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Guest Posts Wanted: The Hand of God November 21, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Bible Study, Christianity, House Church, apostolic, deliverance, links, personal, testimony.
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I’m thinking of doing a series of guest posts on my blog.  I wanted to have several different perspectives on people’s definitions and experiences with the hand of God – however you felt like elaborating on it.

Is anyone interested?  How has the hand of the Lord been moving in your life?  I know this blog almost has a ‘niche’ for the supernatural and testimonies, but I had this idea and wondered how it would ‘fly’.  I’m thinking of writing having the posts under the main heading “The Hand of God” with whatever you want to title it as the sub-title. “The Hand of God: My experience with God” or something like that.

I was thinking of doing it starting in two weeks time – give you all time to come up with something in the spirit (or should that be Spirit ;) ) of the blog. Respond if you are interested! I’ll add every single one I get, so it might go beyond a week , but in the spirit of community, it will get more people who visit here to interact more – and we will all learn about God and each other!

Thoughts on Prophecy November 20, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Bible Study, Christianity, prophetic.
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I’ve taken my very long comment on my earlier post and decided to make it a post on its own. To backtrack – I asked a question on my very first poll about if God ever revealed his destiny to you (my loyal readers, and even those who just happened by!)  I then realized that most people had their destiny revealed via someone having a prophecy for them. In answer to one of my commenters, I started expounding on prophecy, so I decided to put it in its own post – and here we are!

So, to the question of whether prophecy is real or not… here’s a Scripture to verify what I’m saying (that I believe that it is not only real, but important for our lives):

Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified Bible)

18Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]–blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.

Where there is no prophetic revelation the people perish…. When I realized that this is what this verse said, as I usually hear it in the KJV (“Where there is no vision, the people perish….”) this blew my MIND!!!!

Of course, God also says in his word…

1 Thessalonians 5:20 (New International Version)

20do not treat prophecies with contempt.

So let’s press in for the prophetic… Even Jesus said

Luke 4:4 (Amplified Bible)

4And Jesus replied to him, It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone [a]but by every word and expression of God.(A)

And that word “WORD” in the above passage is “RHEMA”…

Digging into this word we see it means

Outline of Biblical Usage
1) that which is or has been uttered by the living voice , thing spoken, word
a) any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning
b) speech, discourse
1) what one has said
c) a series of words joined together into a sentence (a declaration of one’s mind made in words)
1) an utterance
2) a saying of any sort as a message, a narrative
a) concerning some occurrence
2) subject matter of speech, thing spoken of
a) so far forth as it is a matter of narration
b) so far as it is a matter of command
c) a matter of dispute, case at law

Do you see it? Rhema – The LIVING VOICE…. WOW…  That is so deep….

How important is the prophetic voice to you? Do you hear the Living Voice for yourself?

Supernatural Stories – Instantaneous Healing! November 2, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Christianity, deliverance, personal, testimony.
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Continuing with my Supernatural Stories,  I remembered this one from when I was in Tampa on the Break Free conference with Warfare Plus Ministries – the umbrella body of New Beginnings Fellowship, where I had gone for my deliverance training.  I was staying with two of the guys Michael and David in their room that night, spending time with the group. (My aunt lives in Florida, so for the majority of the trip I was staying at her her house.)

Michael and I were talking up a storm, about anything and everything – about what we were learning at the conference, about family etc.  Michael was asking me questions about God and about ministry and I was answering to the best of my ability, as well.  He was telling me about his son and was asking me to pray for him and stuff.  We talked long into the night and finally drifted off to sleep – typical behaviour when out on a road trip, right?

In the morning, however, he woke up – and told me his tonsils were swollen.  Just. Like. That.  I mean, he wasn’t sick or anything before.  It wasn’t like he was catching something that was going around.  I even think, if I remember correctly that he was fine in the morning, but somehow this thing dropped on him and he got hoarse and felt his tonsils swelling.

