuff, you only need to live here and now as I do. I’m not worried about the past or the future. It’s in God’s hands and we can trust him completely.

Murphy: Thank goodness. I’m glad you don’t have to be smart or full of information to follow you. I get completely lost in trying to figure everything out.

Jesus: If you understood everything, you’d be God. TMI on a lot of levels.

Murphy: Yeah, total TMI – way too much information – I can’t handle it all, and even if I could, I’m content doing what we’re doing, like this, building a house.

Jesus: Murph, what you need, you have.

Peter: What’d'ya mean?

Jesus: You’re set. Forgiven, accepted, redeemed and delivered. All that’s left to do is love others and live out the paradoxes of the Kingdom – you know, first, last, sacrifice, service, poverty, wealth in the spirit, meekness, humility – keep the tension between truth and grace – what we’re doing now is what you should do later.

Peter: Sure, but we have to keep all the rules, go to synagogue – you know – earn our keep.

Jesus (shaking his head): Earn your keep?

Peter: Well, yeah.

Jesus: Well, no. All you have to do is live my love now. Now. If you love others now, the past will be good and the future will be better. You can get too caught up in the details if you aren’t careful. Don’t over think it.

Murphy: Good call, Jesus. Let’s get back to work. We can probably finish this up this week if we quit talking, theorizing, planning, and junk.

–

Tr8: Live NOW as Jesus would, in the Spirit’s love, and the rest will take care of itself. You have what you need.

in the beginning, there was cluelessness

Posted: May 29, 2013 in Between the lines, Fractured Bible stories, Truth and Grace
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revolutionariesJohn and Andrew are leaving the post office. They had just picked up a package for John’s mother — a carrot peeler from K-Tel.

John: I talked with James and Peter. I think we can force Jesus’ hand.

Andrew: You mean, you think he’ll come out as Messiah if we put him in the right situation?

John: Yeah. Peter has no doubt Jesus IS the Messiah. We all think so. He’s fulfilled all the prophecies and we’ve seen him heal, calm the water, feed thousands and speak with absolute authority.

Andrew: If there was ever a king, it’s him. You can tell by the way he handles himself. Nothing — NOTHING – seems to ruffle him, except the Temple guys. He gets ticked off about their legalism. They need to realize a few eggs have to be broken to make a new Jerusalem.

John: Straight up. I know a servant of one of the chief priests. Judas and I are trying to get Jesus and the leaders to bury the hatchet and rally the people. Every time it looks like we’re ready to go, Jesus splits us up with his preaching.

Andrew: Right. We have to stop fighting among ourselves if we every hope to defeat the Romans.

John: We’ve gotta get Jesus to ramp up and clarify the call. More will follow him if he’ll go ahead and make the call clearer.

Andrew: Peter asked Jesus to meet us at the MacDonalds on the square. He’s gotten Judas to gather some of the synagogue guys and Simon’s rounded up his former group of freedom fighters. One of Matthew’s friends in Roman security says the Romans are going to do a “bow to Caesar or die” traffic stop next to Micky-Ds near the fountain. And we plan to have Jesus there.

John: That’s bound to work. Jesus won’t bow to Caesar. No way.

Andrew: Yeah, no way.

They turn the corner and almost trip over Jesus feet. He’s sitting at the corner with Murphy, the non-disciple.

Jesus: Hey, guys! Figured you’d be along. Did’y'get the carrot peeler for Salome?

John (looking at Andrew): Uh, yeah. Right here.

Andrew: Yeah, hey, Jesus. Murphy.

Jesus: Have a seat. Let’s talk.

John and Andrew: Sure.

Jesus: Andrew, who do you say I am?

Andrew: Why, I agree with Peter, you are the Messiah. The Son of God. Our liberator.

Jesus: Hmmm. What if I asked you to die for me?

Andrew: Lord, we were just talking about that! I’d die for you — and — we have tons of friends and others who will follow you all the way to Jerusalem or even Rome.

John: Master! We want to see your kingdom soon! PLEASE! We and others are ready to die for the cause.

Jesus: My kingdom IS here, RIGHT here. With me, you ARE in The Kingdom.

John: We know that, Jesus. We just want to expand your kingdom. It’s time!

Andrew: Yeah, it’s time!

Jesus (smiling sadly while shaking his head): You guys follow me. You listen. You serve. You even heal. Yet, you don’t see.

John: Don’t see what? Tell me! We see you are the King of Kings! Let’s move it to the next level.

Jesus: John, the next level is down.

John: What?

Jesus: Yeah, the next level is downward. The Son of Man came to minister, not be ministered unto. As Isaiah said, I’m a  suffering servant-king. We shall establish God’s kingdom on earth, but we make war by surrendering. I, the Son of Man, the Chosen One, the Messiah, shall reign in the fulness of love and truth.

