Praise and worship
The One
who gives freely everything good
to His Creation.
And by both doing so,
Man exalting God
and
God loving man
makes everyday Christmas.
3.11.2012
Fish in a barrel
But to the wicked , God says:
"What right have you to recite my statutes,
or take my covenant on your lips?
For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you.
(Psalm 50:16-17)
...you cows of Bashan
who are on Mount Samaria,
who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,
who say to their husbands, "Bring something to drink!"
2The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness:
The time is surely coming upon you,
when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.
(Amos 4:1-2)
[I]n the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? (2 Peter 3:3b-4a)
Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him,
but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it,
you did not change your minds and believe him."
(Matthew 21:31b-32)
Those who speak My Word
without acting on it.
When will they change their mind?
Those who live
as if I AM not here.
When will they change their mind?
Those who think
I only came at Christmas.
When will they change their mind?
Because those who do not change their minds
will be caught by My hook.
Not to be placed in My aquarium,
but thrown in a pile with their fellow Pisces.
.
You think you know Me well (But you don't know Me)
1Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." 3Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you."
4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:
5Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"
(2 Samuel 7:1-7)
39In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
(Luke 1:39-43)
What an interesting juxtaposition of readings.
God not wanting a Temple to hold Him in.
Instead, God resides in the flesh of a young girl.
God not wanting to dwell in a house of cedar and gold.
Instead, God reveals Himself in a barn.
God not wanting to be in the midst of mindless sacrifices.
Instead, God is born in the midst of living animals.
God refuses to be in a house built by those in power.
Instead, God is worshipped by lowly shepherds
A God who will never say “Long live the king!”
Instead a God who wants all to have abundant life.
Amen.
Mary
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King
(Psalm 149:1-2)
1Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
6A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
(Isaiah 60:1,6)
…she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
(Matthew 1:25b)
“What was achieved in the body of Mary will happen in the soul of everyone
who receives the Word.” ***St Gregory of Nyssa (4th century)
Mary
O blessed one among women,
You who said “Yes” to God,
only to endure the gossip
of your pregnancy.
To give birth
in a stable.
To have your heart drop
when He was left behind in Jerusalem.
And
to have your heart broken
when He was raised on the cross.
Thank you for your blessing
becoming our eternal Christmas present.
Time only counts in prison
“Life in a prison cell may well be compared to Advent; one waits, hopes, and does this, that, or the other -- things that are really of no consequence -
the door is shut, and can be opened only from the outside.”
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(Meditation on above quotation)
We put up the tree
and the lights.
Write the cards
Buy the gifts.
Invite friends over.
Light the Advent candle.
What else is left do
but to wait for Jesus
to set us free?
(or are we serving a life sentence?)
Not Enough Love In The World
37For nothing will be impossible with God.
(Luke 1:37)
Omniscient.
Omnipotent.
Omnipresent.
If I had those three qualities,
nothing would be impossible.
Except for humbling myself
and hang from a cross
for your sins.
Changes (Just gonna have to be a different man)
18Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so?
For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years."
19The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God,
have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak,
until the day these things occur." (Luke 1:18-20)
The angel said to the priest:
“Watch in silence
these events that you
can not comprehend.
Go home to your beloved.
Lie with her
and let God’s story
start to unfold.”
Today‘s meditation:
Can we keep our unbelief as revealed
in thought, word and deed
silent?
Looking for Answers (from above not below)
For my days pass away like smoke,
(Psalm 102:3)
My days are like an evening shadow;
(Psalm 102:11)
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
(Psalms 130:5-6)
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore
(Psalm 16:11)
On those days
when life seems dark
and without promise
I wait for You
to give me an answer.
And then when I sense
Your Presence,
There is no great insight,
No enlightenment.
Instead You show me
Your path of life
with a command:
“Follow Me.”
The waiting is the hardest part
the LORD will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage
(Psalm 94:14)
As we wait
for the second Christmas,
Let us not be anxious
in any matter.
For our faith
is placed in
the Provider
of all good things
who will not leave
the ones He loves.
3.10.2012
Miracle (David Wilcox)
A bright star in the winter sky
Led to Bethlehem that night
But only three traveled there to see
And the rest just wished they might
Led to Bethlehem that night
But only three traveled there to see
And the rest just wished they might
Few will chose to follow
Out of all the star invites
Most will hide safe inside
With the lantern turned up bright
Waiting for a miracle
The journey was a long one
So the story's told
These three guys
Walking side by side
With their incense and gold
People all along the highway
They just shook their heads
They looked hard at that distant star
And went back to bed
'Cause they were
Waiting for a miracle
The star was dim and distant
To those who stayed at home
But every heart that follows
Behold a light was shone
Hark! The herald angels sing
The song is bright and clear
It's so quiet on this road tonight
As the travelers' star appears
But right outside my window
Quiet as can be
All that time making up my mind
The angels wait for me
Waiting for a miracle
There Will Be a Day
Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
(Psalm 80:14)
Look down from heaven and see!
