restore.

Just after I first posted this, I noticed on Yahoo! that today is Earth Day, 2006. I then added an extra sentence or two onto the post. Please appreciate the coincidence as you read - coincidence often being our view of that which is actually sovereignty.

Sometimes, as I am riding in a car, I look at the passing trees and begin to imagine leaves sprouting and growing full as I drive by - their continual fruitfulness restored by the presence of Heaven's ambassador (aka, me). Or, while on a walk, I picture what I must really look like as a new creation - the lifeforce of God splaying from my hands, and shining from my eyes and open smile.

A few years ago, walking up a dirt path in a forest, I kept looking back at where my bare feet had landed on the path - somehow half surprised that green, green grass wasn't sprouting up underneath my feet, and that broken trees I touched weren't healed, or didn't even start worshipping the Lord, at the very least (Isaiah 55:12). Somewhere it's gotten into my mind that God's restorative purposes, which He enacts through sent ones, should be flowing from my life in a way that would seem either radical or superfluous in any context, besides the context of Creator-God Himself. He is the original Miracle-Gro, after all - but much, much better of course.

What will the new earth look like? The new earth is covered in God's glory, and is free from the current bondage to decay, while the old, current earth is simultaneously decaying and rebelling (and increasingly) against the mistreatment it has received at man's hands. This old earth longs to be covered in God's glory and clothed with its Maker, just as we, the redeemed, new nation, each long for the full manifestation of his presence upon us (Romans 8). Decay, unfruitfulness, death and disease are all results of the curse we (humans) have put on this earth through our rebellion against God. Conversely, fullness of growth, abundance, life and healing are results of restoration, as we return to God, working with Him towards the purposes held in Heaven for our future together - where righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit will prevail (Romans 14:17). Trees in Scripture often portray this reality, being rooted in God's presence, always have leaves and always bear fruit (i.e., Revelation 22 and Ezekiel 47).

Since God's redemptive purposes for not only individuals and the church, but also for the earth itself, are so great and reach into every area of life (hearts, nature, business, the arts, architecture, families et cetera) - and God has given us the ministry of reconciliation as vessels of Him and co-laborers with Him - it would encourage each of us greatly to know His purposes that lie behind who we are, what we bring to the world and church, and what we do. What are God's redemptive purposes for all that we do, as we walk, breathe and work on this earth?

Physical healing and restoration of the inner man is one way we see this. What if you designed and built a building, inspired by God, that withstood the shakings that will come on this earth and was used in His established Kingdom? What if your poetry or paintings healed hearts? What if we took care of our resources - not just to save a tree, but because we know how stewardship of the earth moves His heart? This is not environmentalism, though He does love all of Creation; it is about His Glory being revealed.

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
1 Cor. 3:21-23

What does it mean to be heirs? It means creative responsibility, it requires faith working with love, and it means we can join with Him, and see great things happen.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Cor. 13:11

Earth day is a day set apart to let the earth rest. The new day will symbolically coincide with the literal, seventh day of creation - in which God and all of Creation will enter into His rest. Let's meditate on (thoughtfully consider with the eyes of our heart) this reality, dreaming along with Jesus prayer - that our Father's Kingdom would come on this earth as it is in Heaven.

white squall

furitive
approaches
furitive
glances
your furitive approaches
are my furitive glances
Furitive advances,
and we see her, clothed
sitting next to you

white squall
n.
A sudden squall occurring in tropical or subtropical waters, characterized by the absence of a dark cloud and the presence of white-capped waves or broken water.

"Furitive" is not a typo; it is a combination of words.

untitled

(4/13)
I saw four angels
standing at four corners
holding back four winds
that no wind might blow
on earth or sea, or against any tree
the fifth one, with the sun,
came and sealed me.
(4/19)
tabernacle of the living God
set on a hill with a flame on top
burn burn burn
tabernacle of the living flame
carrying the torch of an unsubdued name
still burning, burning
licking the sides of the porch and altar
a tongue of fire
love's desire
comes and seals me.

True Glory

The Glory of God (a tangible, beautiful and earth-changing expression of who He is) is about to return to His Church, and in a way we haven't seen in the United States ever before. He is releasing a move that will boggle our little concepts and ideas of His love for people, and see millions come into living relationship with Him. This will be incredible; for some it will be terrible. A couple weeks ago I had a dream that illustrates this...

In the dream, a friend of mine was weeping intensely on the floor, while everything around her was violently shaking. She cried out, "I didn't know it would come like this!"

The book of Hebrews in the Bible says that the Kingdom of God cannot be shaken, but everything else will be. Anything centered and founded on Jesus the Christ will stand forever and has no chance of ever being lost or taken. However, anything built on our own ambitions, presumption of God's will, or fear will ultimately not last.

To be continued...