A first pass at ongoing thinknig.

The revolution, a new era to an on going story; Begins simply inside ones self. In the deep dark corners and also amongst the people around now (thoughts of changing the world is great, but you can't change much if your can't treat your neighbor with love.) Finding humanity more and more, with justice and truth, staying clear of cold scholasticism and stale self-logic, or being in isolation from others...But prayerfully seeking, loving and bonding with Christ in others (people) and ourselves. Transform our love into actual deeds. If lucky, be good examples and live in a Christ like nature. A revolution from our own sinful ways, I pray I can do that.

“A revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality.”, Che

To perform a peaceful revolution needs great passion and spirit (or Faith: ‘fear and trebling.’) far more than an armed revolution. Patience is a key, one cannot instill passion and fervor in others for such a cause. Perhaps only a seed can be planted but that means ‘large doses of humanity, a large dose of a sense of justice and truth. Meaning, the only true revolution can occur after getting to know the masses.

What does this say? Simply that the length of time it takes to create a peaceful revolution is a long daunting process, but also seems impossible due to the fact there is far more armed tactics for revolution to go by. From the start it seems impossible, No. Just much harder and the process is longer or even won’t happen besides a crack of peace here and there. One could die before any ramifications are made... the reward is seen in the distance; or not seen at all. Failure or not, a change is made even at the smallest point.

Once again the beginning of a revolution starts within the person. So like many others that traveled their country to learn more, it seems great to follow in their footsteps. To trek across the nation talking to those in hard times and good times. Journaling all we hear, asking questions of what could be better for the people we wish to help. A revolution wouldn’t start from wanting it, it just happens while out among the masses. To come to a point of being as Che said Fidel, ‘having a dialogue (with the people) is like tow tuning forks whose vibrations interact, producing new sounds. They vibrate together in a dialogue of growing intensity until they reach the climax in an abrupt conclusion crowned by our cry of struggle and victory.’ Such things should not go ones head, this isn’t your movement. You’re a vessel of God’s showing passion and love, with letting it be yours it’s to easy to have power corrupt you. ‘Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ for what you create can be easily taken. Most revolts end with the oppression that began it. ‘The law of the state is that in order to save the state even the innocent must be sacrificed... The death of a single man from among the least of men is an event more important and more tragic than the death of a state or an empire. It is unlikely that God notices the death of the greatest kingdoms, but the death of one man does not escape him...’ Berdyaev.

What can be said of that? Two things come to mind,

Walking through Chicago

So the last I had returned to Chicago I was with Brock... we took the train up and had to make it in time to catch the next one... about 12 blocks north. So, we sprinted it. Which reminds me, we should have worn better shoes. We sprinted just to realize that we didn't need to, because we were 3 hours early. Why? Oh that's right, because we didn't read the train schedules properly. The listings are different from each train. So we decided to hang out and walk around a bit. I also left the book Slaughter House V sitting on a table before we left to catch the train we were early for... I'm dumb.

I digress, we went outside and talked a while.. and someone asked if they could use my cellphone to make a phone call. Of course I'll let her, she looked hurt and had a medical bracelet on. We talked to a guy she was with, apparently they had just met that day. She was waiting for a ride and he was I believe a wanderer who just saw the blue angles fly at the pier. He was a sweet dude and talked us into trying to go see the show the following year. From talking they seemed hungry so Brock and I went inside to buy them some McDonalds. While inside I saw this cool sweet dude hanging out with his kids. He bought them happy meals and he was messing with the toys, he was also reading Walt Whitman. Then we went back outside, talked some more and found out that we are almost late for our train. We had to book it to the train, as left Brocks book there on the ground... still send out my apologies Brock.

Then we visit Caitlin, eat some pizza and head on our way back... after I bug Caitlin. It's what I do.

I think the most truthful thing I can say is that I know nothing. I hardly know how to just love properly. If it's truely human to keep exploring, there is far more for me to learn everyday. Also, with the truth being ours where we find it and who knows what's good and what's bad... it's quite a journey.

There is this story I heard, there is this man and his horse runs away. The neighbor comes out and is like, 'what terrible luck! This is terrible....' and the man is un-changed by this happneing, 'Who knows what's good and what's bad.' Then the next day a herde of horses run up and into his ranching area and the neighbor is excstatic, 'Look, what a glorious day!' The man, still unchanged by this happening by these happenings, he isn't not sad nor excited. The man says once again, 'You know, who knows what's good and what's bad.' A little while goes by the man and son are working on the fences for the horses. His son falls from something, he ends up breaking his leg. The neighbor once again, 'what a terrible thing, your son... what are you gonna do?' The neighbor, father still unchanged, 'who knows what's good and what's bad.' A little while later a war starts and the mans son is passed up due to his broken leg, he is not drafted.... I'll end there, mainly because that is all I know.

"Naturally the common people don’t want war… That is understood.Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack... of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” -Hermann Wilhelm Goering, Adolph Hitler's designated successor

Worry, into fear, fear. A step backwards.