All I remember is, he asked for prayer, so I was starting to ask God to heal him when I interrupted myself and felt faith rise up within me.

“I ask you Lord, to heal – No…”, I said, getting up and placing my hand gently on his throat, “I command healing NOW in the name of Jesus Christ. Be healed!”

His head rocked back a little, like if he’d been struck on the forehead.  When he brought his head up again, the pain had gone.  Instantly.

Just remembered that and thought I’d share it.  Isn’t God amazing????????

(What’s also amazing is how short this post is! HA!)

Calling for a Counter Culture October 27, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Christianity, House Church, House churches, apostolic, emergent, links, missional, new churches, personal, prophet, prophetic, testimony.
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I’ve had a message the Lord gave me about 3 weeks ago that has shaken me up – again.  God has been speaking to me about the fact that he wants to create what he called a ‘counter culture’ of Christianity – which is not the same thing as the religious culture of having Christian music, Christian apparel and stuff… but really, really impacting society by bringing in Kingdom thinking and Kingdom principles.  I emailed it out to a couple friends (okay, about 20) asking for input, and Archie put it straight on his blog – go to it here –  http://wp.me/pwYvw-w.   I am also attempting to attach the document itself here – until I do get it done sucessfully, you can get it from the above link.  (Update: Here is the link to the Counter Culture document itself. Finally figured out how to get it done!)

Disclaimer – For those who read the text of the email on Archie’s website I wasn’t thinking at the time I sent my original email that it would go beyond the Caribbean – at least not yet …. so the original wording is specific to that region.  (“Yeah, right,” I can hear some of you saying. “You didn’t think it would get out?”)  The other thing is that the wording seems to single out my Christian experience at my tertiary institutions, but underneath God is really speaking to the fact that he wants to interact with society in a real way, in a new way.

The other thing I want to say about this you will not get from either the email or the article.  The words God actually told me were, “Counter culture is dangerous!“  Then he showed me that Jesus was into counter culture – he interacted with society where it was at – without the religious body of his day – and the religious people killed him. As the article shows, Jesus’ followers continued to radicalize the faith and were killed as well!
What God was telling me – and what I’m passing on to you – is that this direction is where his heart is, but that whoever decides to seek the new thing God is doing will be at least questioned by the more traditionalistic thinkers … and, in the worst case scenario, you will be persecuted for it.
However, this is what God is saying in this time.  It’s not like God is saying, “This is too dangerous for you.”  He is saying, “This is dangerous – but this is where I am.  Follow me in spite of the danger.“
Please comment.  This is not about stats for me. This is about getting God’s word into as much hearts as possible – and finding out what God is doing to extend his Kingdom.

Supernatural Stories – Blessings and Curses October 21, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Christianity, deliverance, personal, testimony.
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I remembered my Supernatural Stories series the other day (actually, every time I look at my stats – realizing that people like to read them!)  and I said to myself that I really should do another one. 

I was listening to a Derek Prince Legacy Radio program yesterday entitled “The Nature of Blessings and Curses” where Derek Prince explained what blessings are and what curses are, and it made me remember something that happened to me when I was young….

I remembered having a diplomatic discussion with my parents as a teenager as to appropriate forms of punishment. (Don’t ask!)   My father decided then that, as I hated going outside for any reason (I lived on my computer and in books) that one day, when I needed to be disciplined, he would make me go outside (at around 7 pm – which is dark in Barbados) and water our trees that he had planted on our land.  We live on a good size property with dozens of trees planted orchard style around our house. 
It was a good punishment for me – I hated the idea of dropping my books to go outside at that hour to water plants!  My mother tried to help me by suggesting that I talk to the plants while I watered them.  I thought that was a brilliant idea, so I named each plant and literally swore at it as I watered it. 
She was right.  It did make me feel better… but not for long!
I forgot to adjust my language and my volume when I got close to the kitchen window – where my father was washing dishes…. and I ended up getting a spanking anyway… :lol:
But you know what?  I realized over the next couple months that each plant that I cursed had stunted growth…. would not grow at all, bent and gnarled!
I mentioned the plants’ pradicament to my then girlfriend (now my wife) Lesanne about a year later.  When I told the whole story, she told me that I should go back to our orchard and bless the plants again.  She reminded me that we’re created in the image of God, and as such we have creative power in our mouths.  Added to that, she reminded me, as a prophetic person I have double responsibility to be careful what I say.
So, sheepishly, I went outside and reversed the curses and blessed the ground….
And years later, the trees are even taller than me!!!!!!

