Musings of a peripatetic wannabe-sage: 07.08

KINGDOM PROCLAIMING FROM START TO FINISH

Task commanded:
testify.

Content clear:
Kingdom of God
and Name of Jesus.

Location specified:
wherever you are.

Audience named:
whomever will listen.

Context clarified:
whatever circumstance.

From beginning to end:
Proclaim the Kingdom.

He [Jesus] presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (1:3)

He [Paul] lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (28:30-31)

Tag(s):

"new testament"

poetry

acts of the apostles

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Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.esv.org/

WHAT I DID ON SUMMER VACATION

Enjoyed amazing, hand-crafted ice cream sandwiches

Built a water diversion on the back slope

Created a level space for the hammock

Helped paint the garden gate

Installed a shade on the porch

Photo-captured a Raccoon

Lived in terror of evil beetles

Took close-ups of house features

Captured a horizon to horizon rainbow

Captured a beautiful cloud-sun creation

Watched fireworks from the porch

Snapped some sweet pea flowers

Watched ants

Good times had by all.

Arrowhead July 2008 Flickr set

Tag(s): get a tag

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THIS IS GOSPEL...redeemed

Revelation 5

‘You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;
10you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God,
and they will reign on earth.’
Revelation 5:9-10 NRSV

This One,
the reality
to whom the shadows pointed,
this slaughtered One,
like the spotless lambs,
under whose blood
Israel escaped
and became a people,
this worthy One,
is the One
under whose blood
we escape
and become a people.

Tag(s):

"new testament"

poetry

revelation

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UNEVEN PARTNERSHIP

Reflections on TFB's July 27, 2008 Sunday sermon.

God's loyal love, John 3:16-17
Our response of love, Luke 14:25-27
The Spirit's advocacy and truth-revealing, John 14:15-17

Uneven partnership,
but partnership nonetheless:
God's certain and passionate
loyal love
and
our uncertain, changing
response of love.

This is discipleship:
shoulder to shoulder,
with God heartwork,
from the Father,
in the Son,
by the Spirit,
and,
amazingly,
with us.

Tag(s):

sermon

spiritual formation

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“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

FOODPAIRING--cauliflower and oyster

0729 update: buckwheat tea specified

Key ingredients: cauliflower and oyster

Caramelized onion, sweet white corn, caraway ground with kosher salt, black tea marinated smoked oyster, and black tea and caraway marinated oven roasted orange cauliflower served over Buckwheat cooked with brewed Lapsang Souchong, a beautiful smoked black tea. FEEDBACK: what it lacked in beauty, it made up for in taste, which was huge.
Broccoli Rabe steamed with caraway and Assam black tea FEEDBACK:texture was off; the steaming made it tough. Next time, dry pan saute.
Chopped honeydew melon in lemon syrup FEEDBACK:good, but could have been more lemony.
Strawberries and Manila Mango in lemon, Assam, and caraway syrup excellent.
Black tea infused yogurt as a topping for the fruit FEEDBACK:should have pulverized the tea into dust; it was chunky.

Tag(s):

foodpairing

cooking

recipes

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BEWARE THE REJECTERS

Jude 11-13

Woe to them!

Scorners of
the deepest lover;
rejecters,
contaminating the weak ones,
deserving only of judgment.

Beware,
deeply loved and loving ones,
beware:
teachers teach truth
with whole soul.

Facts alone are bullet points.

Tag(s):

"new testament"

poetry

jude

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“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

LECTIO DIVINA--getting the Word in

his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night
Psalm 1

A couple of weeks ago, I was encouraged by some reading to restart a daily practice of Lectio Divina (see also). The practice has been going well and I have begun to notice some fruit--though such things take time to appear (months/years).

For those who may be unfamiliar with Lectio Divina (or for those curious about my particular take), here is my normal practice (which I've adapted from the more traditional method described at Valyermo).

Lectio: I slowly read the passage, looking for clues to meaning and intent. Sometimes, this is more devotional and other times it is more intellectual.

Meditatio: I think through the passage, looking for God's intent.

Oratio: I pray whatever has come to mind in lectio and meditatio. This usually takes the form of confession, though sometimes request.

Contemplatio: I sit in silence, allowing the text and prayer to rest in my mind. [Hint: I find it helpful to listen intently to my environment; this restrains the mind from its normal wandering.]

---
Write: Immediately after the contemplatio, I write a splat poem. During the contemplatio, the first line usually comes to mind. The rest of the poem usually just happens. I find these poems help me process the passage and remember more accurately its message.