John: Exactly! Let’s get down, then. Hooo-yaaaah! You are Lord!

Andrew: Right on, Jesus!

Jesus (gazing at both): Love you guys, but really…when I say ‘kingdom,’ it doesn’t mean what you think it means. The war you anticipate? It’s over. It’s won. Bury the swords, join hands, dance and love one another. You, too, or two, are sons of God, and though it doesn’t yet appear so, you shall be like me. So, be like me.

John: So, we’ll see you MacDonalds this evening?

Jesus (sighing; he and Murphy rise): We’ll see. Murphy and I are going up in the mountains to pray for a while.

John looks at Andrew and frowns.

==

Tr8: Don’t force Jesus’ hand, relax and let him do what he’s doing.

(Based on John 6:15)

the sermon on the mound – love is fearless

Posted: May 9, 2013 in Between the lines, Convergence, God and Time, Truth and Grace
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fear-loveJesus waves his disciples in at the baseball diamond in Capernaum’s city park. Jesus’ team was shut-out by Peter’s team.  Peter’s team comes out of the dugout celebrating.

Jesus (sitting on the mound): Some of you think the opposite of love is hate, but the opposite of love is fear, worry and doubt.

Judas (excited): So, it’s okay if we hate our enemies, after all?

Jesus (popping Judas with the ball): Really? No. The thing is, God is love – the Father and I are one – what he is, I am – which is love – right here and now. You’ve been playing ball with God on a couple of levels – with me, with us in you, and in our park, which is God, too. We all come together in unconditional love. No fear here.

Peter: Jesus, now that you mention it, and this is crazy, but I never worry about being acceptable anymore. Your unconditional love zaps worry and fear.

Jesus: I’ve noticed how you’ve loosened up. We have so much more fun now that you aren’t obsessed with yourself. That’s the way God’s love works. It dispels doubts and fears – totally. You are my disciples, so you know and abide in my love and know no fear. This will serve you well in the future. We are inseparable.

Thomas: I know you love me, Jesus, but what if…

Jesus: …you don’t measure up? Worry wart.  You are not unworthy. I have decided this for eternity. Quit thinking about it. Act in light of your redemption, not your sin. This is going to sound too ‘new age’ and cosmic, but here it is: In the final reel, God is what is and is not and when time ends nothing is wasted and we win. Everything has a purpose and a place under the sun. Your hope, peace, joy and grace is to see God in your situation. In every situation God bestows graciously.

Simon: Yes, I remember how Murphy nearly broke his neck when he fell off the scaffolding – only to discover how truly blessed he was.

Jesus: Just so. Paradoxes: first is last, life is death, to get is to give, to meek is strong, to keep is to let go, to thirst is to be filled, to lose is to win, to submit is to persevere and to love is to not fear. Of those, not fearing appears to be the hardest thing for you guys. Listen! There is no fear in me. I have your back. Totally. You are absolutely free to be me. The Kingdom of God is here – in us – timelessly.

Thomas (hands to his head): Lord, help my unbelief!

Jesus (tenderly): Aw, Thomas! You try to carry the world on your own shoulders. Let it go. I, we, have it. Together. Trust me. You have no problems I can’t fix. I have you unconditionally. The power that is in me is also in you, but fear and worry will do it’s best to defeat your love.

Thomas: I get so afraid sometimes – everything from big stuff like death or establishing your throne or getting blisters from these new Nike sandals.  It’s like I’m programmed to doubt and worry.

Jesus: Thomas, ‘The Fall’ started doubt, misgivings and fear. Eve’s error was, ‘I fear I may be missing something.’ I am redeeming the world from fear. I have come that you might have life – without worry – free and abundant. Follow my way – I AM the way to get past fear – be in me, be me. Consider the lilies and the sparrows. You and I really are one. We are joint heirs, children of the Father, you are in him as I am. The difference is, I know it, you don’t – yet.

James: What about the Pharisees?

Jesus: Good question. The Pharisees don’t bother me so much because they are wrong, but because they are fear mongers. All sorts of evil and meanness comes from fear.  Solomon was right, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ –  but not the end. The end of wisdom is love. We all discover God’s love in our fear. Once in the Father’s love, fear is dismissed. That’s faith. The Pharisees are not only mean and fearful, they cause others to doubt their acceptance before God. Fear is hell. Purveyors of fear will die in their fear unless they come into the Father’s love. It’s the light and darkness thing – how sad to choose to live in darkness!

Peter: Blessed are you, Jesus, and us, too.

Jesus: Yep, I’m blessed. Go and do likewise. Make disciples.

–

Tr8: Cast fear aside and walk confidently in love.

