Society

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. - 1 Corinthians 2:12

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. - John 15:19

Life and Death Contradictions

It's written:

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:24-28)

Here, I run into a particular contradiction. Or what merely seems a contradiction, considering the standard interpretations on the passage. But we know the truth cannot contradict itself. Scripture doesn't conflict with scripture.

The above passage says "once to die". Yet, Jesus identified John the Baptist as the reincarnation of Elijah.

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:11-15)

Later in Matthew's gospel Jesus addresses the matter again, following the event at the Mount of Transfiguration.

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold , there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:1-13)

Then, there are the various accounts and references to those who were raised from the dead. Obviously if you were dead, then brought back to life, this is not a matter of only dying once.
The most often spoke of incident being Lazarus who had been dead for days.

Yet another consideration would be to those few who were taking into heaven without having experienced death. Did they die at all?

I'm not saying I believe in reincarnation. It wouldn't make sense to me that every soul should live again and again. And I certainly don't agree with many new-age philosophers who claim that we continue to come back to live another life until we somehow "get it right." That's salvation by works and if that were the case - if we have to live again and again until we somehow perfect ourselves, then Jesus' sacrifice was of no effect and Grace and Mercy meaningless.

I'm not sure what to make of this contradiction. Or, as I said, what seems a contradiction. There must be more to the matter. Perhaps I'll not find a solid answer in this lifetime, or until I, at last, see clearly but it's something I ponder from time to time.

Of course, for the Elect - for the Children of God - there is another lifetime. But second or third death? Another earthly life? I just can't say that I know, one way or another.

© Rachelle

"Fly From Heaven"
Toad the Wet Sprocket

Lyrics:
Paul is making me nervous
Paul is making me scared
Walk into this room and swaggers
Like hes gods own messenger
Changed the name of my brother
Changed the things that he said
Says he speaks to him
But he never even knew the man
But Id give my life for him

Like water through my hands
Youd give him any ending
But if hes all you say
Would he fly from heaven
To this world again
To this world again

Take whatever youre needing
Take whatever you can
We are broken from within
Run to another land

Like water through my hands
Or is it just beginning
But if hes all you say
Would he fly from heaven
To this world again
To this world again

They took my brother
They ripped him from me
To twist his words as they did his body
Denied his family
Denied his beauty
To lie him down at the feet
Of those he couldnt save
Couldnt save, couldnt save

Will it be the end
Or is he still ascending
But if hes all you say
Would he fly from heaven
To this world again
To this world again

If I Were a Cat

If I could, I would tell you the story. I would tell you our story. But with every attempt, it escapes my grasp like water - like sand.

Maybe it is my own doing. I clutch too tightly, or perhaps not tightly enough. Either way I am left empty handed and unable, regardless of how willing. Yet, I ask, am I willing? Fear is a terrible and awsome foe. A foe my small self cannot conquer.

I am without a weapon with which to slay the giant. There is no safety net beneath me.

I am not a cat, that I can quickly right myself, before hitting the ground. I am rather more like the bird, with it's wings in splints, confined to solid land instead of the billows and breezes that seem more like home.

I could tell you our story, if I could only repair the wing or build a net or slay the giant or become a cat.

© Rachelle LeCount

"The Story"
Brandi Carlile



Lyrics:

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you

I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules
But baby I broke them all for you
Because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
Yeah you do and I was made for you

You see the smile that's on my mouth
Is hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what I've been through like you do
And I was made for you...

You might also like:
I Once Was a Girl

Time & Space

Space and time are a function of mass (matter). If there were no particles in our universe that had the characteristics of matter, there would be no space-time.

As creatures composed of matter and trapped in a space-time continuum, limited to this universe, it would seem that the only truths that we might discover are limited as well, and our perspective, subject to the physics of matter. Beyond this we have no knowledge except that which is given to us by our Father who is God.

Many do not accept the existence of God and deride such belief as naive and insecure. But, in truth, they have limited their horizons with self-generated clouds, born of their blind skepticism.

Yes, we should be observer of data. Yet, to declare spiritual data to be false because it originates from a source that we cannot measure with our material faculties is reckless.

"I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man's mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

"He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land -- the LORD is his name."

(the above is a paraphrase from something I read this morning, except scriptural quotes)

Roses & Linen

There are roses in the snow, like wrinkles in time. I contemplate. I turn them around in my mind and take in their fragrance, as if they hold the secret of deliverance.

Petals, like droplets of red and melancholy pink lay quiet on tufts of linen. Each fold and shadow whispers the invitation to crawl beneath and be transported to another place, far from here.