Statistics Show Spiritaual Searching October 15, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Christianity, emergent, missional, personal.
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I realized with a shock while looking at my blog stats that the most searched term on WordPress that gets people to my blog this week (and last week too, I think!) is ‘demon stories’.  Interesting….

I realize that a lot of people read these stories a lot:

The most popular post on my blog for all time is still The True Meaning of the Cross.

For those interested, here is the post linking to my entire deliverance series: Deliverance Questions Revisited.

These statistics show me one thing.  There are a lot of people in the world who are searching for a spiritual connection, a spiritual experience.  Many of them may have questions about whether demons exist or if Christians can be demonized. Maybe they’ve gone through some unexplained things, or maybe they are questioning one of the things they were taught.  Whatever the reason, I realize that many many people still need to be touched by the power of our risen Saviour!

I encourage all of you reading this right now to send a prayer to the Lord, praying for everyone who is going to be impacted by the words they read.  And then go out and do something!

I was reading John 4 this morning… and Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman was an unusual mission opportunity!

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) Jn 4:9

And Jesus’ challenge – to his disciples and to us – the fields are ripe to harvest.

34“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

The Internet – a ripe mission field!  Get involved!  God is speaking to us to find the unusual circumstances where he can speak into lives.  God does not deal with being boxed in!

I pray for everyone reading this.  I ask you, Father God, to speak into their lives.  Let them hear your voice, and prompt them in unusual ways to extend your kingdom.  I pray that the power of the Lord be upon them!  In Jesus’ name!  MAY YOUR KINGDOM BE EXTENDED! AMEN!

Throne Room Experience! October 9, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Christianity, prophetic, testimony.
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I promise that this post will be short – to make up for the last one… I’ve been inspired to share this one while listening to Pastor Bill Johnson from Bethel Church speak about the Throne Room experience.  As I mentioned at my friend Tam’s blog, Pastor Johnson comments often that testimonies carry an anointing with them to duplicate the miracle spoken of.  The reason for this blog is testimony – at it’s core – and I do pray that all who read, pass by, lurk ( ;) ) or are in any way connecting with these words…  I pray that the Spirit of the LORD be released into you for miracles!

My wife and I had a time of praying to the Lord last Sunday that was so strong – the presence of the Lord descended and she was into heavy intercession before she started prophesying over me!  But after that time,  this happened: (This is an excerpt from my journal)

The presence of the Lord was so strong that, after we had prayed, when she went to the computer (that has been playing Israel and New Breed songs all through our prayer time), she could literally feel the Presence of the Lord all around the computer.  She sat there to make sure a song played, and I had come up behind her and touched her shoulder to get her attention – and she fell out under the power of the Lord, which surprised both of us! She was down and speaking in tongues, with the power of the Lord heavy on her.  I tried to lift her up when it seemed to lift – but when I spoke again she crumpled for a second time and she said, “It’s you!” So when it started to lift for the second time she told me not to speak until it lifted completely.

And, we have a prophetic miracle too – she prophesied that rain would come when she played “Open the floodgates of heaven – let it rain!” and – after it had not rained for the WHOLE DAY…. at 5 pm, when we finished our prayer time, and EXACTLY when she started to play the song … the rain poured down in a torrent!