Tag(s):

lectio divina

sacred reading

meditation

devotional

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“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

GOD CHOOSES

Jude 11
Numbers 16

Woe to them! For they ... perished in Korah’s rebellion.

God chooses.
His ways.
His words.
His workers.

Remember Korah,
lest we become too familiar
and presume.

God chooses.

Tag(s):

"new testament"

poetry

THE IRONY SCREAMS

Jude 11
Numbers 22

Woe to them! For they ...abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error

External obedience,
internal?
who knows,
but apparently not.

Some piece of Balaam's heart,
blinded,
drawn away.

And Yahweh
pounds his word
through a donkey
into the prophet.

The irony screams.

Tag(s):

"new testament"

poetry

THEY TRAVELED THE WAY OF CAIN

Jude 11
Genesis 4:1-16

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain...

One decision,
firmly made,
can shape a life for good or ill.

So Cain,
with broken expectations
and angry, downcast face,
trusts his own way
despite warnings,
receiving just payment,
though tempered with mercy.

Even so,
the way set,
he walks away
and lives in Wandering.

====================
Elsewhere on the web...

Let Me Not Wander is thinking through Jude.

Tag(s):

"new testament"

poetry

jude

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Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.esv.org/

NOT INACTIVE AND NOT UNFRUITFUL

2 Peter 1:8

For these things existing in you and greatly abounding cause you to be not inactive and not unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Master Jesus Anointed One.
(1:8, my translation)

When it comes down to it,
it's about who you know.
God's gracious nepotism,
yes, indeed.

Life without seeds of death
is knowing him.
Life of doing and being
is knowing him.

Knowing him,
the source.
Doing and being his ways,
the conduit.
Doing and being the knowledge of him,
the result.

Our whole selves
to his whole self:
this is life.

Tag(s):

"2 peter"

"new testament"

poetry

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Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.esv.org/

THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE

John

Purpose woven throughout:
know,
so that you continue to trust.

Trust the Word,
this One,
this Anointed One,
given.

Trust this One:
Creator,
Light,
Life.

Know this Word.
Trust this One.

Live.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31

=============
additional John splat, written because I forgot about the first one.

THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE

Infleshment set large,
humility's glory,
stooping to clean
dusty, sandalled feet.

Very God of Very God,
Speaker of Creation,
here revealed
in crafted story
that you may believe.

Tag(s):

gospel of john

"new testament"

BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER

Reflections on TFB's July 20, 2008 Sunday sermon.

Yesterday, Pastor Jay, teaching in 1 Samuel 14, challenged us to act as heroes. He reminded us, via Acts 1:8, that we as followers of Jesus are equipped to act.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Written before the giving of the Holy Spirit at Shavuot, this passage promises to the gathered disciples what we now experience as reality: the Holy Spirit provides us with the ability to act (see the definition of dunamis, here translated "power"). There is no valid excuse for lack of action, for we are equipped. Further, we have insight into the way things are and how we ought to respond (John 16:13). The things that hinder us, that keep us silent and immobile, are shadows under which we foolishly cower.

We know who we are and whose we are. Let us act.

"Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few."
1 Samuel 14:6

Tag(s):

sermon

old testament

heroism

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Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.esv.org/

A MAP FOR THE CULINARY PLAYGROUND

Updated 7/26 with week's feedback

Foodpairing is one of my new favorite sites. This week, I've used their charts for bell pepper and banana to plan my work breakfasts and lunches. On the menu are

Turnip, papaya, plum, and blueberry puree flavored with a bit of star anise, seasoned with kosher salt and a bit of sugar--FEEDBACK: this was a bit too watery and a tad bland (odd, given the ingredients)
Cannellini beans with roasted red and yellow bell peppers, papaya, and plum, seasoned with a bit of gray salt--FEEDBACK: this was amazing; the only thing I'd change is maybe--maybe--a bit more salt
Fruit salad with fig, cherry tomato, and blueberry with a touch of sugar to release the juice and a chopped banana mixed in at the last minute--FEEDBACK: just slightly under amazing; I think it would have been better if the tomatoes had been roasted

Someone with a trained palate would have a field day. Not being trained, I'm sure some of my attempts will be...um...marginal. But I'm very willing to give it a whirl.

Here's part of the explanation from their About page:

A list was made of 250 food products each with their major flavour components. By comparing the flavour of each food product eg strawberry with the rest of the food and their flavours, new combinations like strawberry with peas can be made. The way to use is, is just to select a food product like strawberries. You will get a plot where you have strawberry in the middle surrounded by other food products. Take one of those other food products and try to make a new recipe by combining those two. The more flavours food products have in common the shorter the distance between the food products.

Tag(s):

foodpairing

cooking

recipes

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