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Some words I like, about God’s Kingdom, Sabbath, and Forgiveness….

“The “kingdom of God,” then, represents the infinite task of making good on Elohim’s “good,” of repeating his “good” from day to day, which means letting God’s rule obtain.”

“The Sabbath is to be a day of recreation, of re-creation, of continually renewing the ongoing work of creation, of mending the broken and healing the sick, of straightening the crooked and making the lame to walk, of inscribing Elohim’s “good” on the bodies and the minds of those whose lives he touched.”

“To be pure of heart is to be released from sin, which means to break the shackles of sin, quite the way a crippled man is healed and thereafter able to move about freely. These shackles are self-imposed, and God releases us from them. So when Jesus taught “your sins are released,” he meant, you are made healthy again, no longer crippled or impaired.” – Caputo

Perhaps we’ve made too much economy in the realm of forgiveness. Two words used in the New Testament for forgiveness – “charizomai” and “aphiemi“. Neither are economic words. Jesus didn’t go around balancing the Kingdom’s budget of offenses. He went around healing and bringing new life, and releasing prisoners.

But then again, we do see Jesus teaching us how to pray – “forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors”. Which in Matthew appears to be simply that, although the word used can be a metaphor for sin – the version in Luke clarifies the question by actually using the word for sin…revealing that Jesus was indeed speaking a language the people could understand. Which word did Christ actually use in the Lord’s prayer?

Perhaps the mixed message is on purpose. The Kingdom of God is about being released from this debt, AND from this debt-mentality. Both in a financial and property-based sense, and the keeping track of offenses sense – as we see later in Jesus’ dialogue about how often one should forgive their brother.

May we live our lives as people who are free from debts, allowing us to relate to others free from any indebtedness to us. In every way possible. And to live that, knowing God has brought/is bringing release and healing to creation through those created in His image living from such freedoms…and may our children, our families, and our homes be centered on living these out.

2 Timothy 1:3-7 – “I am grateful to God – whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did – when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power, and of love, and of self-discipline.”

Paul is writing to Timothy as a leader in a very new church. He’s trying to encourage Timothy, though he remembers the tears Timothy shed, possibly seeing Paul dragged away by the Romans. He’s honest that there are tough circumstances in their lives, but he focuses on this being so much larger than what is happening here and now.

He compliments the sincerity of Timothy’s faith, and connects it to a long line of faithful heritage. Maybe you enjoy a heritage like Timothy’s. Maybe you connect yourself with the heritage of those who helped lead you to Christ. Maybe you’re beginning a new heritage that someday your grandchildren will be encouraged by.

No matter what our lineage, though, the emphasis here is not on where you come from or who you came from. The emphasis is on the spirit that you have been given as a gift from God. A gift that apparently we need reminded of and “rekindled” at times.

This “rekindling” makes me think of hockey. I’m excited there will actually be a season this year, even if it’s shortened!!  If you watch much, you’ve seen a game where there’s only a minute left in the game. The score is 3-2, and the losing team pulls their goalie as a last ditch effort. It allows them to have an extra attacker on the ice…and sometimes they can score a goal right away. When they score that “GOAL!!!!!” and it becomes 3-3….tied up with less than a minute to play – their spirit is re-kindled. They see hope in a potential victory. The momentum is in their favor, and you see it on their faces, their energy, and their enthusiasm. You also see it in the desperation in the opposing team.

This is what we’ve just gone through at Christmas. Yes, there are difficult circumstances in our lives. We each know of areas of our world that bring us to our knees in prayer. But we’ve celebrated Christmas, and have been reminded that Jesus has come to be Lord over all things. That God is Immanuel – God with us. This is sooo much more than a tied hockey game. The victory is ours. The spirit we’ve been given is NOT a spirit of the cowardly, that goes with the flow and tries not to upset the status quo.

It’s a Spirit of POWER…not our strength, but God’s. Of Love….not romantic emotions of fluff….but actual, save the world and love the unloved stuff. And finally, of self-discipline – So that the power we have access to stays in check, and the love God has given us retains its inherent purpose.

So today, and this year….may your gift be rekindled. The victory is ours. May it show on your faces, in the speed of your skates, and the way you handle the puck. With power. With love. And with self-discipline.

Well, here we are in 2013!  The year we hope and pray to bring home our daughter from the DRC in Africa.  There are still many unknowns, but we have faith that God will help us kick down the doors still closed ahead of us.  Here’s a (not-so-brief) summary of our adoption journey so far:

1. The Announcement – April 20, 2012

2. Update – Preparations – April 29, 2012

3. Update – rams and hope – May 11, 2012

4. Update – Creating Context for Kingdom – May 31, 2012

5. Update – Praying for the DRC – June 14, 2012

6. Update- Still Getting Ready… – July 5, 2012

7. Update – On Adoption… – July 26th, 2012

8. Update – Not Waiting – August 16, 2012

9. Update – Praying for Peace – August 22, 2012

10. Update – red tape of love – November 7, 2012

11. Update – love does a book review – November 29, 2012

12. Update – both hands! – December 31, 2012

So far we’ve raised quite a bit of money, awareness, and prayers for the DRC…..will you join us???  If you’re able to give, click on the “Both Hands” link on the right side of this page.  All donations are tax deductible!  Thanks so much for joining us in prayer, and we look forward to celebrating with you as our daughter is brought home this year!!!