What we were asking ourselves was why a few were so enthralled with rehearsing the failures of others. They constantly bring up the past errors and missteps of others.
My intuition told me it’s about hand washing… the allusion I’ve already alluded to.
It’s my own inadequacy and failure that drives me to rehearse the failure of others.
What is the alternative?
Acceptance of myself, humility.
Humility can be defined as a correct self assessment. Therefore God himself is humble… He is the almighty God! He knows it!
But what of actually guilt? What does your faith and/or belief system do for your own guilt? If you have the compulsion to wash your hands… maybe you need to reassess things?
But Brene Brown in “Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice” talks about the angst of not having fulfilled one’s calling. The older one gets… the greater the need to justify – in one’s heart and mind – what one has or hasn’t done!
In a mutiny at sea, the crew decides to override the rule of the captain, by taking away his authority by force. There’s just one captain, he’s outnumbered before he even gets started!
The mutineers must face the fact that they can never again go to their home port; by rising up against the captain, they are rising up against the King.
Even out there on the ocean, so far away from home, there will inevitably be those who are loyal to the crown, who will either end up dead or in the dingy as it is set adrift alongside their captain.
“Are you for us or against us?”
That will be their call to the crew!
This whole all came to mind as I wrote out Genesis 37’s account of Joseph and his brothers. Reuben in this case tried to save his brother, but they worked outside of his influence. The lie was employed to keep the father in the dark about it.
I had an opportunity, not too long ago, to be on the ship with the mutineers, but I chose instead to be set adrift with the one who was being abandoned. All I had to do was HATE the one they hated, and I’d be in with them and the rest of the crew. And I can’t take credit. I wasn’t even tempted in my heart. I would love, and continue to love this one that they were abandoning.
You still want more, right? Who is it? Well, I have 3 brothers and a sister. One brother’s life situation hit the lowest one can go. He was homeless, addicted to a prescription drug, and suffering life altering side effects from that drug. The side effects led to the loss of his livelihood, he’d already lost his wife and child. He was in South Korea when all this happened. His ex-wife being a good lady, put him on a plane for Canada on April 15, 2023. My oldest brother and I picked him up from the airport.
I didn’t know what we would do. But I knew one of the options was NOT “too bad for you, work out your own problems.”
Yet, another of my brothers, and his wife, while on a call seeking their prayers and support, told me to leave him to the result of his choices. The picture they drew for me was looking out the window of a warm house, with him out in the snow, soon to die of exposure. He got himself to where he was. Let him die there, or live there, but leave it up to him. I couldn’t do that. Not too long after this, they cut themselves off from all of us. They had already abandoned our oldest brother whose life had also fallen apart a couple of years previously, but we his family here, didn’t give up on him, and he’s doing well now.
This one who came on April 15. Its a long story, with many details. But eventually his medications were altered, and the one he’d become addicted to was removed from his regimen. The side effects went away. They had been a voice tremor, and hand tremor. He had been a voice actor in Korea. And he could no longer use his voice.
But his writing is also vital to who he is. He has journaled all his life. And the hand tremors made his hand writing completely illegible. Add to this a life long technology challenge. His use of computers is very limited. So using one to write isn’t the right tool. But the physical act of writing is irreplaceable.
But this brother’s physical, natural world progress isn’t so much my concern, as the eternal one. He is a dear, sweet soul. And I owe much of who I am to this brother, as well as my other 4 siblings. I am the little brother.
Solsbury Hill is a song that moves my heart. If you click on that title there, it’ll take you to the song lyrics.
Born in Calgary, Alberta > moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba when I was 6 years old > moved to BC when I was 24> moved around from place to place until I find myself here… but am I home?
No.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
Do you have an inner longing to be somewhere else? Tell me about it…
WalkingDownVimy@gmail.com
I would like to offer an idea for your consideration.
That inner longing is for the peace that comes from knowing… what?
But just now I realized that Jesus did nothing about her departure.
Hey miss, you forgot your water jar!
Why are you leaving?
Where are you going?
Jesus had something else going on. The disciples arrived from their trip to the town. He didn’t answer questions they didn’t ask.
Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
Sometimes Jesus confronted those with him about their thoughts, but not this time.
God doesn’t have to explain himself.
But let’s get back to that water jar…
Personally, when I’ve had an encounter of significance, I want to be involved in the follow up. I’ve had business cards made up! I hand them out! And then they never follow up!
But Jesus let em go.