She also told me before we prayed that, when she prayed the chorus, “Let it Rain” on the computer that it would rain physically – and, so said, so done!  It hadn’t rained all day – and, just as she said would happen, when she started to play the song the rain suddenly POURED down!  I was in the shower, and I heard a faint shofar in the distance – it sounded like it was coming from the computer.  I asked her if she heard it, and if it was in the song – but she hadn’t heard it, nor was it in the song – I played it over twice to make sure!

Come! Share a testimony or connect with the power of the Lord!

A Party in Heaven….. September 20, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Christianity, devotional, personal, prophetic, testimony.
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“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – Luke 15:10

I am rejoicing this morning! The Lord is good and worthy to be praised!   Yesterday, my wife went to her church’s cell group’s for people born in June and came home with prophetic words for our two boys and for me.

Before I mention what they were, let me say that before our boys were out of their mother’s womb, we had prayed, prophesied and laid hands on them through her bump and called God’s pupose down upon them. We spoke the prophetic into and over them both and said to God that they belonged to him.  Our second son, Jonathan, especially, has a major call upon his life.  We knew this because Satan kept trying to take him out – even BEFORE he came out of the womb!  There were several times that Lesanne (my wife) nearly tripped and fell, there was one person who was encouraging us to abort him (as he was a surprise to us and we weren’t planning for him!) and even some medical conditions that arose in Lesanne during and after his birth.  We always said that God had to have a special work for him if Satan would be working so hard to stop him from being born!

Our older son Nikao  (means ‘He who overcomes’), who is four years old, loves to make up songs and we got him into learning the violin early, as ours is a musical family – his mother and I and one aunt (her sister) all sing well, and her sister’s husband plays the keyboard at his assembly.  Her uncle plays the organ at an Anglican church as well.   With that being said, the one giving the prophetic word over Nikao didn’t know any of that when he said that Nick would be a prophetic psalmist, who would be able to play several different instruments and would be able to release the presence of God through songs that he plays and writes.   People will be released from bondages when he plays, too!  Our friend said that strongholds would be broken when he plays, and that nothing will stop the songs from being released.  When I heard that both Lesanne and I were excited, to say the least!  WOW!

Our younger son Jonathan is two, and loves to dance.  He also likes to try to boss people around! :lol:  Anyway, for him, our friend said that he saw the little boy as a dancer and a preacher, also able to release the prophetic.  Again, our friend doesn’t see when Jonathan dances at every single jingle that comes onto the television. You should hear him singing “How Great is Our God” – he can’t pronounce all the words yet, but he loves it!  Our friend said that Jonathan will be a prophetic worshipper, and that the Glory of the Lord will fill the place when he ministers – like when the Glory filled the Temple after Solomon dedicated it.  Again …. WOW!

For me our friend simply said that God has an anointing for me, and when it hits me it will be big and awesome.

God is ….. WOW….

But all of that is just the introduction for the real reason for this post.

This morning, before I sent the family off to assembly, Nikao was watching a show on TV with a preacher praying for the sick and seeng them healed.  First, I realized that this was the first time that he was sitting down in one place and being intent on the TV for something that wasn’t cartoons. Lesanne and I started to pray that what God was doing on the TV would impart to the little boy.  At breakfast, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit, so I knelt down beside him as he had his cereal.  I asked him if he remembered the story of Jesus dying for him on the Cross.  He did.  (He makes me read it to him quite often.)  I had a toy in my hand and I asked him if I gave it to him as a gift what would he say.  He said “Thank you” after I presented him with the toy.  I explained that Jesus dying on the Cross was a gift to us, so that we could live with him and have him in our hearts.  I sang the old Sunday School chorus that I learned as a boy:

“Into my heart, into my heart
Come into my heart Lord Jesus
Come in today
Come in to stay
Come into my heart Lord Jesus”

