How does the human heart find the strength to be resolved to do God's will? How did Jesus move forward when He knew that his destiny was the greatest pain and agony the world has and ever will know, and that is in the physical realm. The spiritual realm is unrealized by our human understanding, the only glimpse we get is in The Chronicles of Narnia, where Aslan takes the torture by the White Witch for Edmond. Even with that picture we are still left scraping for an understanding of that kind of pain. It is indescribable and Jesus is resolved to go through with it. This is the posture we must learn. We must learn how to endure suffering. How do we do that?
(Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis)
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Monday, September 28, 2009
Recovering Eden:healing the broken heart
What would it be like to go back to walking with God again? Would he teach us things? Would he show us things about life that we never knew before? Would he explain things about science that we cannot understand? Imagine if he came close to us and kissed us on the cheek. Imagine riding "bareback" in the Rocky Mountains with God or working side by side on a project with him guiding your hands step by step. Remember this line from Genesis, "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the cool of the day." (What a loss) Genesis 2-3 (Let’s take a look)
Yes we lost it there, but not forever right…Look at what God does for Moses and the start of a new people that would have this back (Israelites, Hebrews, Jews)
Remember that, Moses spoke to God and God spoke to Moses, face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. What! What an amazing connection that was lost there! Don't you want that back! (A connection like this offered to Bruce Nolan—a news channel reporter who just lost his job because of insubordination and foul inappropriate behavior during a newscast-God decides it’s time for a closer walk—Bruce Almighty—see if there’s anything you can relate to in Bruce’s story---Anything in that encounter you can relate to-how about the raw gut level honesty, reminder of sin, allowance of pain, willingness to let you go do it your own way)
The point is he comes to us all in ways that only we know and understand….ok, ok, maybe he doesn’t look like Morgan Freeman!
Will you engage with him? Will you receive his voice of healing, instruction, discipline in your life? Don’t you want your heart back? Could it be possible to see the heart and it’s restoration as a doorway back to such an amazing experience as Eden. Would it be painful? Sure. Would it require great surrender? Depends on your vantage point. Right.
My Dad destroyed and mutilated my heart through his abandonment, Girlfriends did the same as I was growing up with their fickle double-mindedness (right I love you, no I’m sorry I love Johnny instead…right), Men have betrayed me and turned on me when their own hearts were hurting…..Loss, Loss, Loss. Loss is what I have experienced.
Where did we lose our heart? What were the effects of the fall of man? Has brokenness been part of humanity since the Garden of Eden? I think the heart is an interesting and daunting reality. If it is the resting place of the Holy Spirit, then we make room for God at the deepest part of our inner being, our core. If it is a vessel that has been broken, or wounded, then repair is necessary for the true effectiveness of such a vessel to take place. Look at Jesus words, as read from the scroll of Isaiah in his first public teaching in Nazareth,
“6He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18" The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."[e]
Jesus purpose is to reclaim the loss for you…He’s been coming back to do that since the thief stole your heart in the Garden. God wants you back! He wants to heal you….He wants to give back the identity and love you lost (through brokenness, wounding)
20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Why? Jesus came to do more than get you to follow him! He wants to heal you, to give you a new heart, transform you. He plans to come live in you. C.S. Lewis shares some insight into this difficult concept,
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."
He intends to come and live inside you. Wow! How do you feel about that?
Yes we lost it there, but not forever right…Look at what God does for Moses and the start of a new people that would have this back (Israelites, Hebrews, Jews)
Remember that, Moses spoke to God and God spoke to Moses, face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. What! What an amazing connection that was lost there! Don't you want that back! (A connection like this offered to Bruce Nolan—a news channel reporter who just lost his job because of insubordination and foul inappropriate behavior during a newscast-God decides it’s time for a closer walk—Bruce Almighty—see if there’s anything you can relate to in Bruce’s story---Anything in that encounter you can relate to-how about the raw gut level honesty, reminder of sin, allowance of pain, willingness to let you go do it your own way)
The point is he comes to us all in ways that only we know and understand….ok, ok, maybe he doesn’t look like Morgan Freeman!
