The Naked Alien Ministry

Paul's Advise to Evangelists:

2012-02-02T05:34:00.000-06:00

cecilandfriends.com

"When I share the Gospel, it's nothing to brag about or swell my head with . It is an obligation laid upon me by God, and woe to me if I don't do as I must. If I preach and witness of my own accord, I gain personally; but if I do it in obedience and submission, I have been entrusted with a great commission. What's in it for me? Just this: that by my actions I make the Gospel free of charge to all - my rights to the Gospel are non-exclusive! I am made free by respecting all, and am therefore free to serve all so that I may better reach them.

To the spiritual, I am spiritual. To the religious, I am religious. To the poor and powerless, I am poor and powerless. I am all things to all people so that by all means I may be heard by all - and reach some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel with which I have been blessed so as to be a blessing."

(Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 9:16-23)

Do too many try to be both Prophet and Evangelist?

Psalmic #Poetry - The 147th:

2012-01-31T05:40:00.000-06:00

OMG!

It feels so good to sing

praise songs to Him,

for He is grace-giving's

worth songs of praise.

My God:

established His Church;

gathers in the outcasts;

mends broken hearts;

nurses the wounded.

My God:

established the stars,

knowing each by name;

has power overflowing;

knows beyond our ken.

My God:

lifts the beaten-down;

beats down abusers;

likes thanking songs;

loves our heart music.

My God:

tucks us in with clouds;

rain-anoints the earth;

grass-mantles the hills;

feeds the crying young.

My God:

ignores our strengths;

overlooks our rushing;

loves righteous-livers;

loves those who hope.

OMG!

(Psalm 147:1-11 & 20c; retold by tiwago)

Prophetic #Poetry – Isaiah’s Cosmic God:

2012-01-30T05:29:00.000-06:00

NASA

Are you that ignorant?

Haven’t you heard me?

Hasn’t it always been said?

Haven’t you understood?

Beyond Earth’s feeble gravity.

Above we crawling insects.

His universe lies before us.

Spread like a house’s roof.

Our royalty and politicians.

Scarcely they take root.

His breath upon them.

Withered and blown off.

Who is God’s equal? You?

Who created the cosmos?

Can you count the atoms?

Every being known by name!

He doesn’t really know you?

He isn’t being fair to you?

Are you really so ignorant?

Haven’t you heard Him?

He is eternal and infinite.

The source of everything.

Entropy doesn’t touch Him.

Knowledge beyond asking.

He gives power to the runts.

Strengthens the powerless.

Even the vigorous young,

Grow faint on their own.

Those who abide for kairos,

Shall be made strong again.

They shall soar like eagles.

They shall never tire or faint.

(Isaiah 40:21-31 retold by Tiwago)

A New Wineskin

2012-01-27T05:32:00.000-06:00

Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.

Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, "What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and you've come to destroy us!"

Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.

Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!" News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.

(Mark 1:21-28; The Message)

In Mark, Jesus' first miracle sets the stage for his death. Here in Mark's first chapter, few words tell much. Jesus does not want to waste time getting to it, but once he starts he is not impatient. Note that the healing is on the Sabbath, that his presence is disruptive, that he has authority over demons, and that word of his first public miracle travels quickly. I'm left with the feeling that new teachings are a threat to old teachers - now that Jesus is on their radar, the plotting has begun.

Legal Isn't Always Right:

2012-01-25T05:46:00.000-06:00

Giotto di Bondone

I have heard this reading on meat sacrificed to idols (what is legal may not always be what is right) in conjunction with why some denominations use grape juice for communion - even though Jesus directed us to use wine:

Now concerning fermented fruits and grains - we know that we each possess what we believe is truth. Knowledge may swell our heads, but love broadens our shoulders. Love therefor takes precedence. We may think we know something, yet not have all the information that we need. Hence as to the drinking of alcohol, we know that there is but one God, that our idols are not real. Yet we also know that there are many things out there that people worship - things which control them. God blessed us with the vine and Jesus with the wine of his blood. Yet like any blessing, there are those who abuse it. There are others for whom it is a curse rather than a blessing. What is sacred communion for me may be defilement for another.