And I explained that to have Jesus into his heart all he has to do is thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ’s death.  I was being a little overwhelmed by the presence of God and my emotions at that point, so Lesanne led him in a prayer of salvation.  I laid hands on him afterwards and prayed that God’s purposes would be done in his life, and that what he had prayed be sealed so that Satan would not steal it.  And then I knelt on the floor and cried in joy. :)

I know the little boy is only four.  I’m praying that my God will keep him, as the Word says that He is able to keep that which I have committed to him.  So in faith I am declaring to the blogosphere – I LED MY LITTLE BOY TO JESUS CHRIST TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

!Nikao, Robert, Lesanne and Jonathan (l-r)

Nikao, Robert, Lesanne and Jonathan (l-r)

Please pray for our family – Nikao, his brother Jonathan, my wife Lesanne and myself – that GOD WILL CONTINUE TO POUR OUT HIS BLESSINGS ON US ALL – and that at the proper time, Jonathan too, will COME TO FAITH and that the Glory of the LORD will rest upon us ALL!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY! GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!!!!!!

“Remember…” September 10, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Christianity, devotional, personal, testimony.
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Have not updated this blog for a long time – I’ve been swamped with REAL LIFE…. and I have kept up with the blogosphere by reading, but have not let you into my life for a while now.

For those of you who are still reading – thanks for sticking with these unplanned hiatuses… I don’t like them any more than you do!  For those who have stumbled onto The Hand of God, welcome!

Now,  onto my post!

I have been trying to spend some more time with the Lord recently in the midst of changes of schedule.  My older son (now 4) has started primary school – can anyone say ‘disruption’?  Between trying to figure out new routes and times, and figuring out whether I could go into work later or not after dropping the younger son (now 2) to nursery… it was a trip just getting out the door on mornings!

I’ve also had more responsibility at work, necessitating ingenious ways of getting on top of my workload – including waking up at 4 in the morning to connect to the office computers so that I can check on the health of the company databases (I’m an IT professional in my other life.)

So –  it was two days ago, and it was about 3:3o AM.  I had just finished doing my early morning database checks, and I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit.  I wanted to go and pray!  I told my friend Jennifer that I’d talk to her later and signed off chat.  (She’s in South Africa, which is like 9 hours ahead of my time zone in the Caribbean, so it was 3 AM on my side, but she’d probably just gotten to work at 9 AM her time.)

I sat on my couch and I just waited before the Lord.  I prayed a bit, but then eventually went silent –  and I just heard him say, “Zakar.”  Now, as I commented in an earlier post, one meaning for this word is “remember.”  Immediately after I heard that word, my mind was awash with memories of times when I was before large groups of my peers during university days and praying and prophesying over them.  Different times and instances passed through my mind – a couple of times I was standing at the front with long lines of people filing up for me to lay hands on them; times I was prophesying at large student gatherings – all with that central theme of God using me.

For those who don’t know, I’m currently on sabbatical from ministry – seeking God and wanting more of him as I work through some personal issues.  To have images from my past come unbidden to mind – especially these images – spoke volumes to me.  It told me that God has not finished with me yet.  It encouraged me that, as the Word says, “…God’s gifts and call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29b)  It made me long for the time where I’m released to minister again… and it made me seek God more for divine encounters with his Holy Spirit!

I then went to Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com) and saw that the Verse for the Day was Psalm 143:10, which says, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God: may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”  Sounds much like a prayer of my heart, so I decided to read the whole psalm.  I was struck to silence by Ps. 143:5, which says:

I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.

That’s exactly what God was doing before I saw the Scripture… having me remember days of long ago, and making me remember and meditate on the stuff he was doing!  It was an awesome time for me.  God, you are WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE!  I’m so pumped to see where God is leading me…

Now, to stir life back into this connection with the interwebs….. here’s a question!

Has God done something in your life that is worthy of remembering?  Let this be a memorial space…. let us know what you remember! Join us in “meditat[ing] in all [His] works, and consider[ing] what [His] hands have done.”

