Between the Thieves by John Haramia
"As the writer of Ecclesiastes says, ''All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.'' - Ecclesiastes 1:7 Don't you think that the drops would turn to each other and say, ''Isn't this a repeat? Haven't we all done this before?'' The rivers like time just keep on running. The drops of water enduring the repetition of the distillation process. It is a refining process, this process of purification and sanctification. Perhaps, the two men in the old joke should become named Fine and Refine. For just as the goldsmith fines and refines his gold again and again until he can see his own reflection in it, so too does our Savior keep the flame of circumstances touching our lives until he can see himself in us. As the Psalmist says, 'And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.' - Psalm 12:6 When Christ sees his own reflection in us, it is then that He declares us to become finished. It is then we become consummate. Very fine! "Repeating what Peter, the apostle, said when he hopped out of the boat and tried to walk on the water, ''Lord, save me!'' - Matthew 14:30 Luckily for hard-charging Pete, good old Repeat (what else would you call someone who writes a book with the Gospel repeated four times) was not relaxing in the boat or on the throne. He was waiting to catch Peter, strolling on the water. The answer to the old joke is no one. There is no one in the boat, no one on the throne; but that doesn't mean He doesn't exist, or that He is not ruling and reigning. He's fixing the problem. He's gotten out of his chair to fix the problem. Repeat has taken it upon himself to leave the comfort of his easy chair to do something for someone else, something that they cannot do for themselves. This becomes called charity. To repeat, Repeat is not in the boat ignoring Pete's problem and your problem and my problem. He dove into the sea of humanity to save those who are crying out for help. He became a man, the carpenter from Galilee, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. - Revelation 5:5 It's just that you can't see him right now, because after he died he transformed himself into more. Like an ear of corn multiplying its seeds, a Spirit that can reach out and touch every individual and situation (and one who can enter into those who acquiesce to the Lord's guidance). At this point he is under the water, immersing in the sea of humanity, overflowing in the lives of those whom He is saving. "There is coming a day when Christ will become done teaching us all how to swim (or at least to put on the life jacket of God's buoyant Spirit). He'll want to have a chat with that coveting cherub who took advantage of the situation, the one who tried to steal the boat while Repeat was busy saving and serving others. I suppose that angel will claim that he was only trying to make better swimmers out of us all, but that will be a defense that won't hold much water (or fire if you know the lake I'm referring to). "Do you children understand now about Peter and the inner circle of four? About the four Gospels, why the Gospel of Matthew is about the King of the Jews, ''the Lion of the tribe of Judah,'' and is written for the Jews with abundant Old Testament prophecies and fulfillment? Do you understand why the Gospel of Mark is short, straightforward and straight away like an ox plowing? Mark is a gospel of service, written by Peter's servant, Mark, for the Romans who knew what it was to serve. Do you know why the Gospel of Luke is written to show Christ's manhood, revealing his mother, Mary's, lineage and childhood events, eloquently told to us by a Greek-educated doctor (for it were the Greeks who were prone to exalt humanity)? Or finally, why the Gospel of John became written for the church revealing his divinity, the Son of God from on high, not unlike an eagle in the sky coming down from above? Our God is quadraphonic!" "Okay father, okay, but please, please, could you, could you?" "Yes, What is it sweetheart?" "Could you please tell us again, father!" "Okay kids, but the hour is getting late. I'll shorten it up just a bit. Put on your thinking caps, and let's see if we can work up an appetite for some dessert." F = MA, Force equals mass times acceleration. E = mc2 Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared (or accelerated). A = pi*r2 Area of a circle equals pi times radius accelerated. A/pi = r2 Area divided by pi equals the radius of the circle accelerated (multiplied against itself) An Inner Circle (of 7) equals pi times the radius (Spoken) repeated. A Family Circle