Emancipation Day

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The day the British Empire announced the end of slavery has come and gone 188 times and the descendants of both slavers and slaves seem not to have committed themselves to a realistic new arrangement. The Brits have kept their grip on the lives of the emancipated with the consent of succeeding generations by means of a snail-paced empowerment, leading many of us in the emancipated progeny to utterly reject the French, Canadian, American and British imagination of freedom. The creative spirit and process have provided valuable sustenance for the unfinished journey into a dignified liberation, against the conservative values of yesterday’s greatness.

Making music from steel
Inspiring generations

The British government gave my ancestors neither hoe, cutlass, bucket or land when they proclaimed emancipation. A few brave women and men knew it and have been the inspiration for alternate forms of civic society. People who are just waking up in Barbados and Jamaica to weak-kneed parliamentary democracy are not much of a role model for the generation that will lead Black people into their own just, pluralistic and indigenous communities.

Waiting for others to define our future is a waste of time. It is the reason that Black people are still divided, inspired by the leaders of the same kind of government that enslaved us in the first place. Luminaries of the struggle in North America and in the islands of the Caribbean over more than 40 generations may look like flickering candles in an age when the Holy See travels to Canada to apologize for its role in a horribly immoral colonial enterprise. May the lamps surviving among us change the course of education and empowerment.

Uncomplicated praying

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“Don’t ever put me far from your presence” demonstrates perfect confidence. David is not afraid that God will throw away his own, or rob his child of the guaranted help. There are many reasons to consider that God was not always with all people, but how could the Everywhere-Present GOD be ever far from anyone? The certainty of divine presence and the immanu-el factor is not New Testament theology. It is Biblical. Solomon understood divine presence as he came to dedicate the temple. Adam and Eve, thrust out of their home in Eden, could not he;lp but feel elienated, especially if they were aware of the flaming sword barring their way back. A close look at Saul, the first king of Israel shows that he is quite unlike David. God’s Spirit left him to think his own thoughts, often homicidal and paranoid. David’s prayer in the matter of presence is uncomplicated because he, endowed with divine attitudes and desires – declared to be a person after God’s heart – was not at any time abandoned, even when he grieved ELOHIM with attitudes and behaviours that were homicidal and undoubtedly ungodly.

“μὴ ἀπορρίψῃς με ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιόν σου μὴ ἀντανέλῃς ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ.” (Psalms 51:11, LXX)

The first two words, me aporripses, are to be taken as forbidding an action not yet begin, and so are the 3rd and fourth words from last, me antaneles

Like the  request in the disciples’ prayer – don’t ever lead us into temptation – David in this song requests, in full anticipation, that (a) God keeps him near and (b) that the Spirit [accompanying him since his anointing ] never be taken from him.

Well, glory be to God!

“καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν…” (Matthew 6:13, MorphGNT)

kai me eisenegkes, and do not ever lead

I want us to imagine that the only guarantee of help that believers have as a result of their faith in God’s son could ever be taken away from them. If that HELP was taken would it not be the result of a faithless, empty and uncalled for imagination? He does not ever lead us into temptation because he has no need to test us, as he admits he did Israel in at least two instances and in general (Exodus 16:4, 17:2, 20:20)

He has no need to tempt us; we do that all by ourselves in the exercise of our desires and the host of innate motivations.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. (Mark 7:21-22, NASB)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” (James 1:13-15, NASB)

Prayer ought to be shaped by agreement with what God has said or done. True, God invites us to ask what we wish, but, knowing that God has a detailed plan for every aspect of our lives, why would any child of God risk not listening to the Holy Spirit for what to pray for by asserting his or her own desires? The Holy Spirit, as present in every believer, cannot possibly inspire a prayer that asks for something outside of God’s will and plan. David’s prayer, using a prohibition (a negative command), can only be interpreted as (a) acknowledgement of personal weakness and (b) God’s caring oversight not to expose his servant to such a risk. For crying out loud, did not Adam and Eve, the first untainted humans stumble at temptation? As the Lord Christ reminds us, each day has its own evil. David is neither requesting freedom from temptation nor commanding God’s action in securing the same, but is a profound afrirmation of what he knows to be impossible. In that light there surely are tons of uninformed recitations, intercessions, requests, and petitions posing as prevailing prayer.

Counterpoint sleazy spin

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That trucker convoy was a criminal event you cannot spin it to be just an expression of pride and political dissent. We elect people to Parliament to represent us, and locking down a city with noise and violence and unlawful behavior cannot be spun into righteousness. The book is rightfully being thrown at conservative types who evidently want to turn Canada into the little sister of the damnable GOP-leaning United States.

The boxed God

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Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Deuteronomy 7:9, NASB

This is some serious clique-making! Ynlikely, you think? This sour grapes eating should not affect the children, according to a late proverb, but here we have God keeping covenant and loving kindness for a thousand generations, but with strings. All those succeeding generations have no credit for themselves, but are the beneficiaries because of something an ancestor did. That is utterly opposite to the kingdom of grace and even contrary to the operation of the Sinai covenant itself with its Tabernacle services and atonement. Unlikely and never did happen. 