Alcohol does not bring us closer to God. For many, we are no worse off if we do not drink it, and no better off while we do. But we must take care that this freedom does not trip up someone else. If someone who thinks of you as a leader or a role model sees you in a bar, might they not be tempted to drink themselves? Might they think you a hypocrite? So, if by our knowledge that alcohol is not a sin for us we cause someone for whom it is bad to drink, are we not sinning against them and the Body by causing them harm?

Therefore, since wine may be the cause of someone's falling, we use grape juice in communion.

(Retelling of 1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

I'm on board with the communion issue, but if we extend the meat/wine analogy: I can't go to a bar with friends? Did Jesus turn water into juice even though there'd been heavy drinking all day? Did Jesus avoid befriending prostitutes for fear of encouraging sex addicts? Did Jesus care what people thought? To me, it seems like a case-by-case decision and situational awareness.

But I sure could be wrong...

Fire-mouths

2012-01-23T05:34:00.000-06:00

Marc Chagall

Our God will always raise up for His people from your midst prophets to whom you should listen - like you heard me, Moses. Isn't this is what you prayed for on the mountain and in the wilderness out of your fear that you would die if you came face-to-face with Him? He has heard you, and agreed: "I will give them home-grown prophets, and place My words on their tongues so that they speak to and for Me. Those who do not heed My words spoken through prophetic mouths will be held accountable by Me. Anyone who speaks as a "prophet" to anything else that you want to worship shall not be allowed to continue. Anyone with the nerve to claim to speak for Me whom I have not so commanded to do shall be no more. False prophets shall perish and their lies will go with them."

(Retelling of Deuteronomy 18:15-20)

Some words burn and some itch, while others are sweet and fall pleasantly upon our yearning ears. I often mis-hear, and it is not only aging. Sometimes I have selective hearing, and don't hear what I don't want to listen to. Other times, my mind adapts what I hear into what I want to hear. Often, I'm just not paying attention!

When I preach, I wonder what others hear. I wonder if I'm saying what God wants to say through me, or if it is what I want Him to say. I wonder if I avoid needed burning or itching words in favor of sweet comforting words - or the reverse. Do I speak for God or for me?

I must trust God, and hope that the fact that I'm not dead yet is a good sign...

The Bare Bones Story-teller Gets to the Marrow:

2012-01-20T06:41:00.000-06:00

Clementine Hunter

Mark 1:14-20)

After John was arrested:

Jesus came to Galilee.
Preached the good news.
Time is ripe for harvest.
Kingdom of God is near.
Repent.
Believe.
Jesus came to the lake shore.
Saw Simon and Andrew fishing.
Follow me fishermen.
I'll make you fishers-of-men.
They did.
Saw James and John.
They did too.

Mark's narrative is often described as a primitive painting. If so, it is thereby all the more visceral!

Psalmic #Poetry - Perspective and #OWS :

2012-01-18T05:35:00.000-06:00

Dorothea Lange

The poor and powerless are weightless.

The rich and powerful are just a delusion.

Together, they are lighter than a breath!

Don't put your trust into cheating others.

Don't steal the hopes of the hopeless.

Don't worship your wealth and standing.

(Retelling of Psalm 62:9-10)

From Whom Do I Withhold Forgiveness?

2012-01-16T07:42:00.000-06:00

Jonah Preaching in Ninevah; Jakob Steinhardt

God gave Jonah a second chance to perform his mission, and sent him to Ninevah, the capital of the Evil Empire, to preach the message God would lay on him. He drew great crowds when he told them that they had just forty more days on earth.

They believed!

They fasted!

They mourned!

(Retelling of Jonah 3:1-5)

The end is near brothers and sisters! From now on: those who are married should pretend that they aren't; those who mourn or rejoice about life should do neither; those who are rich should act like those who are poor; and those who are worldly should leave the world to its own devises. The world as we know it will soon be gone.

(Retelling of 1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

Seeing what they did, God changed His mind and no destruction came.

Jonah was thoroughly pissed off...

(Retelling of Jonah 3:10 - 4:1)

Meditation:

Jonah had been given a second chance, but was mad when God gave the Ninevites another chance. Is hypocrisy part of our human nature?
Do we believe that God can change His mind?
Do we try to bind God within the confines of scripture like it is a spell book?
Can we actively change our destiny?
Who is unforgivable?