becomes created when the word, ''in-love'' becomes spoken twice, first meekly (Mom) and in then in the end with authority (Dad). Jehovah is Salvation! Who is like God? Friends, as brothers, become created when love becomes slowly and consistently repeated over and over again. "You see, children, you can't make friends with rules. With everything square, plumb and level, that is how you make things. The way you make people is gracefully, rhythmically. You have to be like God and start with a circle. The Invisible Center Point, God, speaks out creating a Spoke or a Word or a Radius; and as he accelerates that radius (Word) around the circumference it's not unlike the motion of a clock. Time becomes created. It is at the time when plumb line judgments become dropped from the Spoke (or are spoken) that triangles become created in conjunction with an ever-present axis (or cross). This is the giving or speaking of the Law from Mt. Sinai (the Talk), but it is not to save us; it is only to show us our need. Continuing on to the second step, trigonometric ratios of the sides of the created triangles become plotted on a graph, revealing beautiful sine and cosine waves, opposites oscillating in conjunction with each other, very graceful and flowing. ''For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.'' - John 1:17 The law comes flowing into and out of our lives like living water, like all things alive that exhibit bell curve function. The tangent, unlike the sine and cosines (one third of this creation) is separate. It is a disjointed, unconnected, paradoxical parabola headed for recycling in the lake of fire. The whole situation is not unlike wheat and chaffs, some of it being headed for the barn, and some of it becoming headed for the fire, but you've heard that one before, haven't you kids? That's enough stories for you tonight, time for a slice of your Grandma's pie."
"Repeating what Peter, the apostle, said when he hopped out of the boat and tried to walk on the water,
"There is coming a day when Christ will become done teaching us all how to swim (or at least to put on the life jacket of God's buoyant Spirit). He'll want to have a chat with that coveting cherub who took advantage of the situation, the one who tried to steal the boat while Repeat was busy saving and serving others. I suppose that angel will claim that he was only trying to make better swimmers out of us all, but that will be a defense that won't hold much water (or fire if you know the lake I'm referring to).
"Do you children understand now about Peter and the inner circle of four? About the four Gospels, why the Gospel of Matthew is about the King of the Jews,
"Okay father, okay, but please, please, could you, could you?"
"Yes, What is it sweetheart?"
"Could you please tell us again, father!"
"Okay kids, but the hour is getting late. I'll shorten it up just a bit. Put on your thinking caps, and let's see if we can work up an appetite for some dessert."
F = MA, Force equals mass times acceleration.
E = mc2 Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared (or accelerated).
A = pi*r2 Area of a circle equals pi times radius accelerated.
A/pi = r2 Area divided by pi equals the radius of the circle accelerated (multiplied against itself)
An Inner Circle (of 7) equals pi times the radius (Spoken) repeated.
A Family Circle becomes created when the word, ''in-love'' becomes spoken twice, first meekly (Mom) and in then in the end with authority (Dad).
Jehovah is Salvation! Who is like God?
Friends, as brothers, become created when love becomes slowly and consistently repeated over and over again.
"You see, children, you can't make friends with rules. With everything square, plumb and level, that is how you make things. The way you make people is gracefully, rhythmically. You have to be like God and start with a circle. The Invisible Center Point, God, speaks out creating a Spoke or a Word or a Radius; and as he accelerates that radius (Word) around the circumference it's not unlike the motion of a clock. Time becomes created. It is at the time when plumb line judgments become dropped from the Spoke (or are spoken) that triangles become created in conjunction with an ever-present axis (or cross). This is the giving or speaking of the Law from Mt. Sinai (the Talk), but it is not to save us; it is only to show us our need. Continuing on to the second step, trigonometric ratios of the sides of the created triangles become plotted on a graph, revealing beautiful sine and cosine waves, opposites oscillating in conjunction with each other, very graceful and flowing.
Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. - Joel 1:3
THE CIRCLE OF ETERNITY
Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. - Psalm 93:2 Once upon a time and well, actually, around time, but definitely not in time; there was a being known as Existence. In Him were all light and life and love and wisdom. He was and He was aware. Of Himself he said, "I AM WHO I AM." - Exodus 3:14 He had always been. He would always be! Existence was a creative being. He knew that being and creativity went hand in hand (not that he had hands, mind you). It was in creating that Existence endured, and all that came forth from Him had His urge to create. Anything that did not would cease to exist for a lack of their arrangement in His plan. Separation from the purposes of the Creator, destructiveness, also became referred to as sin. There was no middle ground. One either created, or else he destroyed that which became created. Now, if one chose to create, he would soon learn another secret, giving; for when Existence created, he gave of Himself. He gave the Lord's Light, His Life, His Love and His Wisdom. Now, anyone who gives soon learns one of the basic secrets of the Circle of Eternity, "Whatever you give freely, you receive back multiplied!" He that didn't need much, and who gave away much would receive more, his cup overflowing; but he that needed a lot and hoarded what he had already received would become reduced to a thimbleful. Existence practiced this principle by giving away His Love. Much of His time became spent glorying in the returned love of His creation. The way a father relaxes in his easy chair in his living room marveling at his children and soaking up their affection. His Love was very powerful, and as it is with all things of greatness, there was a danger involved. If the love had not become returned, there would be a short circuit. If the flow became interrupted, stagnancy would develop like a cancer. If the admiration and devotion for the Creator became turned inward by one of His created servants, that servant would become upset: ill at ease, troubled and dis-eased. The focus on oneself would cut off giving to others and therefore, creativity. That which did not create would not live. That was the Eternal Law. Everything must keep flowing around the Circle of Eternity without any friction. The alternative was destruction, beginning with oneself and ultimately ending in death for all those who were infected. Because He desired free beings that would willingly choose to love him, the Creator had always let this alternative open for those whom He had created. For them to share the joy He felt, they must be free. This freedom as with all great things was dangerous, but it was a primary ingredient of real love. So that His servants might experience this freedom, Existence would even on occasion serve them, carrying their burdens, hoping that they would freely learn to do the same for each other. Now, it had been a month of eternities since something had gone wrong with this process; but when it occurred, He sensed it instantaneously, sin! It was here; misplaced admiration, love not returned, a short circuit, the foulest of stagnant waters, an abominable cancer. One of His most beautiful and wisest creations was not present among the worshipping fellowship. The Creator whom the servants had affectionately nicknamed God (recognizing His inherent goodness) referred to His servants as angels because they all viewed Him from different angles around the Circle of Eternity. These eons of worship were very joyous times with the angels not only focusing on their Creator worshipping, but also extending themselves to each other around the circle in fellowship. The angel whose name was Lucifer was not on the circle. He had gone off on a tangent and divided himself from the others; no longer occupying an angle on the circle, no longer an angel multiplying and loving, he had become divided, a devil, in distress. Lucifer had become so intent on his own being that he had considered himself alone, forgetting that God knew where he was and what his thoughts were. Lucifer had become taken in snare by pride. He had spent so much time dwelling on his own beauty and wisdom and plans that there was now no room for anything else. God had often warned him about this danger. Being one of God's greater creations, there was greater danger. With greater freedom come greater responsibility, but Lucifer had forgotten this. His awareness of God became shoved aside, then pushed back, and now finally thrown out. Lucifer had forgotten that he was a created being. Can you imagine that? He had now caused a gap in the Circle of Eternity, interrupting the complete cycle, stopping the perpetual motion. No longer face to face with his Creator, his absence was bringing all of Eternity to a grinding halt. Now, everything would have to become dismantled. The Creator already knew that He would have to use that great sifter, time, to strain out this evil. He, himself, would lead the way into time and back out into the new eternity. Those who trusted Him and who would follow Him would have nothing to worry about, even though the operation would be fraught with danger. The Lord God reached deep down into Himself to bring to the surface secrets that only He knew. He pulled out the cross, and contemplated the bridge that it would make to heal the gap that became left in the Circle of Eternity. Old eternity and new would become connected by a bridge. This crossing would span the breach.