Never did happen

How do I know?  The Tabernacle stood for thousands of years until the temple was destroyed (2600 and 1950 years ago). If there is a temple service in operation today in 2022 it is the best kept secret of all religious activities. God appears to be rewarding covenant violation, but what is really happening is divine favour and faithfulness to Abraham.

QOTD

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Question of the day

What can “sources close” to the Messiah say to muddy the waters and trample the green grass? (Ezekiel 34:16)

Here are an outrageous few

To set up the answers let me connect the dots of water, the grass, and the “close sources”.  You have likely heard the popular opener for many news items, which instead of feeding the news follower the facts from the subject, the anchor or reporter keeps teasing people with what unnamed “sources close to” who ever have to say.  This introduces us to a host of people spouting “thees” and “thines” while conveniently skipping “doest” and “loveth”.

GOD punishes you but not me for violating the law

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But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? (Romans 2:3, NASB)

Grace makes them obedient to law

The gift of life can turn out to be a mistake

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.  (John 5:21, NASB)

Eternal life is a testing stage like Sinai, and Messiah does more killing than giving life

We have to teach you the doctrines for you to become a child of God

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“…Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven”. (Matthew 18:3, NASB)

Neither kids nor adults need a knowledge base for access to God’s kingdom

A man can’t be God

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The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Luke 5:21, NASB)

Hard-hearted and impenitent things

Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4, NASB)

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And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;” (Acts 21:20, NASB)

To be married to the law is adultery

Muddy water is not good for consumption by beast or man.  Trampled grass loses its nutrient value.  People who need to put their own stamp on what God has said (the water and the grass for his flock) are obviously not sources close to GOD.  They are not even close to his eyewitnesses.  From the start, there was one way into the kingdom,  “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15, NASB)

It is not the Gospel and something else that constitutes the pure life water. It is not Christ and someone else who speaks for God. Sinai streams no good news. Faith’s channel is not debt, but grace. People who have insurmountable problems interpreting a 200 year old constitution have nothing to tell us about the 2000 year plus sayings of the Nazarene.

Ambassador Uhura

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Bright and Shiny, Nichelle Nichols, now in that place reserved, exclusively, for her.

As any respectful Vulcan or Human would expect, this ambassador of excellent inspiration had a long and prosperous life.

From murderer to god

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One of the closing narratives in Luke’s second book shows how opinions drastically change and with little to anchor the mind to the facts. Paul had been a murderer, was on his way to Rome to be tried for crimes alleged by opponents of the Christian church and of Paul in particular. Temporarily stranded on Malta, Paul is the subject of changing islander opinion.

Saved from death at sea: Paul and his fellow travelers are fortunate

“When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.

Acts 28:1-2

Snakebitten: Paul’s a man with whom justice had caught up

But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.”

(Acts 28:3-4

Survivor of snakebite: Paul’s a god

However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Acts 28:5-6

Change is especially good when it concerns the mind in the direction of facts and truth. These islander witnesses to Paul’s shipwreck and venomous snakebite experiences were repeatedly wrong.

QOTD

eejoseph

Question of the day

How does the promise of divine residence eventually get resolved?
[  ] In the Jerusalem temple?
[  ] With Christ in the believer?
[  ] In people going to heaven?
[  ] With God becoming human?

David is the person whose experience best shines light of God being with humans, but before David, there was the sacred tent. The tabernacle, throughout its wilderness journeys , illustrates communication with Moses as a channel for the people. There was reluctance on God’s part to be in the camp. The danger of his presence was made quite clear.

Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25:8, NASB

For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘You are an obstinate people; should I go up in your midst for one moment, I would destroy you. Now therefore, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I shall do with you.’”

Exodus 33:5, NASB

Place for the divine name

You shall sacrifice the Passover to the Lord your God from the flock and the herd, in the place where the Lord chooses to establish His name. (Deuteronomy 16:2, NASB

Where to worship

Israel’s primary festival, commemorating deliverance and election,  was to be observed in a certain place.

But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. (Deuteronomy 12:5, NASB)

Location defined by divine name association

Not only was there place for the divine name but David was possessed by the idea of building a house for the divine name. 

Here is Solomon’s summary of the plan.

You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name. (1 Kings 5:3-5, NASB)

The facts beyond the wood and precious metals

Isaiah got the picture; temple was not the mature version of divine residence. He wrote,

Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?” (Isaiah 66:1, NASB)

The prophetic quest to understand the mystery of God-with-us

Solomon saw the truth; temple was not the mature version of divine residence. He prayed:

Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, let Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David. But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. (2 Chronicles 6:17-18, NASB)

House cannot be a house made with human hands

God not only with but in his people

The Sender of the Holy Spirit clarifies

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17, NASB)

The apostolic conclusions: Paul’s mind

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22, NASB)

The apostolic conclusions: Peter’s mind

And coming to [Ghrist] as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5, NASB)