How to Evangelize

2012-01-13T05:39:00.000-06:00

Casa del Frutteto, Pompeii

Jesus left John the Baptist, and returned home to start his own ministry. He came upon a man named Phil. "Follow me," he said to Phil. Phil instantly went to his friend Nate under the big meeting fig tree in the village square. "We have found the Messiah, Yeshua bar Yosef the Nazarene!" "Nazareth?" snarked Nate, "Nothing good has ever come from those hillbillies!" Phil did not argue, he just gently asked his friend to come with him and see.

Jesus saw Nate coming, and said straight off: "Here is a true chosen one of an elect people who always speaks his truth!" Was Jesus snarking back? "Do we know each other?", asked Nate?

"I saw you trying to chill under your fig tree. I knew you long before one I chose chose you."

Nate bowed: "Teacher, you are the Son and my King."

With twinkling eyes, Jesus asked him: "So, do you all of a sudden believe because of a parlor trick with a fig tree? Wait 'til you see what I've got up my sleeves! But seriously, you will see the heavens ripped assunder and the Angels on Jacob's Ladder come to serve me."

(Retelling of John 1:43-51)

Sure, It’s Legal, But…

2012-01-11T05:49:00.000-06:00

Lithograph by Grandville

Just because something is “legal” doesn’t mean it’s right! I can be dominated by technically legal things just as mush as I can by sins. For example: God intended food to fill the stomach, and intended the stomach to digest food. So too then, the Body is meant for the Lord, and the Lord for the Body. God raised the Lord, and thus raises the Body.

Have you forgotten already that you’re members of Christ’s Body? Should I separate members from the Body and join them with the world instead? Never! Whoever joins with a whore becomes one with her, two made one - sleeping with whoever she or he slept with, becoming a prostitute to and of the flesh. But anyone who unites with the Lord instead, becomes one Spirit with him.

Shun random sex for money or immediate satisfaction. Sins committed outside of our bodies are bad enough, but sins against our bodies (and the bodies of our brothers and sisters) are against The Body, the body of Christ himself! Remember Jesus saying that he was the rebuilt Temple? Each individual body within the Body is home to the Holy Spirit. Not our playthings!

You did not come cheap! Glorify God with your body and in the Body.

(Retelling of 1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

Meditation:

· Paul seems to shift in and out of talking about our individual bodies, and the larger Body, almost as if the two are hard to tell apart.

· Does the Body of the Church or a congregation do things in a fleshy manner when it comes to finances, organization, etc.?

· Can a church prostitute itself for ‘growth” or other worldly measures of success?

· Paul says we can either join with the flesh or the Spirit. How many of us try to do both?

· Watch the news and popular entertainment – do we focus on what is right, or what is legal?

Twitching Ears

2012-01-09T05:48:00.000-06:00

John Singleton Copley

The boy Sam was serving in God's Temple as a disciple of Eli. Now remember that back in those days the Word of the Lord was rarely heard and seldom seen. So much so as to be inexplicable and unexpected. Once, when Eli's sight was failing and he was sleeping in his room, Sam heard a voice: "Samuel! Samuel!" "Here I am Father Eli!" and he jumped up and ran to help Eli. But Eli said: "I didn't call you. Go back to bed!"

Again came the call "Samuel!", and again Eli told him to go back to sleep.

A third time Sam was called. A third time he awoke Eli. Only then did Eli figure it out - it was God calling his young student! "Return to your bed Sammy. If you hear His call again, say "I'm listening Lord." So the weary boy went back to his bed with trepidation.

Not only did God call him, but He even stood by his rumpled bed. "I'm listening Lord," the child whispered.

The Lord directed Samuel: "Watch. I will soon do something so shocking and unexpected that both ears of whoever hears about afterwards will twitch and tingle! The House of Eli's judgement will soon be fulfilled. Because he did not restrain the evil of his sons, the sins of his house will never be cleansed."

Poor Sam lay there the rest of the night trying to figure out how to tell the man he loved and respected that he and his family were doomed. Finally, Eli called for him. "Here I am Father."

"What did He tell you? Don't hide anything from me, or you will be cursed."

The boy reluctantly told Eli everything, watching the old man age further before his eyes. He did not know what to expect from him for delivering such a dire message.