Life Together: Relationship is the Key July 28, 2009

Posted by bajanpoet in Christianity, House Church, House churches, new churches, personal.
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“It is a picture of my bride, the Church: individuals who together form a spiritual city with a living river flowing through the middle, adn on both shores trees growing with fruit that will heal the hurt and sorrows of the nations. ….”

“….. You’re talking about the church as this woman you’re in love with; I’m sure I haven’t met her…. She’s not the place I go to on Sundays.”

‘Mack,  that’s because you’re only seeing the institution, a man-made system.  That’s not what I came to build.  What I see are people and their lives, a living breathing community of all those who love me, not buildings and programs.”

The above is a quote from “The Shack”, which I am reading through at the moment.  (Thank you for all who suggested – several times – that I read it … I can see why!) This book is so rich in truth about God and his relationship with us … as an extension of the relationship the Trinity has within itself.  I can’t put it down!

And yes, I know it’s a work of fiction.  I am not equating it with Scripture, but the concepts in this book are so poignant. The author – AND God the Father (called Papa in the book) – work deliberately to utterly destroy what men believe they know about God and his relationship with us.  I can see why some people would be uncomfortable with it – but I just have two words to say:  poetic license. Enough said.  *grin*  Here’s an example – those who read the book would know that Papa is God the Father, but in the book is represented as an African American woman, who said, in part,

“… I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are dreived from my nature.  If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it’s because I  love you.  For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me Papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning.”

Powerful stuff.

*******************************************

I didn’t plan it, but this post is an extension of my earlier Life Together Series – Showing Mercy, A Mutual Dependency, Authentic Friendships, and  A Shared Life. In fact, before my hiatus, I was dealing with relationship …. and the LoTR post that I still have to set up (sorry for promising for so long) will deal with fellowship and loyalty in relationship as well… stay with me.  It’s been a rough road for me – thanks for sticking this out with me.  Anyway as I was saying….

If the Church is not about the building, about the institution (“I don’t create institutions – nver have, never will”, Jesus said in the book) – what is it? Or, as Mack asked, “How can I become a part of that church?  This woman that you seem to be so gaga over?”

Jesus answers,

“It’s simple, Mack.  It’s all about relationships and simply sharing life.   What we are doing right now … being open and available to others around us.  My church is all about people and life is all about relationships.  You can’t build it.  It’s my job, and I’m actually pretty good at it,”

What about that?  There are so much nuggets of gold – more like great big pearls – of wisdom in this book… it’d take a while for me to process them all.

So, for God’s church to be authentic, we need to share life together,  authentic relationship.  Looking at one more set of quotes from The Shack, we bear out this point.  Talking to Jesus, Mack is asking about whose “in charge” of the Trinity – “I love how you treat each other.  It’s certainly not how I expected God to be.”  He tried to explain:

“… I have always thought of God the Father as sort of being the boss and Jesus as the one following orders, you know, being obedient…. the Sprit always seemed to be …. a free Sprit.”

Mack tried one more time,

“You know what I am talking about.  I am talking about who’s in charge.  Don’t you have a chain of command?”

Papa, Jesus and Sarayu had no idea what Mack was trying to say.  Jesus eventually said this:

“Mackenzie, we have no concept of final authority amoug us, only unity.  We are in a circle of relationship, not a chain of command… What you are seeing here is a relationship without any overlay of power.  We don’t need power over the other because we are always looking out for the best.  Hierarchy would make no sense among us.”

And we are a part of that great Scheme of relationship.  Jesus later says,

“As the crowning glory of Creation, you were made in our image, unencumbered by structure and free to simply ‘be’ in relationship with me and one another.  If you had truly learned to regard each other’s concerns as significant as your own, there would be no need for hierarchy.”

Ok so there it is.  Straight.

What does this post mean to you?  Is relationship like this possible?  Can anyone say that it is evident in their own life?  Discuss!