VICTORY OVER JEZEBEL

She wants me dead,
Off with my head.


She opposes my leadership.
Hoping my feet will slip.


She lies, connives and gossips about me,
Maligns and despises God's man I am called to be.


She worships dumb idols and follows false gods,
Seduces her prey and sets them at odds.


She is dangerously evil but is soundly defeated,
God's Word reveals that Christ's work is completed.


In victory over Jezebel the Church rises up,
The battle is the Lord's and He pours out His cup.

Scripture References:

1Ki.16:31;18:4; 2Ki.9:36,37; Ps.11:6, 75:8, Rev.2:20,21,22,23,24; Rev.14:9,10.

Author's Note:

It seems to me that while cups are

 literally

 containers from which to consume whatever they are filled with,

figuratively

 "cups are a statement about allotted portions given for related reasons to those specially chosen to partake of them."

THEY SAID

They said there was no right and wrong

- so I asked them how they knew they were right about that.

They said there were no absolutes

- so I asked them if they were absolutely sure about that.

They said the truth is whatever you want it to be

 - so I asked if they knew why Jesus Christ was crucified.

Scripture References

John 14:6,16,17; 15:26; 16:13; 17:17; 18:37,38.

FIVE STONES FROM THE BROOK

1.
Scripture speaks of a defiant giant,
Goliath is his name.
He stands opposed to the Will of God,
Whose people he wants to shame.
2.
But there is a brook of Living Water,
Which is the Word of God.
David the shepherd-boy knew its worth,
When a righteous path he trod.
3.
Five stones from the brook washed clean and rubbed smooth,
He gleans into his bag.
Equipped with these and a humble sling,
David's courage does not flag.
4.
Although the work of ministry is his,
The battle is the LORD's.
Complete in character and function,
David's faith has its rewards.
5.
He takes an anointed stone from his bag,
To smite Goliath's head.
With a slingshot throw and a sharp sword blow,
He proclaims the giant dead.
6.
Saints of God have complete authority,
For works of ministry,
As one building up the ekklesia,
Bringing down the enemy.
7.
Some apostles, prophets, evangelists,
Some pastors and teachers,
When He ascended Christ gave us these ,
To arm His Gospel preachers.

Scriptural Inspiration.

1 Samuel 17:38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51.

Ephesians 4:11,12,13,14,15,16; 5:25,26,27.

John 15:3; 17:17.

Titus 3:5.

NOT CAST DOWN

See on whom no blessings fall,
A sharp reminder to us all,
Of higher powers now at work,
To drive the human race berserk.

See on him the curse of death,
That draws away his labouring breath,
Until a faint and feeble sigh,
He casts when forced to yield and die.

I will not by disappointment
Downcast  be:
To any dank dark dungeon of deep despair;
Or by sinful society
Shackled be:
To the cold callous circumstances of cruel adversity;

I will by encouragement
Edified be:
Along with the enabled enlightened elect;
Who in salvation by the LORD 
Uplifted be:
To the sweet success of His highly righteous citadel.

Habakkuk 3:17,18,19.

Psalm 37:21,22,23,24; 34.

Psalm 91:14-16  Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My Name. (15) He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (16) With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My Salvation.

Psalm 147:6  The LORD lifts up the meek: he casts the wicked down to the ground.

1Samuel 2:6,7,8,9,10; Job 22:29; Revelation 3:21;

Faster Than Light In the Future

The dream of being able to travel faster than light could one day become a reality.

The technology involved would be fascinating as would the history of its development.

The possibility of interstellar and intergalactic travel, exploration, migration and commerce may seem unobtainable to many but I am willing to believe that it can be done.

Correct me if this is wrong but my quick search tells me that the Sun's nearest known stellar neighbor is a red dwarf star called Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.3 light-years away.

This calculates as 40,681,440,000,000 kilometres.

Imagine the velocity needed to reduce travelling time to the Proxima Centauri system from 4.3 light years to 4.3 months, or days, or hours, or minutes.

I'm told the Andromeda Galaxy located at a distance of 2 million light-years away is our nearest major galaxy and is of comparable size to our own, but we must reduce travelling time to at least 2 years to make it a viable commercial proposition.

Two years to cover a distance of 2 million light-years is a big ask. That's about 2,750 light-years per day or 114.5 light-years per hour.

But get the sums right and centuries from now mankind could be crossing the Universe at zillions of light-years per second.

Just log in a destination and away you go!

The Andromeda Galaxy

One light-year is equal to 9,500,000,000,000 kilometers.

SHAMEFUL SABOTAGE

Born in Inglewood 23-09-1954 about one o'clock in the morning.
"An easy birth", said my mother , "You just sort of fell out ",
I start life with two older sisters and a brother older by two years and seven days,
I'm eighteen months old when younger brother arrives and there are five siblings in the nest.