Eli gave Samuel one last witness: "He's the Lord; it shall be as He wills."

The spirit was in Samuel as he grew - his words were fruitful, and all the people could see that he was a true prophet of old.

(Retelling of 1 Samuel 3:1-20)

What can we learn about people and society here?

Eli had become secular like we today, loving family first, country second and God third.
Rather than the children suffering for the sins of the father, here we have an example of the father suffering for the sins of his sons.
Did power and authority corrupt the sons, or did it make corrupt men more open?
Do greed and contempt go hand-in-hand?
We often talk about the lesson of God's call when we read this, but what about Eli's grace and dignity?

Epiphany is Another Way to Spell Emanual!

2012-01-06T05:42:00.000-06:00

He Qi

We have this ingrained need to make pomp and circumstances out of simple things. We think that splurging shows respect! Does such an assumption reflect a wanting to be treated like kings and queens ourselves?

Arise! Shine! Your light has come;

the LORD’s glory has shone

upon you.

Though darkness covers the earth
   and gloom the nations,
   the LORD will shine upon you;
   God’s glory will appear over you.
Nations will come to your light
   and kings to your dawning radiance.

Lift up your eyes and look all around:
   they are all gathered;
   they have come to you.
Your sons will come from far away,
   and your daughters
   on caregivers’ hips.
Then you will see and be radiant;
   your heart will tremble
   and open wide,
   because the sea’s abundance
   will be turned over to you;
   the nations’ wealth will come to you.
Countless camels will cover your land,
   young camels
   from Midian and Ephah.
They will all come from Sheba,
   carrying gold and incense,
   proclaiming the LORD’s praises.

(Isaiah 60:1-6; Common English Bible)

In the midst of a story about honoring a king, there appears a warning of what a king can do. For the traveling scholars, the question was: to which king do we grant authority and to whom do we submit?

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod's kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"

They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:

   It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
      no longer bringing up the rear.
   From you will come the leader
      who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship."

Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.

(Matthew 2:1-12; The Message)

We try to explain and understand Jesus the King by placing a mantle of our understanding of royalty upon him, but what if we tried instead to view our earthly rulers as wearing his mantle?

Give your love of justice to the king, O God,

      and righteousness to the king’s son.
Help him judge your people in the right way;
      let the poor always be treated fairly.
May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
      and may the hills be fruitful.
Help him to defend the poor,
      to rescue the children of the needy,
      and to crush their oppressors.
May they fear you as long as the sun shines,
      as long as the moon remains in the sky.
      Yes, forever!

May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
      like the showers that water the earth.
May all the godly flourish during his reign.
      May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
May he reign from sea to sea,
      and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
Desert nomads will bow before him;
      his enemies will fall before him in the dust.
The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands
      will bring him tribute.
   The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba
      will bring him gifts.
All kings will bow before him,
      and all nations will serve him.

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
      he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
He feels pity for the weak and the needy,
      and he will rescue them.
He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
      for their lives are precious to him.

(Psalm 72:1-14; New Living Translation)

If we want “kingdom on earth”, we will need to start having higher standards for ourselves, and those we put over ourselves.

Who is my king?

Do I have royal blood?

The Baptism of Our Lord

2012-01-05T05:36:00.000-06:00

He Qi

Crazy John appeared out of the wilderness, and taught a baptism that sought forgiveness through repentance. People from Jerusalem and all over Judea flocked to see him, and to be baptized by him in the dirty waters of the holy Jordan River. They put aside their pre-approved chosen-ness and admitted that they were sinners in need of forgiveness. Then, John taught them to hope: "The powerful One is coming. One whom I am not even worthy to take off his sandals to wash his feet. I have washed you all with water, heads and feet, but he will baptize you further and deeper. He will baptize you with the very Spirit of God, flowing over you and roaring through you. Changing you for ever"

Not much later, Jesus came down from his home in Galilee to see his cousin John, and to take up his own ministry. Jesus asked John to baptize him, to prepare him for his journey to Calvary. As he rose from his intinction, he saw the firmament rip asunder like the veils of the temple would later, and the Spirit of the Father flew down to him in the form of a dove as a voice rang out from heaven: "You are my beloved Son. I am your proud and happy Dad."