 

your kingdom skin is too tight

Posted: April 24, 2013 in Between the lines, Convergence, God and Time
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wetsuitJesus: Okay guys, let’s review. What do I preach?

Simon: You preach what John did, ‘Repent! The Kingdom of God is near!’

John: You preach in stories about stuff that doesn’t immediately make sense, like, lost sheep, pearls, sons and buried investments.

James: Your best one was on the mount, about the beatitudes and relating to others in your kingdom.

Nate: You’ve talked about going to prepare a place for us.

Bart: You’ve talked a lot about persecution and bearing our burdens.

Matthew: You’ve said your kingdom is here, BUT you’ve also said it’s not of this world, it’s mysteriously within and sometimes without. Love, grace, mercy and peace are found in the kingdom but they’re only visible through our actions.

Judas: ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’

Murphy (the non-disciple): You preach like your kingdom is right here, but it’s clearly not, but it is. It’s invisible It’s also opposite.

Jesus: Opposite?

Murphy: Yeah, great is small, leading is serving, death is life, meek is strong, humility is confidence, getting is giving, rich is poor, love enemies, forgive, forgive, forgive…it goes on and on like this. In your kingdom you are like a servant. The Kingdom is not like this world, but it all fits within and without.

Thomas (holding up his hand): But your Kingdom isn’t for the Pharisees, or rich, or powerful.

Jesus: It is difficult for the proud and powerful to enter the kingdom — ‘lords’ aren’t very good at serving — they don’t get the paradoxes Murphy mentioned. Truth is, you have to die so I can begin to live through you and reconstruct your life in the kingdom. You become someone new — in the kingdom you become complete.

John: The great thing about the kingdom is that it is always close at hand — it really is NEAR — especially when things go bad. It’s like a doorway to peace in the middle of hell.

Jesus: You guys are on top of it. When I say my the kingdom is near, that’s exactly what I mean. You can live in it any moment you choose, take up your cross and come on in. Thing is, you can step back out — on this planet, living in the kingdom is a choice. Here’s what I see, you guys are in the kingdom, but you sometimes wear it too tightly. It’s like skin, but the kingdom is supposed to be so big it draws others in. Think like a big bubble others can enter, too. Join each other in the kingdom, don’t stand alone.

John: I see what you mean. We’re standing around right now in a bunch of tiny, individual bubbles lookin’ at the kingdom within  when we should be one big bubble — pushing the kingdom outward.

Jesus: Wanna know how to join all the bubbles?

Disciples: Yeah.

Jesus (grabbing a pail of water and a towel; winking at Murhpy): Let me wash your feet.

–

Tr8: Live in the kingdom. Experience the unseen.

jesus scores shutout

Posted: April 19, 2013 in Between the lines, Convergence, Truth and Grace
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shutoutThe Disciples are standing outside the car wash while the van is going through. Andrew is cutting up, talking about opening a “baptizing car wash.”  Jesus is amused and the rest of the group is laughing (except Judas, who has gone off for a smoke). They walk to the end of the conveyor and wait for the van. As they stand waiting, a drier/detailer with a deformed hand approaches.

Detailer (holding out his arm): Sir, if you want, you can heal me.

Jesus (reaching out and taking the extended arm): I want to. Your sins are forgiven (immediately the man’s arm is straightened and whole).

Disciples: (clapping and whistling)

Detailer gets a high-five from Jesus and goes back to work.

Jesus: You know, you guys can do this more often, right?

Peter: I’ve tried, but it doesn’t always work, but when it does –WOW!

Jesus: You have to get your shutout time.

James: Shutout time?

Jesus: Yeah. Shutout time is critically important in relating to the Father and focusing his will in the lives of others and yourself.

John: Is there a formula for shutout time?

Jesus: Yes and no. It depends upon the relationship you develop with the Father. You notice that I disappear on a lot of nights and sometimes for a day or two?

Andrew: Sure. We know not to mess with you when you get that look and head out. I followed you once and you just sat on the ground in the dark for a couple of hours.

Jesus: Here’s how to do shutout time: Get away from everything —  all the noise, interruptions and distractions. Quit thinking about stuff — past, present or future — and open yourself completely to the Father. Quit talking to yourself. Wait for him to speak. Reflect upon being like me.

Peter: So, when I healed the leper outside the market the other day it was because of the shutout time I had the day before?

Jesus: There’s a connection between the time you spend with God and the degree to which the Holy Spirit can work through you. ALL of you will do things similar to what I do. The key will be for you to do as I do. To love as I love. To discern the path of the Father’s power as I do. I came so you can have a CLOSE, PERSONAL relationship with God. I am the way, the truth and the life — no one can know the Father apart from me. A dynamic relationship comes from intimate communion with God, in me.

–

Tr8: Find shutout time.

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