(Psalm 80:14)
If you do not wake up,
I will come like a thief,
and you will not know
at what hour I will come to you.
(Rev. 3:3b)
On the second Christmas,
When He returns.
Not as a baby
But as the King.
No star directing those to see Him
But He who is the Light in the darkness
Not escaping to Egypt
But reclaiming those who kept the faith.
No gifts from the wise men
But reviewing what the faithful and unfaithful
did with theirs.
On the second Christmas,
When He returns.
The Last Adam
There’s only one God
whose strength can not be measured
and
whose wisdom is far beyond comprehension.
Who came down from His home
Not to exhibit His mighty power
or show off His knowledge.
But to live a life
like one of His creations - Adam
As a baby
As a child
As a man
As a Teacher
As a Healer
As the Christ.
3.04.2012
I’ll be watching you
18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
(Psalm 33:38)
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
(Psalm 146:9)
Maybe the reason
God’s presence is so unnerving
is that
He can see us
while we can only sense He’s there.
As we meditate on the Magi witnessing
God in the flesh,
let us remember the God of all the universes
is watching you.
Shine
As daylight becomes
shorter and shorter in duration
each day of the Advent season
(until Christmas), 1
doesn’t mean we should lose our light
during this time of year.
Note 1- Poetically, not meteorologically
Morning Prayer of the Depressed
Turn, O LORD! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us.
Have compassion on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us.
(Psalm 90:13-17)
Advent is the season of the coming of the Light,
let us remember those who live with darkness.
O God!
When is this gonna end?
When will Your love change the pain
caused by my darkness?
Today, bring the newness that You want for me.
Break open this stone heart.
May each moment of the day be remembered
and kept in the new center You created.
For without You
There is no Amen.
Interesting interpretation of the Wedding Feast Parable
1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying:
2"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14)
From today's lectionary readings
2"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14)
From today's lectionary readings
When we read about a king in the parables,
we think God.
But what if the king in this parable is evil?
So evil that the invited one per centers (those who usually back the empire)
send their excuses regrets.
A king so evil he kills them for not RSVP-ing.
So in order to keep up appearances he invites the townspeople to the party.
And what if Jesus (not one for appearances)
is the One who defies the evil king by not wearing a wedding robe?
In a foretelling of Good Friday,
He is speechless in his defense
and the king orders Him out to the darkness
to His death.
The question is: Are the few that are chosen
the ones opposed to the power of the world/empire?
As we meditate on Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus headed toward Egypt
and away from the evil king,
it is an interesting interpretation to think about.
You think you've seen the sun, (but you ain't seen it shine)
Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5
O Lord,
You are the Creator of all things.
But of all the objects You designed,
the ones You treasure
weren’t in place on Genesis week.
Your ways.
Your path.
Your truth.
Salvation.
Those take time, patience, understanding.
Therefore, I will wait for You
all day
a week
a year
the rest of my days.
Prepare
I also withheld the rain from you
….yet you did not return to me
I laid waste your gardens and your vineyards;
….yet you did not return to me
I killed your young men with the sword
…yet you did not return to me,
Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;
because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel!
(Amos 4:7-9;12)
Prepare to meet your God!
Can we hear the choirs as the shepherds?
Can we see the light of the stars as the astrologers?
Can we wait as Simeon and Anna in the Temple?
May this be the theme of your Christmas -
Prepare to meet your God!
And no one dared disturb the sound of silence
A king is not saved by his great army; (Psalm 33:16)
[So,] do not put your trust in princes, (Psalm 146:3)
They do not know how to do right, says the LORD,
those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.
(Amos 3:10)
The children crying out in the temple,
"Hosanna to the Son of David,"
the scribes became angry and said to him,
"Do you hear what these are saying?"
Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read,
'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise for yourself'?" (Matthew 21:15b-16)
God tells the world:
Force can not save.
Politics can not redeem.
Nor corruption or evil.
But the world tries to hush,
(and wants to crush)
the little children singing, “Hosanna!”
to the One
that is to overcome.
11.12.2011
What a Wonderful World
(Genesis 1)
The noise of the animals is a low roar.
The waves continually kissing the shore.
The breezes making the trees dance.
The humans are inventing romance.
There’s no such thing as zombies.
Creation is a just a big ole party.
The light of the stars are set on low.
The night creatures come late to the show.
The birds are singing with Eve.
God looks at all He achieved.
That’s the first Saturday night story.
Creation is a just a big ole party.
10.29.2011
10.10.2011
Do as I do
Meditation on Matthew 25:35-36
For I was hungry
and you fed Me
as I provided manna in the desert.
For I was thirsty
and you gave Me something to drink
as I showed the abandoned Hagar a well in the desert.