© Rachelle


"Terminal Frost"
by Pink Floyd
(w/New Machine 1&2)

Toward Beginning

At first, there is only what she knows as home. Perhaps not a locality but rather a physicality. A place where she feels comfortable because it is familiar. It doesn't matter if it is not a safe place. It only matters that she feels connected to the people, surroundings and the land. It has been her Known.

Then there comes the awakening. A dawn - the rising of the sun - that reveals an unexpected world. She becomes aware of the new and mysterious. She has outgrown her old world. Ideas and concepts and emotional patterns, once familiar, seem awkward. They no longer fit. And though it is with some apprehension, she leaves this old place. It is time to pass through the door, to the outside, toward her Beginning.

© Rachelle


And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. - Romans 13:11


"The Awakening"
Sara Groves




Lyrics:
Dress down your pretty faith. Give me something real.
Leave out the thee and thou and speak to me now.
Speak to my pain and confusion.
Speak through my fears and my pride.
Speak to the part of me that knows I'm something deep down inside.

I know that I am not perfect, but compare me to most,
In a world of hurt and a world of anger I think I'm holding my own.
And I know that you said there is more to life.
And I know I am not satisfied.
But there are mornings I wake up and I'm just thankful to be alive.

I've known now, for quite a while, that I am not whole.
I've remembered the body and the mind,
But disected my soul.
Now something inside is awakening,
Like a dream I once had and forgot.
And it's something I'm scared of
And something I don't want to stop.

And I woke up this morning and realized that Jesus is not a portait.
Where stained glass windows or hymns or the tradition that surrounds us.
And I thought it would be hard to believe in
But it's not hard at all.
To believe I've sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.

And He's not asking me to change in my joy for martyrdom
He's asking to take my place.
To stand in the gap that I have formed
With His real, and His sweet, and His real amazing grace.
And it's not just a sign or a sacrament.
It's not just a metaphor for love.
The blood is real and it's not just a sybol of your faith.

So leave out the thee and thou and speak now.

And Yet...

Half a hope realized
Half a dream come true
Half a promise fulfilled

And yet...

Less than my heart desires
Less than the fullness I've sought
Less than a lifetime of wishes

And yet...

More than I'm entitlted to
More than I'd grown to expect
More than my heart can contain

And yet...


© Rachelle

"Tunnel Of Love"
Bruce Springsteen



Lyrics:

Fat man sitting on a little stool
Takes the money from my hand while his eyes take a walk all over you
Hands me the ticket smiles and whispers good luck
Cuddle up angel cuddle up my little dove
We'll ride down baby into this tunnel of love

I can feel the soft silk of your blouse
And them soft thrills in our little fun house
Then the lights go out and it's just the three of us
You me and all that stuff we're so scared of
Gotta ride down baby into this tunnel of love

There's a crazy mirror showing us both in 5-d
I'm laughing at you you're laughing at me
There's a room of shadows that gets so dark brother
It's easy for two people to lose each other in this tunnel of love

It ought to be easy ought to be simple enough
Man meets woman and they fall in love
But the house is haunted and the ride gets rough
And you've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above
if you want to ride on down in through this tunnel of love

Pegs and Holes

People talk about square pegs trying to fit themselves into round holes, as if it's the peg that is oddly shaped and should conform itself to fit the hole. To me, it seems more like it's the hole that's square and the peg round. And there's no sign of the peg's willingness or ability to be shaped otherwise. So, it is what it is.

© Rachelle

Other posts:
Folds of Eternity
Glimpses of Providence


"Prince Of Darkness"
Indigo Girls



Lyrics:
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
I don't know when I noticed life was life at my expense
The words of my heart lined up like prisoners on a fence
The dreams came in like needy children tugging at my sleeve
I said I have no way of feeding you, so leave
But there was a time I asked my father for a dollar
And he gave it a ten dollar raise
When I needed my mother and I called her
She stayed with me for days
And now someone's on the telephone, desperate in his pain
Someone's on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someone's got his finger on the button in some room
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
But I tried to make this place my place
I asked for Providence to smile upon me with his sweet face
But I'll tell you
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
(By grace, my sight grows stronger and I will not
be a pawn for the Prince of Darkness any longer)
Maybe there's no haven in this world for tender age
My heart beat like the wings of wild birds in a cage
My greatest hope my greatest cause to grieve
And my heart flew from its cage and it bled upon my sleeve
The cries of passion were like wounds that needed healing
I couldn't hear them for the thunder
I was half the naked distance between hell and heaven's ceiling
And he almost pulled me under
Now someone's on the telephone desperate in his pain
Someone's on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someone's got his finger on the button in some room
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
I tried to make this place my place
I asked for Providence to smile upon me with his sweet face
But I'll tell you
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
I do not feel the romance I do not catch of spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
(By grace my sight grows stronger, grows stronger)
I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
(And I will not be a pawn for the Prince of Darkness any longer)