Will you engage with him? Will you receive his voice of healing, instruction, discipline in your life? Don’t you want your heart back? Could it be possible to see the heart and it’s restoration as a doorway back to such an amazing experience as Eden. Would it be painful? Sure. Would it require great surrender? Depends on your vantage point. Right.
My Dad destroyed and mutilated my heart through his abandonment, Girlfriends did the same as I was growing up with their fickle double-mindedness (right I love you, no I’m sorry I love Johnny instead…right), Men have betrayed me and turned on me when their own hearts were hurting…..Loss, Loss, Loss. Loss is what I have experienced.
Where did we lose our heart? What were the effects of the fall of man? Has brokenness been part of humanity since the Garden of Eden? I think the heart is an interesting and daunting reality. If it is the resting place of the Holy Spirit, then we make room for God at the deepest part of our inner being, our core. If it is a vessel that has been broken, or wounded, then repair is necessary for the true effectiveness of such a vessel to take place. Look at Jesus words, as read from the scroll of Isaiah in his first public teaching in Nazareth,
“6He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18" The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."[e]
Jesus purpose is to reclaim the loss for you…He’s been coming back to do that since the thief stole your heart in the Garden. God wants you back! He wants to heal you….He wants to give back the identity and love you lost (through brokenness, wounding)
20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Why? Jesus came to do more than get you to follow him! He wants to heal you, to give you a new heart, transform you. He plans to come live in you. C.S. Lewis shares some insight into this difficult concept,
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."
He intends to come and live inside you. Wow! How do you feel about that?
The False Father
Something has kept us in darkness and out of the penetrating rays of light of Eden. Someone has caused humanity pain kept us from the peacefulness of "the Garden." Someone and Something has built a wall from the life giving transformation found in the pure waters of an Eden Stream…
That someone is what the ancients refer to as The Unholy trinity; the world, the flesh, and Satan. The enemy is a liar, and he uses the world to perpetuate his lies, and he uses your wounding to his advantage as…He uses others to keep you from God and he comes to set himself up as the False Father of your life. It’s what he does to Eve in the Garden
It’s what he does to Judas Iscariot. It’s what he tries to do to Jesus during the temptation…He promises the world and he may deliver it, in part. But the things he offers will never truly satisfy the deep thirst in our souls.
Eve places herself in bondage and contributes to the fall of humanity. Judas betrays the messiah and ultimately takes his own life…Jesus refuses the lies of the enemy and well….huh, Jesus shows us the way in through his prayer in John 15-17 and “the Passion” how to Recover Eden.
Who is the Enemy(evil unveiled)
He uses music, the world system, movies, and all forms of media to persuade you to walk away from God…These are lies and the kind that sound so good until you put them under a microscope and examine the fruit of what they are going to eventually produce. What’s the false Father doing here, he’s setting you up…right…what would be the fruit of engaging these lies..
Lets take a deeper look at the essence of this being we call the enemy
The enemy parades around as an “Angel” of light
6 One day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
There are 2 things that stand in our way to the true freedom that comes when the heart is restored and the deep gift of Recovering Eden.
The Unholy Trinity: The enemy, flesh, and the world (The False Father). These beings and world systems work in tandem to bring about your demise.
The second and just as vicious is the Yeast of the Pharisees: Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, Matthew 23. This is religious works based philosophy that actually destroys the inner man in exchange for an outward veneer that looks righteous. People make agreements with the spirit of the Pharisee, when they exchange the truth of God, that the heart is central and the true pursuit of God for the outward manifestation of Godliness. This is a form of godlessness that is attractive but hollow.