I was naked
and you gave Me clothes
as I did with Adam and Eve.
I was sick
and you looked after Me
as I took care of a faithful Job.
I was in prison
and you came to see Me
as I heard the cries of My exodus people.
The King said
Follow My example
and do the same.
Notes:
Verse 1- Exodus 16
Verse 2- Genesis 21:19
Verse 3- Genesis 3:21
Verse 4- Job 2:6
Verse 5- Exodus 2:23-24
10.02.2011
You can't walk away from the price you pay
(Matthew 14:45-46)
The Kingdom of God is like a pearl
That you would pay everything you had in the world.
Would you show off your treasure every day?
Or keep it safe knowing the price you paid?
Or would you wait for the time
When you could buy it on sale?
9.23.2011
“He will quiet you with His love”
(Zephaniah 3:17c)
I walked into this empty church I had no place else to go
When the sweetest voice I ever heard, whispered to my soul
I don't need to be forgiven for loving you so much
It's written in the scriptures
It's written there in blood
I even heard the angels declare it from above
There ain't no cure,
There ain't no cure,
There ain't no cure for love.
When the sweetest voice I ever heard, whispered to my soul
I don't need to be forgiven for loving you so much
It's written in the scriptures
It's written there in blood
I even heard the angels declare it from above
There ain't no cure,
There ain't no cure,
There ain't no cure for love.
**Leonard Cohen
Slow down.
Shut it off.
Be still.
He will quiet you with His love.
Listen.
Learn.
Be open.
He will quiet you with His love.
Forgive others.
As well as yourself.
Be a blessing.
He will quiet you with His love.
All the Marthas.
Look at the Marys.
Come.
He will quiet you with His love.
9.17.2011
Dealing the Authentic
Buy the truth and do not sell it.
(Proverbs 23:12a)
Where can you find truth?
Real truth
not that packaged crap - Trooth.®
I heard there was one guy
who said He was the truth.
The competition came down on Him hard,
but I heard He’s still dealing
the authentic.
He brags that it’s
so good it will set you free.
9.11.2011
Baptism
The little saint
comes forward to become
a citizen
of the Kingdom.
The little saint
raises her face
to the empty cross
of salvation and grace
The little saint
knows no wisdom
only love --
the passport to the Kingdom.
O little saint!
For the rest of your days,
worship the LORD for
He is holy.
And
please believe it
precious one -
you are too.
Amen.
8.20.2011
Tabitha
(Acts 9:36-42)
There was a female Lazarus named Tabitha
But hardly anyone knows of her story
So when October 25th comes up on the calendar
Let’s remember her part for God’s glory.
8.13.2011
Without Love, where would you be now?
(Luke 7:1-10)
I am not worthy
to share in Your glory.
Yet You slaughter
the fatted heifer
for us prodigal sons and daughters.
I am not worthy
to share in Your glory.
As I hammer the nails in
For my sin.
I am not worthy
to share in Your glory.
But say the word
And my soul shall be healed.
8.07.2011
When talking around God’s table
When talking around God’s table
Let’s not act like Cain and Abel.
Your argument should not be a big drama
and please don’t end it with, “Yo mama!”
When discussing around God’s table,
Let your heart and soul be graceful.
In order to be God’s spokesman
Your mind must be faithful and open.
When responding to someone at God’s table
Let not your words be wasteful.
There is a time for your statement.
So be patient, be patient, be patient.
When listening at God’s table
Let your attitude be charitable.
Everyone hasn’t traveled the same road as you,
Listen to the route taken by the girl with the tattoo.
When sitting around God’s table
Understand everyone’s position if you’re able.
Don’t be on Facebook with your iPhone
When someone is making their thoughts known.
When talking around God’s table
Let not your speech be hateful.
And the point you’re trying to sell
Doesn’t improve when you yell.
When debating around God’s table
Do not use stories from your crazy uncle.
If you want the question to have closure
Unite the facts with Scripture.
Have a leader at God’s table.
Someone who can discern fact from fable.
Someone who will let everyone be heard.
Someone who believes:
God first, everyone else second, and he or she third.
At end of the session at God’s table
Does our business return to usual?
Maybe God’s purpose in the end
Was for you to make a new friend.
7.31.2011
A place Mapquest can't find
(1 Kings 19)
God saw Elijah‘s little world falling apart,
and asked
“What are you doing here?"
And
God in His mercy
fed and sheltered Elijah
and
waited as a breeze
waited as a tremor
waited as an inferno
then
repeated His question
in a small voice
“What are you doing here?”
And today
God in His infinite mercy
feeds and shelters His children
who are worrying about
their little worlds falling apart.
And He waits
sometimes as a brook
sometimes as a cloud
sometimes as a flood
and
repeats His question
in a small voice
“What are you doing here?”
