You can Knock Forever on a Deaf Man's Door

You can knock forever on a deaf man's door!
Kazantzakis.
What are you not listening to that you probably should listen to. Not all words are profitable, but the words moved by the holy spirit are profitable to preserving our lives.

Good vs Evil

A good script has one blind good guy, who limps and stutters versus 1,000 Samurais Hell Bent on the Hero's Soul Destruction.
- Gregorio Roth formed in part in the Study by Paul Miller (Person of Jesus)

Tremendous things have been done by second choice men.
- William Barclay

Galations 4:16

16 Have I then become your enemy by z telling you the truth? [1]

[1] 4:16 Or by dealing truthfully with you

Boundaries Help

Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
b but a just weight is his delight.

Losing your creative edge, then go back to the basics. Go back to what works. Limiting ones posts to a set of words, helps one find ones voice. So stretch out then go back, stretch out go back, stretch out go back, continual renewal of your voice. I hope everyone is having a good Wednesday.

Hungry Goats Attack the Apostles

"They have turned the world inside out, they disturb our peace, Rome will hate us more." Religious Leaders.

"Come and fetch us out. They are ravenous goats eating up our Widows Children, the homeless man's bench, shattering our shalom." Paul

The Apostles stood amongst the hungry goats, awaiting the time, ready for action.

49 AD: Dogs out Of Rome

An ode written about feelings about leaving Rome in 49 AD. all Jews and Christians had to leave Rome due to a decree by Claudius.

Sepulchers and tombs, old memorials.
Leave Rome
Undisturbed in pepetuity, we
Leave Rome.

We respecting our Holy God;
in triumph
No one disturbs Rome's Decree.
We Leave Rome

Some of the Language for the poems inspiration was an inscription found in Nazareth written before 44 AD.

Scripture Cited:
Matthew 28:12;
Acts 24:5; 18:2; 17:6

Timeline:
49 AD: Expulsion from Rome by Roman Authority
48-49 AD: Writing of Galatians
51 AD: writing of I Thessalonians
51-52 AD: writing of II Thessalonians
53-55 AD: At Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20)

1. Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (268-278)
2. Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982. (41-52)
3. Campbell, Joseph Primitive Mythology: The Masks of God New York, N.Y.; 1959. (229-281)
3. Illustration: Marvel Comics

35-48 AD: A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AD AGAINST SAUL OF TAURUS

The Apostle Paul the Early Years
A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AD AGAINST SAUL OF TAURUS endorsed by the EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
"Borderline Psycho Path Rampaging Zealot..."
That's what friends of the Early Church are saying about Saul of Taurus. And some of our brothers want to speak to him?
Last weekend, Saul of Taurus, agreed to attack Christians, so that he could maintain the purity of the Jewish Faith. He has always stated, "The New should Go, so the Old can Stay."

The fact is: He was there... He was there the record shows that He was there when our brother Steven was stoned to death.
Something just does not add up?
Cat out of the bag Mr Saul of Taurus.
Why would we even make an attempt to talk to him after all his Zealous activities? Barnabas, Peter, Ananias, and James the Just must have fallen on their heads to suggest we continue to talk to Paul. We the brethren of the early christian Church just do not see why we are thinking about discussing our future with Mr. Saul of Taurus. We have worked tirelessly to protect our fellows in these fragile early days.
"Borderline psychopath..."

"Doesn't add up...."

"Cat out of the bag"

"He was there ... the record shows... "

Does Saul of Taurus sound like someone you want to discuss a future with?
We don't care that he has changed?
There must be a mighty wind to change a man Mr. Saul of Taurus ....
or is that Paul... same person different names.... what is he attempting to cover up....
what type of change?
Simple Truth of Antioch states, "Stoner, stoner, stoner, stoner, No Way, stoner, stoner, stoner."

Going Deeper:
Deuteronomy 27:26 21:23
Acts 22:3
I Cor. 15:9
Gal 1:14
Philipians 1:21 3:6 3:12
Romans 10:4

Resources:
Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (234-246)

Pre 1 AD - 37 AD: The Hellenist

One problem in religion is a belief that you have an exclusive claim on God. Religious faithful often believe that outsiders do not share the access they share with God. People in religion tend to think that their is a zero sum game with God. These people fear that if God inherits others than there will be no room for us at the table. Often outsiders are pushed out beyond the entrance to the temple. This was a question that boiled between the Hellenist Jews and the Israelite in the growing pains of Early Christian Church.

