Monday, August 24, 2009

Monday Meditations

Hey bloggers...I just tweeted on the church Twitter page: "Wow, what a weekend at CITN!"...Can I get a witness?

Everything from the softball tournament, to the praise and worship ("Searched all over can't find nobody like You!"...) to the blessing on the word, to the 404 Spaghetti fundraiser (looks like between the two events 404 raised enough money to finish paying for Rock The Universe, and to carpet the area of their sanctuary that P. Judah wants to recarpet), to the lunch with my Uncle Harry and Aunt Joyce Swilley who were in service and I didn't even know it, to the meeting in my office with the group that will be leaving with me after service next Sunday for Uganda...all of it was wonderful...seems like everywhere I went on the campus I could feel a sense of prophetic excitement and a spirit of visionary faith...

I'm really happy to be finished with Mark In The Now...I meant to include in my sermon yesterday about how in Chapter XV the curtain (veil) in the Temple was ripped from top to bottom as soon as Jesus released His spirit from His body...that was supposed to be a major point about the whole earth becoming the Holy of Holies...maybe I'll save it for next Sunday...

I've started working on Luke In The Now, and may have some of Chapter I posted later today...I just need to stay off of Facebook for a few hours...thanks for your support on the whole Gospels In The Now project...

I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your openness to what we're doing, starting next Sunday...I had a nice long talk with Pastor D.E. yesterday afternoon on the phone, and he said that everyone there is very excited (they had about 2,000 in service yesterday)...I don't know what's going to happen, and I don't even want to overthink it...as I said yesterday in my sermon, if all it is four weeks of united services, then I want it to be four weeks of heaven on earth...

I'm certainly looking forward to going to Uganda...on the last day that we're there I will be ordaining the largest group of pastors that I've ever ordained at one time (as far as I can remember)...but a part of me wants to be here to see what's going to happen...but I also know that our steps are ordered, and it's all good...

Hey, do you remember me mentioning last Wednesday night a friend of mine from India who was sent to Bible College by Jimmy Swaggart? I haven't heard from him in 30 years, but yesterday he requested to be a FB friend! He's a pastor now, and I wrote him a note and said, "You're not going to believe this, but I just talked about you in my sermon!"...amazing...

Listen, I haven't responded to most of your blog comments these last few days, but I've read all of them, and, as usual, you all just blow me away with your stuff...FB is fun, but I really, really love this blog community, and am totally committed to it...I hope I can take my computer to Africa and keep it going...we'll see...

Anyway, I love you all...

Be back later...

13 comments:

karl cobos said...

Mornin' Bishop!
Blessings to you on this beautiful new week filled with great things.

Glad to hear the happenings of 404.

Cool about the friend from India!

Uganda is going to be awesome for you guys, and those who will be blessed by you.

Love to hear more about the veil being torn...

I personally think yesterday's AYITN has some words for CITN...it's title is Spread Out!
You're ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women...clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large...Think big!...drive the tent pegs deep. You're going to need lots of elbow room... Isaiah 54:1-3

...prepare to expand to the right and to the left in expectation of the new thing..."lengthen your cords" by running with the vision...

...EXPECT TO BE CHALLENGED TO CHANGE!...EXPECT TO BE GROOMED FOR GROWTH!...EXPECT TO BE INSPIRED TO INCREASE!...EXPECT TO BE PREPARED FOR PROMOTION!
...Bring it on!...live in the now!
...pitch a big enough tent today.

Karl said...

Bishop, I just had to share this because I think it speaks about the whole earth being filled with His glory...like we sang in worship yesterday.

I got it from my friend Dan Storie
---
Ex 33:11 (NKJV) “So the Lord (Yahweh) spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”

It is incredible to think that Moses was so close to God, that God considered him a friend. The children of Israel also thought this was incredible too but instead of wanting to imitate Moses and develop a personal friendship with God themselves, they were intimidated by God and admired Moses as someone with powers and abilities beyond the average person. The oneness that God desired with His people, at that time, only existed with Moses.