(Retelling of Mark 1:4-11)

Am I All Wet?

2012-01-03T05:45:00.000-06:00

Apollos was already preaching in Greece, so Paul headed to Turkey. He left the coastlands and came upon the community of Ephesus in the interior. There he found a forgotten group of disciples. He asked them: "When you became believers, did you accept the Holy Spirit?"

"Uhhhhhh... What's a 'Holy Spirit?'"

"When you were baptized, what was it for?" he asked.

"We have been baptized by the followers of John. We have repented and purified in preparation for the day that God's Kingdom comes!"

"John also said to follow the One who would come after him, Jesus the Christ, who would baptize you in fire with the Holy Spirit of God." Paul replied. hearing this, they asked Paul to baptize them. As soon as he touched them, the Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Altogether, there was twelve of them.

(Retelling of Acts 19:1-7 and Matthew 3:11-12)

Christ's baptism added to John's, just as John's added onto those who came before him. John took a rite of purification, preparation and membership and made it an act of repentence and witnessing. With the resurrection of Christ, baptism also reflects our death to sin and rebirth through the work of the Spirit working on us and through us. Water washes away soiled exeriors and makes things look new, but fire burns away the impurities. Fire makes way for new growth in nature. But how many of us forget that we have been baptized in both water and fire? How many focus on the membership and cleansing aspects of water, and ignore the destructive and reconstructive aspects of fire? We think with a fleshy mind, and think fire and water to be incompatible. One or the other?

John is called an Elijah. So before you decide which baptism you received, read 1 Kings 18:20-39.

Water? Fire? Both?

The Wisdom of the Mountains

2012-01-02T07:13:00.000-06:00

Ansel Adams

A foolish woman once climbed a tall mountain. The trek to the base of the mountain was long and difficult; the actual climb itself exceeded her worst fears. She was on a quest for enlightenment - she had heard that a Wise-one lived on this sacred high-place. Step. Breathe. Step. Breathe. She labored to continue her ascent, fighting the thinning air and icy slopes. At last she reached the peak, but found herself alone with the visage of the world before her. Dispirited, exhausted and out of breath, she sat and rested before the climb down.

After a little while, she heard another climber approach. Once he reached her, he plopped down beside her and gasped: "Are you the Wise-one"? She had still not caught her breath and could not answer him. In fact, she was so tired that she kept nodding off, even though her eyes were frozen open. Seeing her nod, he asked the questions that he had lugged with him up the mountain in search of answers, prodded on by her nods and snorts. He soon left her. After a short while, she recovered and worked her way toward home - a failed pilgrim. But she did not give up, and she wanders the world still in search of wisdom.

In bars, hostels and base-camps through-out the range ever after was told the story of the Wise-woman of the mountains whose eyes bore into your soul, and who knew everything about your past, present and future. Many were the fools who lost their lives seeking her, instead of preparing for her to come by and be invited in.

A New Year Meditation on Ecclesiastes 3:

2012-01-01T06:10:00.000-06:00

The Same as the Old Year?

New Jerusalem by Sister Gertrude Morgan

From The Message:

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

   A right time for birth and another for death,
   A right time to plant and another to reap,
   A right time to kill and another to heal,
   A right time to destroy and another to construct,
   A right time to cry and another to laugh,
   A right time to lament and another to cheer,
   A right time to make love and another to abstain,
   A right time to embrace and another to part,
   A right time to search and another to count your losses,
   A right time to hold on and another to let go,
   A right time to rip out and another to mend,
   A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
   A right time to love and another to hate,
   A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I've had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going. I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That's it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift.

Is the writer being sarcastic or hyperbolic to make a point?
Is righteousness "busywork"?
Has God left us in the dark?
If eating, drinking and working are God's gifts, why do we praise work and frown on drinking?
What is this the right time for you to do? What do you resolve to do this year?

I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.

Whatever was, is.

Whatever will be, is.
That's how it always is with God.

Does God want "que sera, sera" followers, or seekers?
Isn't it easier to follow blindly?
How many people in the Bible did what God told them to do without question?