Christianity would have taken a different shape had their not been the divine providence to disperse Jews through out the Mediterranean World. These Jews were different than the ones who stayed in Jerusalem. Hellenistic Jews were more likely to think Globally due to their dealings in North Africa, Greece, Rome, and parts of Asia. Hellenistic Jews were more inclusive then their brethren in Jerusalem.

Another issue that separated the Hellenistic Jews from the Israelite Jews was language. Hellenist were more likely to speak Greek. Israelites held firm to the sacredness of their language.

Saul of Taurus/Paul was influenced by this Hellenistic global reality. In Acts 21:27-22:2 Saul almost sat off a riot. The Israelites were angered due to their thinking that Saul was a turncoat who was walking with a known Greek thinker. The people feared that Saul would pollute the temple by bringing a non believer, a non Hebrew speaker, into the shrine. The Israelite were stonewalled in their views. They desired a holy pureness from any influence of OTHERS.

Acts 21:27-22:2 from the Message

Some Jews:
Help! You Israelite! This is the man who is going all over the world telling lies against us and our religion and this place. He's even brought Greeks in her and defiled the Holy Place."

Standing on the barracks steps, Paul turned and held his arms up. A hush fell over the crowd as Paul began to speak. He spoke in Hebrew.

"My dear brothers and fathers, listen carefully to what I have to say before you jump to conclusions about me. " When they heard him speaking Hebrew, they grew even quieter. No one wanted to miss a word of this.

Written while listening to the Podcast:
APM Sound Opinions
Books Referenced:
Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972.
Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982.
Latourette, Kenneth Scott Christianity Through the Ages: New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1965.
Peterson, Eugene H. The Message Colorado Springs Colorado: Navpress, 1993.

Prayer: YHVH you are most knowledgeable. Your knowledge goes beyond language, color, place and human culture. Your truth stands forever-lasting. Your Truth will be there even when we are not. I have plenty of prejudices which hinder me from being a light in the wilderness. Thank you LORD for loving me despite my ugly prejudices. Thank you for sending your spirit to guide me through the wilderness of mass information. I ask that you keep my arrogance from feeling superior to the Israelite, for we all have prejudices. I ask that you help me listen to others without the need to jump to conclusions. I ask that you help me slow down and truly listen to my brothers and sisters of all whom I am or am not found of. In your name we pray. Amen.

30 AD: The Full Pascal Moon Lit the Other Side of the Jordan

In the Light of a Pascal Moon

The Pascal Moon lit the other side of the Jordan. The red hills were witness to a fateful day, when we put the King of the Jews up onto a piece of wood.

Almighty God Ungirded him,
eager to mount the Gallows,
Unafraid in the sight of many:
He would set free mankind.
I shook when His arms embraced me
but I durst not bow to the ground,
Stand fast I must.

Say you want a Revolution:
Revolutions often happen in the Rural Areas first. Revolutions then grow in strength and attack the Urban Center. Not this revolution. This revolution attacked the fortification first and quickly surrendered. Jesus was surprised when he saw the armed strength of the Roman Band. He replied, "Did you think you were coming to overpower a bandit?" He gently surrendered.

Was this a human movement?
Jesus left no written record. He had chosen twelve men to be witness of the day. These were ordinary men, not necessarily leaders who could make a movement happen. In fact scripture says in Matthew 11 "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and violent take it by force." He was telling his men that to bring the Kingdom to the people one can not use force. Humanistic force harms the Kingdom of Heaven.

Who were his men?
One of these twelve men betrayed him with a kiss. One of the twelve named the Rock (who would later be a significant part of church growth) had betrayed him three times in the course of a night.

What was the mission:
None of his twelve chosen men immediately understood the full light of The Mission. The mission was later defined.

Lasting Impression:
How did a simple movement, in a far off land, one prone to human failure, grow to effect me today in a far off non existent land?

Written while listening to the Podcast:
Groove Electric
Books Referenced:

Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, New York: Anchor Books, 1972.
Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982.
Latourette, Kenneth Scott Christianity Through the Ages: New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1965.
Davie, Donald ed. The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1981.

30 AD: Ieus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorun: King of the Jews

What does it mean to be a religion where our God has been humiliated?

What is the cross?

Why does it matter to us today?

Why does the Cross need to remain pure?

Why won't deodorant take away the odoriferous smell off the cross?

Cicero warned, "Let the very name of the cross be far, not only from the body of a Roman citizen, but even from his thoughts, his eyes, his ears."

This weekend someone stole our two Church signs. These were signs were very important to the community of Redeemer Presbyterian Lakeland. They represented the desire of our community to reach out to those who may need some fellowship. The signs were put up in Love by our church. Our group loves the 863; and we do not make any type of indictment on the 863.