Let’s look at a picture of what I mean here…his lies are seemingly so good, until examined up close
The enemy comes to us like Robin Williams Character in August Rush…He is seemingly so good on the surface and for you look a this scene where he builds a seemingly good relationship with August…now look when August chooses not to stay with him but pursue what the true Father has told him to do
(When I teach this I use the scene from the movie August Rush where Robin Williams character comes and steals August from Julliard School of Music where he is conducting his own concert. Wizard, Robin Williams, character tells him I know your real name.)
The enemy and all those who are subject to him are liars and they hate God and they hate the image of God in you.
The Prince of the Air: Lucifer, wants to set himself up as the false father, just like he does to August in Robin Williams character. He will try to be your friend and close to you on the one hand but if you defy him, Satan, he will then try to destroy your character to others
That someone is what the ancients refer to as The Unholy trinity; the world, the flesh, and Satan. The enemy is a liar, and he uses the world to perpetuate his lies, and he uses your wounding to his advantage as…He uses others to keep you from God and he comes to set himself up as the False Father of your life. It’s what he does to Eve in the Garden
It’s what he does to Judas Iscariot. It’s what he tries to do to Jesus during the temptation…He promises the world and he may deliver it, in part. But the things he offers will never truly satisfy the deep thirst in our souls.
Eve places herself in bondage and contributes to the fall of humanity. Judas betrays the messiah and ultimately takes his own life…Jesus refuses the lies of the enemy and well….huh, Jesus shows us the way in through his prayer in John 15-17 and “the Passion” how to Recover Eden.
Who is the Enemy(evil unveiled)
He uses music, the world system, movies, and all forms of media to persuade you to walk away from God…These are lies and the kind that sound so good until you put them under a microscope and examine the fruit of what they are going to eventually produce. What’s the false Father doing here, he’s setting you up…right…what would be the fruit of engaging these lies..
Lets take a deeper look at the essence of this being we call the enemy
The enemy parades around as an “Angel” of light
6 One day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
There are 2 things that stand in our way to the true freedom that comes when the heart is restored and the deep gift of Recovering Eden.
The Unholy Trinity: The enemy, flesh, and the world (The False Father). These beings and world systems work in tandem to bring about your demise.
The second and just as vicious is the Yeast of the Pharisees: Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, Matthew 23. This is religious works based philosophy that actually destroys the inner man in exchange for an outward veneer that looks righteous. People make agreements with the spirit of the Pharisee, when they exchange the truth of God, that the heart is central and the true pursuit of God for the outward manifestation of Godliness. This is a form of godlessness that is attractive but hollow.
Let’s look at a picture of what I mean here…his lies are seemingly so good, until examined up close
The enemy comes to us like Robin Williams Character in August Rush…He is seemingly so good on the surface and for you look a this scene where he builds a seemingly good relationship with August…now look when August chooses not to stay with him but pursue what the true Father has told him to do
(When I teach this I use the scene from the movie August Rush where Robin Williams character comes and steals August from Julliard School of Music where he is conducting his own concert. Wizard, Robin Williams, character tells him I know your real name.)
The enemy and all those who are subject to him are liars and they hate God and they hate the image of God in you.
The Prince of the Air: Lucifer, wants to set himself up as the false father, just like he does to August in Robin Williams character. He will try to be your friend and close to you on the one hand but if you defy him, Satan, he will then try to destroy your character to others
Friday, September 18, 2009
How does one pray for an enemy?
en·e·my n
1. somebody who hates and seeks to harm or cause trouble for somebody else
2. a person or group, especially a military force, that fights against another in combat or battle
3. a hostile nation or power
4. something that harms or opposes something else
Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Enemy: Somebody who seeks to harm or cause trouble for somebody else. Serving God as an overseer and serving others in their brokenness will lead you into harms way. I often feel that I am hated or loved by others, that there is no in between. How does one heal from the kiss of an enemy who betrays? An enemy who decides that they will transfer all the hurt and pain of their past onto you, how does one forgive that?