I took another good look at what's going on: The very place of judgment— corrupt! The place of righteousness—corrupt! I said to myself, "God will judge righteous and wicked." There's a right time for every thing, every deed—and there's no getting around it. I said to myself regarding the human race, "God's testing the lot of us, showing us up as nothing but animals."

Humans and animals come to the same end—humans die, animals die. We all breathe the same air. So there's really no advantage in being human. None. Everything's smoke. We all end up in the same place—we all came from dust, we all end up as dust. Nobody knows for sure that the human spirit rises to heaven or that the animal spirit sinks into the earth. So I made up my mind that there's nothing better for us men and women than to have a good time in whatever we do—that's our lot. Who knows if there's anything else to life?

Don't we want easy answers from the Bible instead of hard questions?
Are we really just animals?
Why not then just do whatever we darn well want and be happy?
Is anything real, or is it all just smoke and mirrors?
What's the point of it all anyway? Is God wasting our time?

Shana Tova Umetukah!

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End.

(Revelation 21:1:6; New Living Translation)

This is one of the suggested readings for a Watch Night service. We think of New Year's Eve as a party holiday - a "what happens on New Year's Eve stays in New Year's Eve" kind of day. (Consequently, New Year's Day is the day to pray to the patron saint of hang-overs...) So why read Revelation? It's such a downer! But look: new heaven; new earth; new Jerusalem; new bride; new marriage; new life; new us. God the Mother Herself will wipe away the tears of the old year - the old life, and give birth to a new painfree deathless life. God the Father will Create anew! God will free the bound.

The bachelor party is over; live like a honeymooner! Put the old year, the old life, the old you behind you. Walk tall; God is beside you with the tissues.

Have a good and sweet year: Shana Tova Umetukah!

Childermas

2011-12-28T06:20:00.000-06:00

Today is Childermas (Children's Mass) when we remember Herod's massacre of the Holy Innocents.

We also must pray that soon the massacre will come to an end.

Aliahna’s Song –

Tell me there is no hell

When a nine-year old

Lives in a trailer park

With 15 sex-offenders

Out of 24 close homes!

Tell me there is no evil

When Aliahna Lemmon

Was bludgeoned dead

With a brick by a man

Entrusted with her care!

Tell me there is no satan

Laughing when her body

Was found in his freezer

Stuffed into many baggies

And hope was ripped out!

Tell me there is a heaven!

Tell me there are giggles -

Daisy fields and puppies!

Tell me You were with her,

So she did not die alone!

Tell me! I need to hear You.

~ Tiwago

December 25, 2011

2011-12-25T05:55:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas every one from The (Not So) Naked Alien! May you each be safe and warm.

#Lectionary #Poetry - In the Beginning, Let There be Light;

2011-12-23T05:45:00.000-06:00

In the Beginning of time,

there was already Logos.

The Logos was with God.

The Logos was God.

He was the Beginning;

in the Beginning with God.

The Logos spoke all into

being at the Beginning.

Without him - nothing.

What he spoke was Life,

and his Life is our light.

The light shines in the void.

The void can not extinguish

the light, his life, Life.

God sent John to witness;

to testify to the light, so that

all could see the light.

Could see that the true

illuminating light was

coming to fill our voids.

John was not the light.

The light was coming.

Logos returning to speak.

The Logos was in the world.

The Logos made the world.

The Logos was the Beginning.

The world didn't/doesn't know

the Logos that spoke it to life.

The Logos returned unknown.

We close our eyes in our fear.

rejecting what the light shows.

But those with open eyes...

But all who believe in Life,

in light, in Logos, in God...

But all who do not reject a

life of living in the Light -

are the children of God.

Born not of blood.

Born not of human will.

Born of naught but grace.

And the Logos became flesh.

The Logos is with us.

The Logos is us.

We see the glorious light.

We see God's glory in it.

Full of grace.

Full of truth.

Full of Life.

(John 1:1-14 as told by Tiwago)

#Christmas #Poetry; Psalm 98

2011-12-21T05:39:00.000-06:00

Gary Larson

We have a tradition that the animals speak at midnight as Christmas Eve turns to Christmas Day. Only that one time of the year? It amazes me that we can live in the midst of nature and not hear it every minute!