But in Peter’s case…
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Today a Christian brother told me (exhorted me) to do three things …
Play your guitar, and worship the Lord with your wife and son in your home.
Don’t stop writing.
Go to John 4, and sit beside him as he speaks with the woman at the well, he has something to teach you.
Here’s a start>
Jesus Walked from spotlight, over to where his Father was leading him.
He was resting, waiting for his food, expecting it to come from his disciples, interacted with the woman that came midday to draw water from the well.
Listening to the Holy Spirit, speaking truth…
He knew who he was, and who she was, waited for the right time.
Spoke poetically and directly.
Led to others coming…
My food is to do the will of him who sent me…
Father promoted and declared him:
He knew her marital past, and declared it to her.
She recognized him partially… I can see you are a prophet… and she pursued the answer for a question or two… he answered…
But he also lead the conversation… as in he directed it, guided it to a gospel central one… for plain speaking he did some harvesting! Jesus knew where he and she were in the sewing and reaping process… and aggressively 🤔
27-30 At this point his disciples arrived, and were surprised to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked, “What do you want?” or “What are you talking to her about?” So the woman left her water-pot behind and went into the town and began to say to the people, “Come out and see the man who told me everything I’ve ever done! Can this be ‘Christ’?” So they left the town and started to come to Jesus.
John 4:27-30 JB Phillips
They were interrupted and she ran away? Jesus didn’t pursue… he taught his disciples the points they missed.
When she returned with “the town” He welcomed her fellow citizens, and he spent time with them, and revealed himself to them.
That brother was Vahid.
“Shortly after Vahid and Behnaz left, Laurence, Cheryl and Ashton went out for dinner. They found themselves at their favourite restaurant, and the familiar faces of the staff. While waiting for their meal, Laurence made notes about John 4, according to the directions of Vahid.
They all had a chat now and then with Kris, their waiter.
Before leaving, Laurence followed the Holy Spirit’s lead and spoke with Kris.
Laurence had a heavenly hunch… and he took a risk. Among other things, he confessed to Kris about a time that he’d been callous, jaded, and unloving towards a woman he’d seen as he drove down the road years ago. He made fun of her instead of loving her; praying for her… Kris nodded and said he’s often been the same…
Laurence mentioned that Jesus was loving towards the woman at the well…
Kris shared that his approach is similar to the story of the widow’s mite… he gives all that he has!
Laurence had given Kris his number a few months earlier, but Kris had not yet contacted him. So he asked if he still had that card… Kris asked for another, which he then received… and then Laurence took another Risk…
“I think I’m talking to a brother in the faith!”
“You are!” Kris replied
Romans 1:11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
“Let’s get together and be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith!”
They all drove home, after waving goodbye to Kris.
Shortly after coming home, Kris sent a message to Laurence>
Laurence stored his name and number…
And prayed this prayer>
“ Thank you father for once again giving me a chance to get to know this Christian brother, KRIS , Lord God, I pray that you will unite our hearts, that we will be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith.
In Jesus name, I pray
Amen”
Then he wrote this here that you are reading.
Then he took out his guitar, and played a few of his old tunes, and worshipped the Lord out loud.
Instructions for Christian Households
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
The place Jacob had found was indeed a physical spot on the earth, one of which you and I could try to find, and to BE there. How many such Holy places are there one wonders? God tells him about where he is, that he was giving this land to him and his descendants,
There above it stood the Lord,and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying… Genesis 28:13
How many years later does Jesus allude to this dream of Jacob’s.
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” John 1:50-51 NIV
He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. Genesis 28:12
My heart wants to explore this truth…
I never understood what Jesus meant by those words: “ascending and descending on the Son of Man”
In John 4 Jesus tells the woman at the well>
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun…”
I hope Joe has come along so far… and patiently waded through to this moment where I’m mentioning him. Joe, I’m not quite sure who, if anyone at all, reads what I write… I feel the need to explain, the need to defend… who I am… maybe that’s ultimately what I need to write about. But this here is more evidence of what you witnessed the other day… myself and a christian brother, sharing with one another… food on the plates, and food in our souls. Communion is one way to put it… but fellowship is also another word for it.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20
Its God that I love to be with, in the presence of, and interacting with. And the way he’s designed things, its through us loving one another, being with one another, his body… that is true worship, in spirit and in truth…
I was having a time of fellowship with Art, and God had arranged for Joe to come share in his presence (God’s presence) . . . then Joe dared to mention, “I hope you don’t mind, but I couldn’t help listening in…” and Joe found himself warmly invited in… because he is my brother, who loves to be in the presence of the Lord.