We don't believe in forcing our message down the guts of non believers. We do not try to market God to unbelievers. We believe our role is to witness to the Glory of God. We see this as telling others what Christ has meant for us.

But the Cross does smell! Humanity us humans, are responsible in the death of our Messiah and our God in flesh.

So why would someone steal our signs? How do we explain the anger towards the concept of Church?

How do we combat the human evil the human church has been part of for ever?

How do we show love when Christianity is an Exclusive Truth in a time of Relative Truths?

These are questions our Church and other Churches are working to answer. In the mean time we desire to bring our yearnings of peace and love, and our desire to dialogue in truth with others.

Shelley Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Book Publishers, 1982.

373 AD: Compromise: We don't Need No Stinkin Compromise Purity of the Cross

God is in the purity of the cross, the purity of the word.

1 Timothy 4:1 The spirit clearly says that in later times some would abondon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

373 Roman Empire: God never compromises to the will of man. He is the type of Coach that never punts for a better position on the field. He is a coach of miracles so he will always go for it on 4th down.

Athanasius knew that toleration of doctrine that looks similar but is not taints the purity of the Cross. Athanasius knew that the Arieans based their hope on Toleration. The state of Rome hoped to maintain peace through a compromise. They did not see what the big deal was; "Why can't y'all just get along." Constantius hoped to build a compromise between the Arians and the Athanasiusians.

Constantius compromise was to build a new vocabulary of toleration. He coined the term homoiousion(of similar substance) to replace homoousion (Same substance).

Athanasius stood against this idea of "similar substance". He did not see that this replacement helped the Christian Cause. He also did not like being told by the state government what Church should or should not accept. And if the Son is the "Word" and "Wisdom" of God, how was there a time when He was not? It is the same as if they should say that God was once without Word and Without Wisdom?"

If we tolerate what is not written in the bible, what is not the WORD of GOD, than we transgress the kingdom. Witness's do not add anything to the event but truthfully tell what they saw.

Latourette, Kenneth Scott Christianity Through the Ages Harper Chapel Books, New York: 1965.

Tradition, Tradition: From the Sermons of Meister Eckhart

"The past can be a resource for the present."

Alister Mc Grath

Meister Eckhart in 1300 fell into disfavor with Rome because of his preaching. The following is a part of a sermon. The sermon shows the Protestant thinking about the holy scripture, the believer and the church. Enjoy-

I have a capacity in my soul for taking in God entirely. I am as sure as I live that nothing is so near to me as God. God is nearer to me than I am to myself; my existence depends on the nearness and presence of God.

In whichever soul God's Kingdom appeareth, and which knoweth God's Kingdom, that soul needeth no human preaching or instruction; it is taught from within and assured of eternal life.

As for outward works they are ordained for this purpose that the outward man may be directed to God. But the inner work, the work of God in the soul is the chief matter; when a man finds this within himself, he can let go externals. No law is give to the righteous, becuase he fulfills the law inwardly.

Who is Polycorps 863

Pagan. Jew. Wanderer of information overload.

I am proud of my Jewish upbringing. I hope those that read this blog understand that I am not against Judaism in any way. I attempt to look at the Cross from a variety of angles. I plan to use my blog as a space to write: poetry, drama, prose, and all sorts of 'any-space-what-ever."

All I know is that the LORD has providence in my life: I would never be the Christian Deli Clerk Living in Florida, loving greatly my Community. My wife. And my home. I would never be writing everyday on my blog.

I got my teaching degree for Elementary Education from Metro State College of Denver. I was so determined to be a teacher that I failed to look. I failed to pay attention to warning signs. I pushed really hard with my own energy. I taught for three years in Denver and one year in Florida. I ended up at my own end.

My own end shattered my reality. I started to see how broken I was. I realized I was a Monkey that Threw Pooh, a Muddy Monkey. I realized that I was wearing a sh#*t T-SHIRT. I was at a place where I could be at the feet of my LORD.

(Marriage)

I met Jessica, my wife, in my teaching position here in Florida. She stood with me when I was at my worst. Her Art classroom was an oasis of creativity. She has loved me greatly.
We got married in Maui Hawaii, March 22, 2007. It was the most wonderful moment. The dolphins, fishermen, and blue waters radiated the blinding light of God.
The Holy Spirit is working great things in my life: I am enjoying my writing on the blog and find that it has emerged. I look forward to writing on it for years to come. I am glad for any feedback. I also know that I do not have all my theology down, so any input is greatly welcomed. I look forward to hearing from you. For now I say Shalom Alechiem from the Swampy Confines of Lakeland Florida.