7.23.2011
How do you sleep while your bed is burning?
(Deuteronomy 28)
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you
that I have set before you
life and death, blessings and curses. (Deut. 30:19)
God gave his answer
to his people:
Follow me and be peaceful.
(14 verses of peace, love and understanding.)
or
Be ready to inflicted with My cancer.
(54 verses of pain, hate and misunderstanding.)
There will be blessings when you go in.
There will be blessings when you go out.
There will be blessings for your next of kin.
There will be blessings for all of the devout.
But woe to the one
who places anything ahead of Me or My Son.
This is not a theological abstraction.
This is the real fatal attraction.
You will build your dream house
However, the contractor will move in with your spouse.
Your children will leave the nation.
Your broken heart will lack medication.
You will turn to the gods of the moment.
However, none of them are potent
against My wrath.
Please child, do the math -
I AM the One.
You will borrow from your foes
It’s a matter of time before they foreclose.
In your world, they are the new boss,
They ain’t the same as the old Boss.
First comes drought,
Then follows famine without a doubt.
In a while, you and the old lady
fight to see who eats the baby.
For the rest of your lives
The goal is to survive.
The total strangers you beg from
give you the finger.
(And it ain’t the thumb.)
WELCOME TO THE EXILE!
7.17.2011
Only drowning men can see Him
(Matthew 14:22-33)
Peter asked:
“If it’s You,
can I do this too?”
“Come,” He said as the wind blew
And
Out of the boat came apostle from Judah
And ending up standing on aqua firma.
Peter so much wanted to be the ally
of his beloved Rabbi.
Anything the Teacher excelled
was something he wanted do as well.
But the Eleven screamed
“This must a dream!”
Peter heard them through the gales
and realized one little detail:
“I think I’m going to fail!”
Jesus pulled him out
and asked, “Why did you doubt?”
But the Rabbi also learned something that night,
Shortcuts never work out exactly right.
7.10.2011
Love’s Choice
This bread is light, dissolving, almost air,
A little visitation on my tongue,
A wafer-thin sensation, hardly there.
This taste of wine is brief in flavour, flung
A moment to the palate’s roof and fled,
Even its aftertaste a memory.
Yet this is how He comes. Through wine and bread
Love chooses to be emptied into me.
He does not come in unimagined light
Too bright to be denied, too absolute
For consciousness, too strong for sight,
Leaving the seer blind, the poet mute,
Chooses instead to seep into each sense,
To dye himself into experience.
A little visitation on my tongue,
A wafer-thin sensation, hardly there.
This taste of wine is brief in flavour, flung
A moment to the palate’s roof and fled,
Even its aftertaste a memory.
Yet this is how He comes. Through wine and bread
Love chooses to be emptied into me.
He does not come in unimagined light
Too bright to be denied, too absolute
For consciousness, too strong for sight,
Leaving the seer blind, the poet mute,
Chooses instead to seep into each sense,
To dye himself into experience.
The Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds
Meditation on the painting in the Sugar Land FUMC chapel
(first painting)
Who’s that lurking
around the Christmas stage set?
The crosses of Death
meeting their Executioner.
7.02.2011
Where's the love we once knew?
(Revelation 4:9-11)
The God of love sat at His table
with coffee and a bagel.
He started a meditation
on His favorite creation.
Oh man,
Why can’t you follow the plan?
Instead of the Song of Solomon
a booty call.
Instead of My will be done
Everyone’s at the shopping mall.
Instead of the cross being My signature
it’s jewelry.
Instead of the Kingdom being the purpose singular
You invent a culture of fantasy.
Instead of forgiving those in our debt,
You demand your pound of flesh.
Instead of being living water wet
Your idol is Jesus Cash.
The God of love got up from His table
Left the bagel and gulped His coffee cold.
Walked over to a table of angels,
And asked, “Wanna go bowl?”
6.25.2011
This is the worst trip I've ever been on
(Numbers 21:4-9)
Numbers 21:4-9
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,[
c] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
John 3:14-15
[Jesus said: ]“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
By Numbers 21
Yahweh was undone.
“I AM NOT A CHEF!
I AM DEAF
TO THEIR CRIES
FOR BURGERS AND FRIES!”
THE LORD IS SLOW TO ANGER
AND RICH IN LOVE
BUT IF YOU DECLARE HIS CUISINE MUNDANE
THERE WILL BE SNAKES ON THE PLAIN!
THIS CAUSED THE GRIPING TO CEASE
“MOSES, WE NEED SOME PEACE !
GO THE DIVINE ONE
AND
ASK FOR MERCY OR ELSE WE’RE DONE!”
Moses asked
and God gave him the task
of fashioning a crucifix
of a bronze snake attached to the sticks.
God advised:
“Those who are struck with venom
and look at this creation
Will escape death’s condemnation.
And by the way - You’re welcome.”
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