God was to the children of Israel a mysterious pillar of cloud, it is hard for people to become friends with someone they cannot see, touch or hear. So God, the creator of all things, and the King of the universe, humbled Himself and became a human, an infant, a helpless child. He did this so that He could understand us, and we could understand Him. If God wanted to prove that he desired to be our friend, He could not have done more. He demonstrated his desire to have oneness with us by becoming one of us, Emanuel, “God with us.” He became a man so that we could know Him and understand Him and want to be His friend. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 (KJV).

The oneness that Christ desires with us is so deep He described it this way, that “they (His followers) all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17:21 (KJV). The closeness of relationship that exist between Jesus and His Father is to be the same depth of relationship Christ desires with us, and at the same time, the same depth of relationship believers have with one another, “that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.” John 17:22-23 (KJV). Amazing, we as a Church are truly not as close as Jesus intends for us to be. But then beyond that, Jesus tells us that when the world sees the oneness we have as Christians, people of this world will be drawn to us. They are desperately looking for a real connection with people who care, our oneness has a purpose, to draw the world to Christ. In this way, our love will prove to the world that God loves them too. And by this “the world will know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:23 (KJV)

The biggest problem with Christianity today is it’s tunnel vision, we are perfectly content to have a personal relationship with Jesus and then stop there, perfectly satisfied with moderation. We complain and are dissatisfied with the fact that the Church doesn’t seem caring and it is so impersonal, and we accept it as the status quo. We cannot look to the “church” to change the status quo, because I am the church – you are the church, change starts with me not with “them.” You may say what can I do? I am just one person, the problem is with the church not with me? But a fire starts with just one little spark and a storm begins with just one drop of rain. Oneness in the church begins with one drop of rain – me; and soon there is a puddle – us; then a river – the congregation; then ponds – multiple congregations; and lakes – countries; and eventually oceans – the whole world: filled with the oneness of Christ and one with one another. Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.” John 10:16 (NIV). Sure, just watch the rivers sweep those other sheep into the flood till the world is consumed. It is a divine strategy, but it is also a plan that Satan hates, and will do everything in his power to stop, and prevent us from having the oneness that Christ wants us to have.

By God's power we will overcome the Devil, and the Churches oneness will be the key to spread the Gospel to the entire world.
(Dan Storie)
---

Karl said...

(cont.from last blog referring to the words of Dan Storie)

I believe this is huge...so on point as to what every believer should hear and "get."

So much of what was on my heart to write about this subject ended up being in these words for me...for us. I believe the Spirit is all over this!

First, the "beginning to know" part, as God and man get better acquainted in Christ.

(beautiful)...The closeness of relationship that exist between Jesus and His Father is to be the same depth of relationship Christ desires with us, and at the same time, the same depth of relationship believers have with one another.

Loved the drop of rain to oceans analogy!...oceans –the whole world: filled with the oneness of Christ and one with one another.

I personally think that this is the glory that Jesus said He has given us in John 17:22 -"I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one."

This is the glory that will cover the whole earth.

May the whole earth be filled with His glory, as the waters cover the sea...cover the earth!

...and because we know that the Father hears and answers Jesus' prayers, then we know His petition is granted and will be manifest...WE WILL BE MADE COMPLETELY ONE and THE WORLD WILL KNOW THAT THE FATHER SENT HIM and LOVES THEM THE SAME!

Hallelujah!

Anonymous said...

Brenda Bevelle Yarbrough said...

Amen to that

Erik said...

Clicked into to see what the post was, just as I finished reading, 'Peace Train' came on the playlist.

Smiles and tears.

Anonymous said...

I missed what's going on, but
will agree with you in prayer-- that the kingdom of heaven will become the kingdom on earth in Uganda.
I went to a church N. GA yesterday. Do not like the 'tree of good and evil' stuff ( such as your do evil and need to do something good)--tree of life whould say " you have potentialfor greatness and good and you can tap into it by applying the blood of the everlasting covenent."
But-we did have communion.I remember the blood and body of Christ. I really wish CITN had a sister church in North GA. If anybody on this Blog feels the same way and lives here- let me know-at
a.byrnes.murphy@gmail.com
Maybe we can meet and watch the Streaming Service.Maybe we'll start a church.Yeah sure!! Anyway- you've heard of church planting? Maybe one of our pastors will move up here -it's really beautiful-- and start a church. Maybe one of your kids ..
Thanks for the contact we have in this blog.
Anon in N GA

Izumi/JOY said...

