Peace and Martinis

Shortly after the great dispersion of Christians from Jerusalem due to persecution, Luke summarizes the happenings with this statement:

'Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace...' Acts 9:31

Peace - eirene (gk) - an untroubled well being - an internal settling regardless of external circumstances.

I wonder what Luke is attempting to say here about this peaceful experience? I've always read into this a reprieve from persecution. That since Saul the Great Persecutor had met the resurrected Jesus in the same chapter the Church around the Middle East was then free to move and breath and live without fear.

I'm not so sure about that.

In Philippians Paul (the now Great Missionary) challenged that church to be 'anxious about nothing.' That rejoicing in God regardless of their circumstances would foster a 'peace of God, which transcends all understanding' and this peace would protect their hearts and minds in Christs truth (Philippians 4:4-7).

Peter also noted the need for being 'clear-minded and selfcontrolled' and this in order to connect with Jesus in prayer and in essence experience the peace Paul describes (1 Peter 4:7).

All through Acts we see believers experiencing a supernatural filling of peace in the midst of struggle, suffering, persecution and lack of understanding of the intricacies of the Way.

This peace is not due to a lack of persecution, at least I don't believe that's what Luke is stating here. In fact, I believe he's noting that across greater Israel the normal experience in that season was a peace fostered by the divine nature of Christ as promised through the Counselor, the Holy Spirit.

This isn't the sort of kick-up-your-feet with a cigar and a martini on the Mediterranean-seaside sort of peace...

This is the supernatural filling of the Spirit. An internal divine settling regardless of the external chaos.

This is a stand-firm in the Gospel through prayer and edification...and then a martini.

The passage continues with several more points that display the work of the Spirit throughout the early Church. We'll see that Spirit-led edification and exhortation lead to multiplication.

Read Acts 1-9 and in particular 9:31 for the greater context.

Function Junction

The game is happening. Realistically the 'play' button never ceases to be in use. But the most important may be the 'function' key.

Each of us has malware within causing us to malfunction on some level. Addictions, poisonous relationships, sub-par family baggage, abuse, self-deception, disease, dysfunction...malware. And each virus perverts the perfect functionality we all have access to in and through Christ. He incarnated a new code, a new list of options.

Function. Change your settings, the script - something only the Holy Spirit can do: the Counselor, the Guide, the heart and mind Renewer. Once the Spirit begins that work in you...He never ceases.

The Spirit gives us the unction to find the malfunction junction in our lives...have you?

Read: Philippians 1:3-11, 2:1-13 / John 14:25-27, 16:5-11 / 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Grass, Concrete & You

At this major intersection I'm able to watch the wind blow through the grass on the street corner. I'm inside and so I only know it's windy from the way the grass moves and bends together in waves.
Beyond the grass is a mass of concrete and asphalt. It shows no sign of the wind. No movement. Not even when multi-thousand pound cars roll over it.

Some people are like the concrete. They're strong, immovable, solidified in their ways and confident that they'll be around a while doing just what they do.

The grass on the otherhand flexes and bends. It too is firmly planted and confident yet it moves. Some people are like this. They too are confident but not in their stability or ability. They're confident in the foundation. They're willing to follow the wind without losing their way. Others see the wind move with them and it's quite a beautiful sight. It will be cut and stepped on and yet grow all the more and moved by the wind.

Those likened to concrete never display the effects of wind. Concrete isn't all that beautiful of a sight.

The Spirit moves. Do you move with Him, firmly rooted? Or is your heart concrete - steadfast but not willing to flex and breathe and sway.

You the Static-Bearer...

Static electricity.

My three year old son recently discovered this magical world of physics. Of course he discovered it at my expense...

Nations. Tribes. Communities. Groups. Peoples. All of these experience seasons of stasis. In my own experience many times these seasons are brought about by apathy, vision-leak, lack of clear-purpose or simple disagreement with others in my tribe.

Yet, there are seasons of stasis for a group that are positive. Intentionally pausing to reconcile. To seek the Lord. To gain clarity. To rest. To be still and know that...He is God, right.

Static electricity is fantastic isn't it. To have the Ernest-Goes-to-Jail'esque ability to electrify another human with god-like power is a ridiculous thing. Think about it. A human body, a non-conductor, carrying something infinitely more powerful, dangerous and unstable than itself and then passing it on to another human...always with joy too.

And when the atmosphere is just right, and you scoot across the carpet like my three year old son with that sheepish smile, right up to your sleeping dad on the couch...the pop! from that single touch on the cheek is eye-opening! It's heart grabbing. It's a catalyst for a greater uncontrollable movement on the receiving end - more scooting, frizzy-haired, joyful people joining the current-movement.

Tribes. Groups. Peoples. The Church. When these are in stasis, whether positive or negative, it only but necessarily takes that one little shock to create a greater movement. The passing on, not of electricity, but of the Holy Spirit from one hand to another. From one fleshly creature to another. One sinner to another.

This powerful, dangerous, uncontrollable, joy-filled Spirit is supernaturally implanted in and around us to ignite and then guide the Body-apathetic. It takes one little pop! Vision ignites. Purpose abounds. Word is life once again. Ironically static brings the dynamic.

Don't be scared of the shock. I have been. Discern the state of the Body, yes. But don't fear the initial pain nor the  cataclysmic activity that may follow. The Spirit guides us remember. We cannot guide, control or worse condemn Him.

Are you the static-bearer? Or are you the necessary recipient? Jesus said,

'I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things that these...the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.' John 14