What was it like for Jesus in the garden when he woke up his disciples for the third time after telling them to stay awake and pray, then he sees Judas approaching him with the kiss? How awful to be betrayed with a kiss, to be honored with someone's lips, but realize that their hearts are far from me, as Isaiah declares.
I have been praying and turning my "enemy's" over to God, which means I die and surrender anything that I am owed out of the situation. I must relinquish them and release all that I deserve in the injustice. In order to love your enemy, one has to die to themselves and what is rightfully theirs. Right? Isn't it about surrender of rights? Is there more to it?
I think that certainly death to the desire for everyone to feel ok is appropriate. I think that offering oneself up for correction in the situations requires humility and that is Jesus. I also believe that reconciliation is not always possible, at least not on this side of heaven.
1. somebody who hates and seeks to harm or cause trouble for somebody else
2. a person or group, especially a military force, that fights against another in combat or battle
3. a hostile nation or power
4. something that harms or opposes something else
Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Enemy: Somebody who seeks to harm or cause trouble for somebody else. Serving God as an overseer and serving others in their brokenness will lead you into harms way. I often feel that I am hated or loved by others, that there is no in between. How does one heal from the kiss of an enemy who betrays? An enemy who decides that they will transfer all the hurt and pain of their past onto you, how does one forgive that?
What was it like for Jesus in the garden when he woke up his disciples for the third time after telling them to stay awake and pray, then he sees Judas approaching him with the kiss? How awful to be betrayed with a kiss, to be honored with someone's lips, but realize that their hearts are far from me, as Isaiah declares.
I have been praying and turning my "enemy's" over to God, which means I die and surrender anything that I am owed out of the situation. I must relinquish them and release all that I deserve in the injustice. In order to love your enemy, one has to die to themselves and what is rightfully theirs. Right? Isn't it about surrender of rights? Is there more to it?
I think that certainly death to the desire for everyone to feel ok is appropriate. I think that offering oneself up for correction in the situations requires humility and that is Jesus. I also believe that reconciliation is not always possible, at least not on this side of heaven.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Worship
Let's talk about worship shall we..What does it mean to worship?
wor·ship v
1. vti to treat somebody or something as divine and show respect by engaging in acts of prayer and devotion
2. vt to love, admire, or respect somebody or something greatly and perhaps excessively or unquestioningly
3. vi to take part in a religious service
n
1. the adoration, devotion, and respect given to a deity
2. the rites or services through which people show their adoration, devotion, and respect for a deity
3. great or excessive love, admiration, and respect felt for somebody or something
Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
To worship means to give one's allegiance to somebody or something. Isn't it time to stop devoting our lives to anything or anyone other than God himself? Have you asked yourself recently about your motives? Why are you so drawn to things and people? Is it because those things comfort you? Give you a sense of empowerment?
Answer this then, if they are good for you; why do you feel awful afterwards? If they comfort you; why do you feel constant anxiety? If they empower you; why have you been enslaved to them?
wor·ship v
1. vti to treat somebody or something as divine and show respect by engaging in acts of prayer and devotion
2. vt to love, admire, or respect somebody or something greatly and perhaps excessively or unquestioningly
3. vi to take part in a religious service
n
1. the adoration, devotion, and respect given to a deity
2. the rites or services through which people show their adoration, devotion, and respect for a deity
3. great or excessive love, admiration, and respect felt for somebody or something
Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
To worship means to give one's allegiance to somebody or something. Isn't it time to stop devoting our lives to anything or anyone other than God himself? Have you asked yourself recently about your motives? Why are you so drawn to things and people? Is it because those things comfort you? Give you a sense of empowerment?
Answer this then, if they are good for you; why do you feel awful afterwards? If they comfort you; why do you feel constant anxiety? If they empower you; why have you been enslaved to them?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Is the Republic beginning to unravel?
I very rarely say anything about politics but I have viewed some disturbing information over the last 24 hours that I can't seem to shake off. I actually have very little engagement in that world. I have more questions than answers...so in an attempt to get some of this off my chest here they are..
