THE UPRISING

In the morning, yeah, that's where it all begins for me. Yeah, here is where the pulse & tenor of my day is set in motion. Too important of a space to remain composed or exercise any kind of restraint. Here in this tiny slice of day it's all toe to toe, face to face, heart to heart - Him & me. Here decides if today I will, in motive & acts, worship comfort & convenience or this Christ of God.  Greedy for peace & joy, I stare down my Nemesis & my brokenness & my fears - There in the light of God's absolute greatness they look so small. Here's where I lose myself in the wild of an unrestrained worship that's tense with reckless God-delight set against the backdrop of my gritty point by point heart & soul surrender. In the morning, yeah, that's where it all begins for me. Where the great exchange takes place as God grants me the humility to give Him my burdens, & the courage to ask Him to give me His.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

who gives me health & strength & life

to stretch across the tension & go the distance.

Momentum from Geoff Schultz on Vimeo.

Did some gang research tonight. Checking out the gang issue from it's roots to all points in between to gain understanding of the culture, to know how to guide, protect, & direct the Justice Project teams, & to gain a base of knowledge for strategic prayer. Bloody research.

"Let he who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls" -Apostle Paul.

And even if you flat out don't agree with their take on things, no matter how remote or unlikely, sincerely consider the possibility that they could be right.  It's strange the way God will use even our seeming enemies to teach us a thing or two about ourselves.

To love someone is not first of all to do things for them,

but to reveal to them their beauty and value,

to say to them through our attitude:

‘You are beautiful, you are important.

— Jean Vanier, Founder of L’Arche communities

"If you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you still angry- get over it quickly; for when you are angry you give a possible foothold to the devil. Don't use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing. Stop being mean, bad-tempered & angry. Quarreling, harsh words, & dislike of others should have no place in our lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, Just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. - Ephesians 4 : 26 - 27, 29 , 31 - 32 TLB -

Woke up & could hardly wait to tear into sacred text.

Picked it up by its binding.

Riffled through the thin papers inside - the word of God weighing heavy on each. 

Experienced a brief but vivid flashback down the generations, 

back to those guys that made holding this book in my hands possible.

Turning to Colossians, I plunge into the letter, 

wounded & washed by the thoughts conveyed.

My birth announcement, a love letter, & my eulogy all swelling up over the top 

& spilling out from the sides & bottom of the thoughts conveyed.

And happy I am to live, love, & die for them. 

Just as the men who wrote, loved, & lived them did.

-Deeply flawed & intensely happy, me.

            when it all goes up in flames  -  what remains is gold.

Although not fretful by nature, sometimes I'm tempted to worry. I don't always, but do usually resist the temptation & turn the concern into a prayer & an expectation of God's involvement mediating the outcome of the situation ripe with risk. Did that tonight. Sent that feckless thug Worry packing, with a black eye to boot. But even in its absence is the subtle but unmistakable unsettledness that often comes with heading into unfamiliar territory where the adventure will be great, but the stakes high, & obedience & trust absolutely imperative. Faith, grace, & adrenaline collide.

No longer afraid of the whispers - When I confessed my shame  - When I confronted my failure   -   When I cared more for freedom than for cover  -  When I saw I needed your words more than I needed the silence   -  When my covering no longer kept me hidden  -  When my leaves no longer covered my nakedness   -  When I heard you cry, "Where are you???   -   And I shouted from behind my bush. "Here I am",  too tired to put up a fight.  -  When you said, "How are you?",  and the truth slipped out.   -   I knew I would no longer be afraid of the whispers   -  When wide spread arms coaxed me out & ushered me in.   - Your words, the balm of Gilead.  -  Your strength yoked with mine girded my loins & sent me onward...   to uncover the covered...  and help set them free.

If this is my great hurdle, my lot, my challenge, my mountain, than by-God & with-Him I will climb it with gusto & primal joy & a swagger, & a U2 song on my lips. Shouldered between many repentances & making my way up through encouragements, endurance speeches, & 'It is written", I will reach the summit. And afterwards, train others to reach its summit too.