Born to the Anglican Church, baptised and confirmed their way,
Father and Grandfather both vicars in a long line of clergy offspring,
Descendant of monarchs who reigned until six centuries ago,
Heir to unfolding mystery, menace, and malevolence.

Born with enigmatic evidence to examine,
Presented with dogmatic doctrines to digest,
Served with cryptic codes to crack,
Experiencing shameful sabotage and many a cunning attack.

Born to be fourth among six with a third sister added in Pio Pio,
All attending church as children but some being drawn away,
Intense opposition and trouble at times as the plot continues to thicken,
The Beast is ridden by Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots who corrupts.

Born again in Christ who has washed away my sin,
Ministering with enduring faith like an evergreen tree beside water,
Labouring in the Word of God and seeking first His Kingdom,
Resting in the Work of the Cross and the hope of my salvation.

Shameful sabotage intended to destroy,
Shameful sabotage when I was just a boy,
Shameful sabotage leaves none whom I can trust,
Shameful sabotage has failed and turned to dust.

DEFLECTION

Holiness was mine and sinless perfection always my intention,
Wisdom and knowledge were well within my reach,
Integrity and discernment accompanied my every move,
And I knew the purity of compassionate love.

Excellence in attitude crowned my behaviour,
Truth and justice were firmly adhered to,
Mercy and kindness had their home in me,
And I made many sacrifices to benefit others.

Honours and tributes were bestowed on me,
Reverence was given, homage was paid,
Respect was shown, admiration made known,
And I was held in high esteem.

They were in such awe of me that their worship became idolatry,
My greatness was refined and magnified,
The tales of my achievements were embroidered and multiplied,
And now because of this deflection I must surely oppose them.

29-03-10

Quote:

"The hilltop, the cool air of the night, the company of the great monuments, the sight of the city under his feet, with its hills and valleys and crossing files of lamps, drew him by all he had of the poetic, and he turned that way; and by that quite innocent deflection, ripened the crop of his venial errors for the sickle of destiny."

Tales and Fantasies by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Scriptural Inspiration:
Jeremiah 23:32.

Zechariah 11:17.

1 Corinthians 10:1,2,3,4,5,6,7.

2 Corinthians 6:14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 22:15.

MUTUALLY COMFORTING FAITH

Romans 1:11-12
"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; (12) That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me."

A bond exists between all those who share the Christian faith in common. Paul acknowledges this in his letter to the Romans when he uses the term mutual faith, and expresses his desire to both encourage and strengthen Christians in this faith, while also  being encouraged and strengthened himself.


Paul's letter to the Romans was written from Corinth during his 3rd visit there in A.D.60. It is addressed "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:" (Rom.1:7).

After his usual offerings of grace and peace there is an expression of gratitude towards the Roman Christians because they have made their faith known, and not hidden it away in some secret corner,(Rom.1:8). We too can be grateful for those who have made their faith known in our lives as well. In the 1970's I was in and out of church fellowship like an ocean tide, and my faith was quite erratic, but it seemed that wherever I went saints kept testifying to me and I was eventually urged by the Holy Spirit to admit to the value of continuing in regular communion with the body of Christ.

Paul had not been to Rome but assures the believers there that they are continually mentioned in his prayers, this being a way in which he serves God with his "spirit in the gospel of His Son" (Rom.1:9). Furthermore, Paul makes very specific requests when he asks God for the opportunity to travel to Rome "by any means now at length", and also that he "might have a prosperous journey", (Rom.1:10). Sometimes we can find ourselves praying prophetically, using words that achieve a greater significance when answers arrive, like Paul's did with the means of his prosperous journey being his arrest and deportation to Rome for trial as a Roman citizen at the government's expense and with a military escort.(Acts 26:32).

Paul writes to Rome about the cause of his delay in coming to see them in person. His obedience to God's will is the cause of his delay. He would only go to Rome if God gave him leave from his work of planting churches and preaching in places where Christ was unknown;(Rom.15:20,21,22,23,24). We learn to seek the things of Christ more than our own will, giving special priority to ministrations which "much hinder us" in the pursuit of desires which, although from the Holy Spirit, are for a later time;(Rom.1:10,11,12,13).

Habakkuk 2:3 "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it may tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

Instead of allowing ourselves to become frustrated by divine

delays or giving in to the forces of darkness and evil designed to obstruct or destroy us, we can like Paul, make the most of ministry opportunities, survive shipwreck and snakebite on our spiritual journey, and continue to serve God despite the restrictive chains that politics and worldly authority may place on us.(Acts 28:20).