This is an ongoing conversation, an ongoing exploration of all these things on my heart, but the focus is:
Loving God (reading and meditating on his word)
Loving others (reflecting on God’s word, and listening to the musings and reflections of my brothers and sisters in Christ)
There was an incident in North Vancouver that happened last Saturday… I’d gone out there to meet up with Andrew for his Birthday. After picking him up from the Quay, I drove to 15th and Grand Boulevard.
Now Grand Boulevard is a thing which I have never seen anywhere else, if another one like it exists, I don’t know of it. It runs from Keith Road in the south, to 19th Street on the north end of it. It’s about 345 feet wide, and a mile long. On each side there is Grand Boulevard West and Grand Boulevard East, both sides have north/south bound lanes.
I know of this particular portion of it from having been a bus driver in North Vancouver a few years back. As is the need from time to time, I like being accessible to a washroom, and this being the terminus for the 240 bus route, there is just such a thing there. They also have park benches and picnic tables.
It was a wonderful sunny day, and I soon was able to set up my Mexican blanket on a picnic table, and brought along my gift bag full of presents for Andrew that all ran along the same theme> creative writing, specifically Fiction.
But our blissful time was soon marred by the appearance of a man who set up shoppe on that bench you can see just over Andrew’s shoulder there, and on the other pic the blue X was where he came to be, and the black X was our location.
The first thing of note was his Bluetooth speakers, playing loud, visually we could see his guitar case and other such things. The next was the heavily recognizable smell of marijuana smoke. Then out came the Harmonica, and he began to sing loudly.
Now, remember that Andrew and I had travelled to this special spot from far away, to be with one another in a non-commercialized spot. Open to the public. No need to worry about taking business away from the owner of a restaurant, or making a spectacle of ourselves. Our oldest brother, Glenn was possibly going to be discharged from his hospital stay at any moment, so this was the reason for North Vancouver in particular.
The man might as well have come sat down beside us… he completely dissolved the whole bubble of bliss.
Andrew was annoyed, and thought that he’d like to go and discuss this with the man, tell him to leave or shutup… I asked him to not to do so. There were 3 possible outcomes…
1) He complies 2) He resists… and assaults Andrew, and we’d be taking him the hospital 3) Andrew overcomes his resistance, and Andrew is arrested for assault
The first being unlikely, we tried to ignore him, but the man seemed to get louder and louder, like a child who would be noticed.
So this is where some more information was needed. We later went for a visit with Glenn, having to stay in the hospital for at least another night. During which we told him of our interrupted birthday party (we had packed up and left… #4 scenario) Andrew explained that he’d spoken with the man on a previous occasion, when he’d done the same thing at Lonsdale Quay Public market seating area.
The man had told him that due to his sister having passed away he broke his sobriety. An AA member, of which Andrew and Glenn also were. Andrew’s attitude was one of incredulity. Just a reason to drink, you see.
But what is there in plain sight for me, is myself.
Aching to be noticed for my talents and skills… when I get gregarious, and am out in public, I speak outloud to those I’m interacting with, drawing attention to myself… interfering with their peace. Making it about me, thinking that they would later and right then and there be oh so grateful that they’d come across such an entertaining person as I. Andrew also, has done similar.
This man, around our age, broken, alone and in need of relationship… comes alone to this place, to seek an audience… to realize his destiny. Delusions of grandeur.
Neither Andrew and I sought to LOVE that man. Neither of us wanted to set aside our moment, to love like the good Samaritan… we chose the way of the priest and the Levite. To pass by on the other side, simply irritated by the man.
We strive for significance. And resent those in the spotlight who won’t share it with us. By WE I mean ME.