Once upon a time and well, actually, around time, but definitely not in time; there was a being known as Existence. In Him were all light and life and love and wisdom. He was and He was aware. Of Himself he said,
Existence was a creative being. He knew that being and creativity went hand in hand (not that he had hands, mind you). It was in creating that Existence endured, and all that came forth from Him had His urge to create. Anything that did not would cease to exist for a lack of their arrangement in His plan. Separation from the purposes of the Creator, destructiveness, also became referred to as sin. There was no middle ground. One either created, or else he destroyed that which became created.
Now, if one chose to create, he would soon learn another secret, giving; for when Existence created, he gave of Himself. He gave the Lord's Light, His Life, His Love and His Wisdom. Now, anyone who gives soon learns one of the basic secrets of the Circle of Eternity, "Whatever you give freely, you receive back multiplied!" He that didn't need much, and who gave away much would receive more, his cup overflowing; but he that needed a lot and hoarded what he had already received would become reduced to a thimbleful.
Existence practiced this principle by giving away His Love. Much of His time became spent glorying in the returned love of His creation. The way a father relaxes in his easy chair in his living room marveling at his children and soaking up their affection. His Love was very powerful, and as it is with all things of greatness, there was a danger involved. If the love had not become returned, there would be a short circuit. If the flow became interrupted, stagnancy would develop like a cancer. If the admiration and devotion for the Creator became turned inward by one of His created servants, that servant would become upset: ill at ease, troubled and dis-eased. The focus on oneself would cut off giving to others and therefore, creativity. That which did not create would not live. That was the Eternal Law. Everything must keep flowing around the Circle of Eternity without any friction. The alternative was destruction, beginning with oneself and ultimately ending in death for all those who were infected.
Because He desired free beings that would willingly choose to love him, the Creator had always let this alternative open for those whom He had created. For them to share the joy He felt, they must be free. This freedom as with all great things was dangerous, but it was a primary ingredient of real love. So that His servants might experience this freedom, Existence would even on occasion serve them, carrying their burdens, hoping that they would freely learn to do the same for each other.
Now, it had been a month of eternities since something had gone wrong with this process; but when it occurred, He sensed it instantaneously, sin! It was here; misplaced admiration, love not returned, a short circuit, the foulest of stagnant waters, an abominable cancer. One of His most beautiful and wisest creations was not present among the worshipping fellowship. The Creator whom the servants had affectionately nicknamed God (recognizing His inherent goodness) referred to His servants as angels because they all viewed Him from different angles around the Circle of Eternity. These eons of worship were very joyous times with the angels not only focusing on their Creator worshipping, but also extending themselves to each other around the circle in fellowship. The angel whose name was Lucifer was not on the circle. He had gone off on a tangent and divided himself from the others; no longer occupying an angle on the circle, no longer an angel multiplying and loving, he had become divided, a devil, in distress.
Lucifer had become so intent on his own being that he had considered himself alone, forgetting that God knew where he was and what his thoughts were. Lucifer had become taken in snare by pride. He had spent so much time dwelling on his own beauty and wisdom and plans that there was now no room for anything else. God had often warned him about this danger. Being one of God's greater creations, there was greater danger. With greater freedom come greater responsibility, but Lucifer had forgotten this. His awareness of God became shoved aside, then pushed back, and now finally thrown out. Lucifer had forgotten that he was a created being. Can you imagine that? He had now caused a gap in the Circle of Eternity, interrupting the complete cycle, stopping the perpetual motion. No longer face to face with his Creator, his absence was bringing all of Eternity to a grinding halt.
Now, everything would have to become dismantled. The Creator already knew that He would have to use that great sifter, time, to strain out this evil. He, himself, would lead the way into time and back out into the new eternity. Those who trusted Him and who would follow Him would have nothing to worry about, even though the operation would be fraught with danger. The Lord God reached deep down into Himself to bring to the surface secrets that only He knew. He pulled out the cross, and contemplated the bridge that it would make to heal the gap that became left in the Circle of Eternity. Old eternity and new would become connected by a bridge. This crossing would span the breach.