TIME FOR A SECOND EDITION?

Oh no, I'm getting that writing bug again!

Morning blog posts seem insufficient per the tug at my heart, especially given these most confusing and divisive days.

The Spirit now compelling me toward a deep and more high risk candor regarding my faith journey, as I am now well into my second half!

So, now that Dad has passed, perhaps transparency is more possible, and seems my calling!

The book pictured below, was originally written to honor my dad, the first few chapters speak of his love for country, a veteran, a farm boy! His entrepreneurial giftings affording his family an escape from the snares of poverty brought on by the Great Depression. My lifestyle is in part due to his early struggles.

This morning, as I reread those pages, I was reminded of how writing the book had also walked me into a better understanding of similar snares set by religion, even if unintended, limiting the manifestation of the Spirit made available to all mankind.

We have been called to follow Christ alone. Sure, in relationship with the Body of Believers, however not allowing others to solely determine the parameters of our fellowship with Him.

Sounds arrogant even as I write, but the proof is no longer in the pudding of America's Christianity, insufficient for my comfort, as I listen to a watered-down generic rhetoric simply in order to be accepted by others. Much of this necessary in order to fund the institution's near vacant facilities, scattered across our cities!

Lest I sound too negative, with this awareness and a willingness to face such failure, there does seems a move at large among Gen X'ers for change!

For that I am grateful.

However, this morning as I reread the manuscript, it caused me to more deeply reflect on thoughts I knowingly avoided at the time of my writing, so as not to trouble the one person most responsible for a life-transforming moment that occurred in Dad's living room in '73.

Afterall, I had already stunned him with a book entitled, "Repo, The Church in Foreclosure" written in 2009.

I have always watched his life and loyalty to the Body of Christ, desiring that my life work would honor a man whom God had used to so bless my life. As well, God honoring Dad with a very long life, only recently passing and well into his 100th year.

So, now seems time for a more high risk transparency than I would have dared with him still alive!

If I can be frank, it seems religion has again done a number on Christianity, at least the raw and powerful brand in which my life was nurtured as a 4th generation, Pentecostal.

We have long professed that "this same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, now dwells in us." With that, comes an expectation that the use His Name affords a capability for delivering the "evangelion", the Good News that became the context that set apart the Early Church, at a time when conquerors often spoke of such, but failed to deliver.

American Christianity seems now more aligned with the latter, using the same language as the former, but "lacking the power thereof...from such turn away."

Read it for yourself in II Timothy 3:5!

The name has become just another brand, one first assigned to the "People of the Way" in Antioch. Now sadly, only one of many expressions of humanity's search for answers, yet lacking the demonstration of love and transforming power that once rocked this globe.

My guess is that this resurrected Jesus never intended that "The People of the Way" would become comfortably aligned as a religion, but rather would continue to provide contrast as evidence of a Creator not willing that any should perish, nor go unloved, let alone suffer though surrounded by believers holding such provision and prosperity.

This Being was even willing to become flesh in order to succumb to an evil crucifixion, satisfying the sacrifice religion had long required out of fear of some wrath filled god.

Ironically, even as early as Abraham, such grace should have been evident given the story of "a ram caught in a thicket!"

In reality, this God of grace has always demonstrated a willingness to become whatever religion required, so that we slow-learners might eventually be without excuse for anything but fellowship with the One who first spoke humanity into existence, all of humanity!

Yes, He died for the sins of the whole world, once and for all. Yet, religion still raises her head repeatedly so as to divide, fostering the proverbial "us and them", propagating selfishness and greed, then eventually war!

Meanwhile love welcomes us simply, "Come and Dine!"

Perhaps a second edition is being birthed around that book written in 2021!