There’s the epiphany symbolized by the eagle flying out of the night sky…
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill I could see the city light Wind was blowing, time stood still Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe Came in close, I heard a voice Standing, stretching every nerve I had to listen, had no choice
I did not believe the information Just had to trust imagination My heart going “Boom-boom-boom” “Son, ” he said “Grab your things, I’ve come to take you home” Hey, back home
To keep in silence I resigned My friends would think I was a nut Turning water into wine Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day Though my life was in a rut ‘Til I thought of what I’d say Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery I walked right out of the machinery My heart going “Boom-boom-boom” “Hey, ” he said “Grab your things, I’ve come to take you home” Hey, back home
When illusion spin her net I’m never where I wanna be And liberty, she pirouette When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes Who close their eyes but still can see No one taught them etiquette I will show another me
Today I don’t need a replacement I’ll tell them what the smile on my face meant My heart going “Boom-boom-boom” “Hey, ” I said “You can keep my things, they’ve come to take me home”
9. It’s about Genesis, but it doesn’t have to be. The story of “Solsbury Hill” — of personal epiphany, of hard decision-making, and of breaking free — was unsurprisingly interpreted to be inspired by Gabriel’s split from his old group, and the singer-songwriter has explained, “It’s about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get, or what you are for what you might be. It’s about letting go.” It makes sense, and it certainly enriches the song to know just why Gabriel was worried about his friends thinking he “was a nut,” for making the risky choice to leave his best-selling group to go his own way.
But it doesn’t really matter. The beauty of Peter Gabriel’s first solo single isn’t in its backstory, it’s in its foreground — every word and every note carrying the tingling feeling of inspiration, of the entire world being right there at your fingertips. Really, the details of Genesis’ career arc feel like small potatoes within the realm of the song’s grandeur, as would any other such literal explanation. Some songs just feel like they’re about something greater, and “Solsbury Hill” is one of them.
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [b]daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”
believe in your heart* and confess with your mouth*.
It is rather a tangent way of showing it… but Ananias and Sophira, come to mind. They were judged by the Holy Spirit after they answered out loud in front of witnesses. Let me rephrase that, “…until they lied, out loud” in answer to a direct question. Acts 5:1-11
In Dostoevsky’s book, Crime and Punishment, it is not until Raskolnikov commits the crime that cannot be undone; murder, that his eyes are opened, and all of his justifications and rationales die, and truth remained.
Our lives in Christ must be OUT LOUD.
They are an act of the will.
Some try to make a case for all being saved thru Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, because he paid sin’s cost. But John 1:12 speaks against this. We must consciously accept, and receive – TAKE – his gift of salvation!
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
Two other things are here, and that is God’s response to us.
Hebrews 11:6 says he rewards those who diligently seek him.
The second, hidden in plain sight, we see that God gave the right, “the power to become” one translation says, children of God. I wonder also at this moment that this verse speaks in terms of plural… “to all them that took…” community is seen there.
I think it’s significant! I am 4th of 5. I was born into a family, I came in and became part of.
Solo Christian… our relationship is one on one and with God, but part of our relationship with HIM is our relationship with his children, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
My brother Andrew is a good example of this, as well as our sister Diana, and brother Bruce. Each of us work at being in right relationship “in so far as it depends on me”
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Bruce, when Andrew was as in crisis, took time, to tangibly Love his brother, Andrew.
And I cannot forget, though it comes to mind only for the sake of my point here, that at one point in time Bruce and I had a parting of our ways. God arranged restoration, I inadvertently came across him, and before I could excuse myself, Bruce reached out to me.
I found this in an archive of my conversation with Bruce over the past few years through fb messenger>
Laurence, I’m so glad to hear from you. I’ve been hoping that someday it would be possible to reconnect with you. I have so much to ask your forgiveness for. When we parted ways I was embarking on a very selfish time in my life, one that lasted for quite a few years. In the process I also alienated your brother Andrew, which I regret to this day. Everything changed in my life about 8 years ago when I met my wife, and the Holy Spirit started to transform me back into a servant of Christ. The process is still underway. I realize you may have no reason to believe that, But I hope you can, and that you can forgive me.
From Bruce Nov 17, 2013
I didn’t even know how to much I needed to hear such a word from anyone, until I found myself weeping as I read it. Restoration.
Andrew
…his journey back to full health is marked by his heart turning to once again tangibly love our brother Glenn. I believe he is capable like no other or simply loving others.
Diana
Her steadfast love of her brothers. ❤️
~
As I reflect on what I’ve written herein, I wonder at how much Andrew needed us, as God was restoring to himself his child, Andrew Brand.
I don’t believe in coincidences, but Andrew ended up in Maple Ridge for a time, miles away from me… but a few minutes away from Bruce. I didn’t even realize until I re-found Bruce’s message, that he regretted a falling out btwn he and Andrew.
There’s a raging wild fire from a single careless act… and there is restoration of the people of God that spreads from on unforeseen act to another… obedience !
Running Down Vimy 