God afternoon beloved Universe!

Bish, re: Can I get a witness?

Where would I begin? A dove landed right in front of my car when I pulled into the CITN parking lot.

Weeks ago, en route to service, something similar happened. Pulled out of the driveway, and 3 doves landed on my front lawn just as "Imagine" began playing on the radio!

Loved the comment, "Worship is more important than theology", and the topic of singing the Universe. Love the hope of reconciliation through psalms.

Your reference to the morning stars singing together gave me chills. (I've read that verse a lot.)

You recently mentioned a musical term, "call and response". I wondered about that when I compared Sunday's verses to several postcards I sent myself from Las Vegas.

Back then, you were teaching about, "Render unto Caesar, what is Caesar's." I wondered if Matthew 22:21 meant praise. So, I grabbed some postcards, and began scribbling.

Re: Ps.2:1-12 -> Prov. 14:35. (4/22/09)

Re: Ps.8:1,9 -> Ps. 19:1 (4/22/09)

Re: John Lennon's, "Let it Be", and, "there will be an answer" -> Proverbs 16:1 (4/22/09).

Re: Ps.22:27-31 -> "Amongst all Your people they will see this work of the Lord." (4/21/09)

Re: Ps.25:12-14 -> I wrote, "A covenant with God, Who will do marvellously on your behalf." (4/21/09)

Re: Ps. 89:11 -> "The heavens declare God's glory, and the firmament shows His handiwork." (4/22/09)

Re: The curtain in the Temple being ripped when Jesus released His Spirit from His body. That's what I wondered, too! (blog entry 8/18/09 - MkITN XIV v.43-72)

Sunday was such a musical day. After service, at the red light, I noticed several people singing to themselves in their cars.

In the afternoon, hubby and I went on a Sunday drive. On a dirt road, out in the middle of God-knows-where, a fawn stood, staring at us.

A Davidic moment, I thought.

karl cobos said...

Erik - keep riding that train!

Anon in N.Ga. - that would be great for you guys up there...in agreement for good things and the tree of life up there in the hills!

Izumi/Joy - really nice!

Hi Brenda!

Izumi/JOY said...

Thanks, Karl. Catching up on past posts; enjoying all the responses.

My last note ran long. I wanted to extend my condolences to the families who lost loved ones recently.

Also, meant to add that I hope the Mushegans return soon.

Larry Usher said...

Yah Bishop, sharing the excitement about The Cathedral folks coming...fullfilment of a vision! Excited for y'all going to Uganda...I caught a whiff of diesel fuel in my neighborhood last night and flashed right back to the busy, raw streets in that country! Will miss going.
But my daughter is living with me for the first time in 14 years and perhaps she needed me here more that the fine folks did in U. (Celebrating that!)
Blessings to all and let's roll with the unconventional!

Bro Lar

tracy said...

Wow alot going on ...Luke In the Now aleady???? I work with a girl that used to go to The Cathedral a while back---when they went through their stuff she was in the middle of a nasty divorce and needed no more drama-in effect she stopped goingexcept sporadicallyand when I told her about combining services I told her that when I heard "my baby leapt"(and my baby has been very lethargic lately :) sorry ya'll.and all she said is "It is good" We will see what happens....Personally we have alot going on--either God is good or He is not I believe the former.....He is Good-ignore my spelling and grammar mess I can't fix it due to some computer glitch-driving me crazy-control freak that I am...

Anonymous said...

Good Day Bishop,
Yesterday in church was amazing. Thank You!
Have A Blessed & Powerful evening
t.tate~

Anonymous said...

Who is the other person blogging from North Ga with the last name Murphy? I too am in North Ga and my last name is Murphy..strange.Where are you and maybe we can car pool sometime? There is no place like CITN and you certainly wont find it up here.The drive is definitley worth it...

Any way, loving LITN and the flow of how the story goes. So easy to read and uderstand.

Debra M.
dm321@aol.com