Paul longed to see the believers who were living in Rome. A study of translations has led me to understand this as a yearning from deep within, and something which is of great motivational significance, when linked with the following two goals which Paul has in mind for the Christians in Rome.

• Spiritual Gift Impartation...  (Rom.1:11)
• Mutually Comforting Faith... (Rom.1:12) 

To impart something is to liberally share it, so Paul yearns for fellowship in Rome in order to liberally share something from the Holy Spirit. His letter contains an informative and instructive discussion of spiritual gifts (Rom.12:6,7,8) in which he exhorts the church to make full use of them. While in Rome, although in chains and under house arrest, he was still able to use his particular preaching and teaching gifts "with all confidence, no man forbidding him";(Acts 28:31)
 

It is the purpose of spiritual gifts to build up and strengthen us, and this is the meaning of the word "establish" that the text tells us is the "end" Paul is working towards. Bearing in mind that none of the apostles had as yet been to Rome and ministered with the laying on of hands in that city, the knowledge and use of spiritual gifts was limited to those who had travelled from areas where growing, functioning churches were familiar with them.

Acts 19:6 "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in languages, and prophesied."

2Timothy 1:6"For which cause I put you in mind to rekindle the gift of God which is in you by the putting on of my hands."

So here we have an example to follow, set for us by Paul who had

"a yearning to fellowship with those of like faith, in order to liberally share something given freely by the Holy Spirit to reinforce them."

PAUL'S JOURNEY TO ROME

Click Map To Enlarge 

May you be reinforced by the Holy Spirit as you fellowship in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Righteous One.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TURN POETS' CORNER

Walk down poets' lane,
Climb poets' hill.

Swim in poets' pool,
Visit poets' mill.

Sit in the shade of poets' tree,
Wander in poets' park.

Cross poets' river,
By means of poets' ark.

Eat poets' pie,
Drink poets' ale.

Study poets' verses,
Read poets' mail.

Fly in poets' jumbo jet,
Sail in poets' yacht.

Turn poets' corner,
And see who you can spot.


23-03-10

SPIRITUAL GOALS

S – E – R – V – I - C - E

1) S - Submit to Scriptural Leadership - Hebrews 13:17
(17) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

2) E - Edify the Body of Christ - 1Co 14:12
(12) Even so you, forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.

3) R - Resist Unscriptural Forms of Control - 1Timothy 6:3-5
(3) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
(4) He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
(5) Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

4) V - Value Genuine Ministries - 1Corinthians 16:16-18
(16) That you submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helps with us, and labours.
(17) I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
(18) For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge you them that are such.

5) I - Ignore Insults - 1Peter 2:21-23
(21) For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:
(22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:
(23) Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously:

6) C - Continue in the Faith of Christ - Colossians 1:21-23
(21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has He reconciled
(22) In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:
(23) If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

7) E - Earn a Respectable Living - 1Thessalonians 4:11-12
(11) And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
(12) That you may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that you may have lack of nothing.

S – E – R – V – I – C - E

NOTHING TO LOSE

They were right,
I was wrong.

They won,
I lost.

They succeeded,
I failed.

They were victorious,
I was defeated.

They were congratulated,
I was ignored.

They were accepted,
I was rejected.

They were honoured,
I was shamed.

They were excused,
I was blamed.

May as well read the Good News,
Now that I have nothing to lose.

ALPHAPARALLEL

Alphaparallel - synchronising numerically with the alphabet.

Triserial - a series of three.

Oblique - in a slanting, sloping, or inclined direction, course, or position.

Motif - a distinctive idea or theme elaborated on, such as in music, literature, or designwork.

M	I	C	H	A	E	L
C	O	L	D	H	A	M	-
F	U	S	S	E	L	L

SHADORMA SUNSET

Waiting here

For the sun to set

On the sea

Horizon

Closing down another day
WINNING FAMOUSLY.

 

10-01-10

Shadorma: a six-line poem with a syllable count of 3/5/3/3/7/5.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

I went to a University and there studied Nothing.
And slept on a mattress with very good stuffing.
With stress levels climbing everywhere by degrees,
My goal was to write a philosophical treatise.

While I studied Nothing in Utopian bliss,
My efforts revealed something awfully amiss.
It's impossible, Methinks, for Nothing to exist,
Because then it would be something not there to be missed.

Confirmed was my find in this verse sent from heaven,

"With God nothing shall be impossible", Luke 1:37.

My thesis on Nothing I then boldly presented,

My Doctorate of Philosophy would, I hoped, be consented.

Theologians and scholars, esteemed lawyers and doctors,

Distinguished professors, and even some proctors,

Appraised my great dialectic with much huffing and puffing,

And awarded me a straight P.H.D. in Nothing.

 

© 07-11-05