Was 9/11 an inside job?
Are world powers actually in alignment with one another?
Are we seeing a resurgence of National Socialism?
Why are so many people saying the same things?
How should we respond as followers of Jesus? Especially if these things violate human rights, especially if our government is in on an undercover hostile takeover?
I feel so many things right now that I cannot really describe them, nor should I. I will say that if you are a follower of Jesus. You are to sit tight and not do anything rash at this point. We don't know the full truth of these things yet and I say that as much to myself as any other person out there who reads this. Know that God is with us no matter what we face because of this. We must speak the truth without compromise, but we must MUST speak it in love.
Was 9/11 an inside job?
Are world powers actually in alignment with one another?
Are we seeing a resurgence of National Socialism?
Why are so many people saying the same things?
How should we respond as followers of Jesus? Especially if these things violate human rights, especially if our government is in on an undercover hostile takeover?
I feel so many things right now that I cannot really describe them, nor should I. I will say that if you are a follower of Jesus. You are to sit tight and not do anything rash at this point. We don't know the full truth of these things yet and I say that as much to myself as any other person out there who reads this. Know that God is with us no matter what we face because of this. We must speak the truth without compromise, but we must MUST speak it in love.
Wherever you go there you are..
A poet named Clint Black wrote these words...
Wherever you go, there you are
You can run from yourself, but you wont get far
You can dive to the bottom of your medicine jar
But wherever you go there you are
I think recently I have a real sense of what these words actually mean. It it the places that you have been assigned (called some might say) where you will make the biggest difference. The scriptures talk about this reality when it comes to slavery and I think it applies here.
The letter to the Colossian Church, Paul is giving rules for Holy Living and he pens these words,
"3:22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism."
These are words for all of us to live by...we are slaves to righteousness. Paul does give us an out but it is contingent on if, He says "Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so." (1 Cor. 7:21 NIV)
We need to ask the Lord for a change or be the light right where we are. Our friends, families, and those we work with need to know the Hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Fulfill your ministry right where you are. Fight for wounded hearts right where you are.
Wherever you go, there you are
You can run from yourself, but you wont get far
You can dive to the bottom of your medicine jar
But wherever you go there you are
I think recently I have a real sense of what these words actually mean. It it the places that you have been assigned (called some might say) where you will make the biggest difference. The scriptures talk about this reality when it comes to slavery and I think it applies here.
The letter to the Colossian Church, Paul is giving rules for Holy Living and he pens these words,
"3:22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism."
These are words for all of us to live by...we are slaves to righteousness. Paul does give us an out but it is contingent on if, He says "Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so." (1 Cor. 7:21 NIV)
We need to ask the Lord for a change or be the light right where we are. Our friends, families, and those we work with need to know the Hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Fulfill your ministry right where you are. Fight for wounded hearts right where you are.
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My Story
- Samuel Wilson
- Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- I am a 35 year old husband and Father of 4 beautiful children that I adore. I serve as the Lead Overseer at Imago Dei, a network of fellowships devoted to fighting for the restoration of the wounded heart, in Jesus Christ based out of Baltimore, MD. Additionally, I served as the Program Director at Regeneration Ministries in Baltimore, MD. I have spent 7 years working with those who struggle with sexual and relational brokenness, in addition training small group leaders to do the same. I attended Liberty University where I studied Social Science/Biblical Studies and earned a Bachelors degree in 2008. I also attended Hope Community Church where I practiced in a vocational apprenticeship for Church Planting from 2001-2005. My strengths are Entrepreneurial work(catalyst), Pastoral Care(relational brokenness), Strategic Alignment, Program Development, Writing, and Public Speaking. I want to write and speak as a vocation while starting new "Fellowships" on an ongoing basis. I love being outdoors and going on adventures. I like having a good caffeinated drink and a book to read. I love being with my family and watching my children grow up and I love watching a good epic movie.