¹ Sing a new song to the Lord,
      for he has done wonderful deeds.
   His right hand has won a mighty victory;
      his holy arm has shown his saving power!
² The Lord has announced his victory
      and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!
³ He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.
      The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

⁴ Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
      break out in praise and sing for joy!
⁵ Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,
      with the harp and melodious song,
⁶ with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.
      Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

⁷ Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
      Let the earth and all living things join in.
⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
      Let the hills sing out their songs of joy
⁹ before the Lord.
      For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.
   He will judge the world with justice,
      and the nations with fairness.

(Psalm 98; New Living Translation)

#Poetry; Holy Fleet Feet -

2011-12-19T05:31:00.000-06:00

Ansel Adams

With feet swift and light,

She skips on snowy bright

Mountain-peak stepping-stones.

Blessed are the feet of our Good News!

Listen! The watchers sing

In unbridled joyful glee at the

Sight of God's homecoming.

Blessed are the feet of our Good News!

Flash-mob all you ruined shells,

You meek and humbled husks,

Bail has been made and fines paid.

Blessed are the feet of our Good News!

The Lord has rolled up His sleeves,

Bared before all the world to witness

Salvation for each and every single soul.

Blessed are the feet of our Good News!

(Retelling of Isaiah 52:7-10 by Tiwago)

Diary of a Family -

2011-12-16T05:43:00.000-06:00

Robert Anning Bell

²⁶ When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” ²⁹ She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. ³¹ Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. ³³ He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

³⁴ Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”

³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. ³⁶ Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. ³⁷ Nothing is impossible for God.”

³⁸ Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

(Luke 1:26-38; Common English Bible)

Elizabeth:

“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

(Luke 1:25)

Zechariah:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
      he came and set his people free.
   He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
      and in the very house of David his servant,
   Just as he promised long ago
      through the preaching of his holy prophets:
   Deliverance from our enemies
      and every hateful hand;
   Mercy to our fathers,
      as he remembers to do what he said he'd do,
   What he swore to our father Abraham—
      a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
   So we can worship him without a care in the world,
      made holy before him as long as we live.

   And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest,"
      will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,
   Present the offer of salvation to his people,
      the forgiveness of their sins.
   Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
      God's Sunrise will break in upon us,
   Shining on those in the darkness,
      those sitting in the shadow of death,
   Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
      down the path of peace.

(Luke 1: 68-79; The Message)

Mary:

⁴⁶My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

⁵¹He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵²He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

⁵³He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

⁵⁵As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

(Luke 1:46b-55; King James)

Joseph:

¹⁹ Joseph was her promised husband. He was a good man and did not want to make it hard for Mary in front of people. He thought it would be good to break the promised marriage without people knowing it. ²⁰ While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is to become a mother by the Holy Spirit. ²¹ A Son will be born to her. You will give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from the punishment of their sins.”

²² This happened as the Lord said it would happen through the early preacher. ²³ He said, “The young woman, who has never had a man, will give birth to a Son. They will give Him the name Immanuel. This means God with us.” ²⁴ Joseph awoke from his sleep. He did what the angel of the Lord told him to do. He took Mary as his wife.

(Matthew 1:19-24; New Life Version)

Don't Wall Me In!

2011-12-14T05:51:00.000-06:00

Photography by Tiwago

Finally, after years of strife and bloodshed, God had given peace to the little kingdom and the king now was able to finish and move into his palace and administration center. But his comfort made him uncomfortable, so he spoke with his friend and advisor who spoke for God: "I'm living in a fancy mansion built with exotic wood, but God still lives in a tent!"

"God is with you," said his friend, "do as your heart tells you." The king was joyous to be able to do something physical and visible for God, so he rushed out and started planning and stockpiling supplies.

That very night though, God spoke with His prophet: "You spoke prematurely! Go and tell my servant that I ask him this question - 'What makes you think YOU will be the one who will build MY home?' I have not locked Myself up in a building! I have traveled with My people so that they will always know that I AM always with them. In all of our travels together, has anyone ever heard Me complain about not having a box to be put in? So go tell My servant: 'I AM the one who raised you up from shepherd to king. I AM the one who has always been with you in desperate times. I AM the one who gave you this peace. I AM the one who will make you world famous. I AM the one who will decide where my people will live and give them a home. I AM the one who will protect them. I AM the one who makes YOU a house!'"

(Retelling of 2 Samuel 7:1-11)