What does it mean to abide in him?

As God's first born children left Egypt, the Egyptians were moved by the spirit of God to give them Gold,  and Jewels, and precious things. The Chosen's hearts became inflamed.  So instead of worshiping God, they turned towards a New God: the Golden Calf.  Working with their newly acquired Gold they attempted to supplant God with a God they could see and worship in their newly formed.  They deemed the Golden Calf more worthy than a God they could not envision.

 Jesus received a blessing of anointment from his father when John baptized him in the Jordan.  Jesus was tempted right afterwards for forty days in the desert by the Devil.  But instead of creating food from stone, or throwing himself off of the top of the temple, or claiming what was already his; he abide in the LORD.
Jesus walked under the shadow of God to illustrate God's enduring Love: love that does not change,  lasts forever, and  provides enough to eat when times are tough.

We are chosen to be stewards of a kingdom that is not yet complete but has already been redeemed.  We must turn to the LORD and repent for a Heavenly Kingdom is near.

Requesting to be a God (Rock Me Amadeus)

"I would offer up secretley the proudest prayer a boy could think of. "Lord, make me a great composer! Let me celebrate your glory through your music and be celebrated myself! Make me famous through the world, dear God! Make me immortal! After I die let people speak my name forever with love for what I wrote! In return I vow I will give you my chastity, my industry, my deepest humility, every hour of my life. And I will help my fellow man all I can. Amen and Amen!" Peter Shaffer's Play Amadeus.

Paul's Aeropetica Speech.

The whisperers gathered at dawn, awaiting the event. A small troubled man stood in front of them, on a stony windswept mount.

He cleared his throat and spoke, "To an unknown God. Good News, he brought me to the banquet house.... and his banner over me is Love."

Whispering worshipers awoke, and walked away quietly.

Prayer: (Prayer Starter: Exodus 3:4-5)
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the Bush, "Moses, Moses! And he said, "Here I am." Then God said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

I. Lord's Supper - Oh, Holy Wonderbread!!!!! On Communion and Brotherhood

The sun was setting, aspen trees were still green; the aspens were about to turn into a blaze of fire.

We drove our Dodge Neon carefully, about fifteen miles per hour, up the Mountain Pass. We knew that it was time to get going. If we did not go over the pass by 8 pm we would be stuck in Aspen Colorado. A place for the uber-rich, not for hicks like us.

The deer came out, as we navigated up the mountain pass. . We captured the deer in our throw away cameras and discussed the Christian Communion:
"Some people are strange?"
"You got that right."
"Christ in a piece of bread,
"Divine honors, Oh Holy Piece of Bread!"
"Oh, holy wine!"
"Yeah, I could use a beer, just about now."
"Milwaukee's Best, things don't get better than this."
"I love you man!"
"I love you too, but you aint getting my Bud Light."

Scripture:
John 6
I Corinthians 11
Col 1:15-20

Letham, Robert The Lord's Supper Eternal Word in Broken Bread Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2001.

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

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.