To tell someone to never worry doesn't really make sense, we worry it seems to be of human nature. It's how we focus on that worry, we can't live in teh future nor should we live in the past. It's in the now that we find Jesus Christ our Lord, the today is the focus, for today has enough troubles of its own. With that being said our worry shouldn't take precedence over fully experiencing living.

1: John 4:18

That (worry) turns into a fear. Grace get's rid of alot of past discressions even future, our God is not a fearful Lord (can be) but a loving Lord of Grace and Justice. It seems to me we fear less and less as we follow Him. Fear holds back love, it can hold back the crushing of hells gates. Grace has us covered (not as a cruth, we are to strive foward to be like Christ.) It is not by acts we are saved, but by the Lamb. This 2nd exodus of Jesus Christ, by this we are saved. For we cannot save ourselves. Helping our brothers and sisters is great, but it's by grace alone we can even help our brothers and sisters. Being the body is not repayent, but being the love and grace of a broken people who have been saved by Grace.

Fear would be a constant state if our God was all wrate (it would be reguvinating to not follow a wrathful God.) I seek Him not in fear but Love, I hope not to disapoint my Lord. I am a sinner, who is under Grace and we are set 'ritcheous' from the blood of the Lambe. If we pick up the cross and follow Him, we were saved 'for God so loved the world...' thing. He wants us to follow after, gave us the means to be in His presence. Fear shouldn't be something that keeps me from the Kingdom, if our suffering is contemplated and transfigured. If we believe 'it stops at the cross' then we should not fear sin as we sometimes do.

I think,could you imagine being an enemy of God? Isn't that the idea of we are sinner thorugh and through. The body teh enemy of the head? The body is in trouble if it is disconnected from the majority of the senses. Not much of a vision. If it's as bad as hell fire and brimstone as some say, why would Jesus say "Come follow me and become fishers of men." be my student, be like your Rabbi (I say that a lot, ahaha but I think it's important.) He belives in us, so we should believe through Him, through grace, that we can believe in us. Believe that he can guide us, because we are ritcheous in a sense. So there is some presuposition it's possible, possible to be like Christ.

It's possible for us to be like Christ, why be called to an impossible? There has to be some hope for what the Church can become. Fear is a step back, too much worry is a step backwards. Faith itself is scary, it takes faith to step into... faith. A moving of fears into something else. Sometimes it seems we are out of our minds following God. ahaha

A trusting in the Truth, the reality that is God. The truth revealed that is Chrsit. He showed rebirth, suffering doesn't last, God's reality. Hope. Love. We are saved through the blood (love) not our own actions, but by God's love and sacrifice.

I'm out for now, once again from here... still so much to be said and contemplate.

With peace and love,

my brothers and sisters.

contemplating the cross, a bit.

The cross was an end to suffering. A means of saying, 'it stops here.' The way it was doesn't mean it always has to be. Suffering can continue but grace has been provided for transfiguration to occur. Suffering transfigured into beauty and divine knowledge.

Communion is a great symbolism of what Christ did for us. Not only in remembering Him, remembering what He did. What our Rabbi did, who we are supposed to be like and our Rabbi died upon a cross. There is a thing with suffering and divine change. 'Take this in remembrance of me.' There was a lot of, remember this, remember when you were in exile and I brought you into the holy land out of Egypt. The Exodus occurred and then remember the second exodus, on a larger scale of exodus when Christ died on the Cross. Skin broken and blood spilled, a justified graceful action that saved the whole world.

Remembering His suffering while I took communion today I thought more about what we are called to. 'covered by the dust of our Rabbi.' Remember the suffering as Christians we are going to face. Suffering to help others, not always putting yourself out there as a sheep to be slaughtered. "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." Suffering can vary.

But as I took communion today I really focused on that... Christ suffering and trying to really focus on what we are called to and to what extent this calling can be.

"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." 1 Corinthians 9:19-something... I forget... it's all good.

I don't want to just focus on Christ's death, don't get me wrong it's a great focus and of major importance for me to be in Shalom with my maker, shalom with my true humanity in which God intended. When He created me... when everything and all we know was started. Christ died but he conquered death and rose again. ahaha but what am I saying? What Christ did when He died was of VAST importance, how He lived was and how it all built up historically was just another one of those VAST important things. ahaha I could continue on for a while... it's so astounding.

I'm off to hang out some more. Please add thoughts and contemplations, it's all for some good discussion.

with peace and love,
my brothers and sisters.

"The Path is narrow."

John 6. People had to leave, this teaching... this yoke is tough.

Shall I preach for people to leave?
not, "GET OUTTA HERE!" type of thing.

"I smoke, drink and do a lot of things that aren't necessarily good... I shouldn't feel on top of the world about myself after church.", I have heard said recently.

The gospel is challenging when taken seriously. Challenging till you just want to leave even.
The journey that is, isn't simple.

A tour guide is used a lot as an example. I'm not bringing Jesus to someone, I'm showing or saying, 'He's here and always been here... for the grass to grow and the sun to shine... the crops to bare fruit and vegetables for the animals to eat. To bring nutrition, even amongst the worst times and He is hard to see.' A tour guide...

It's not easy, more and more questions arise and even by following Jesus more problems come up. He was martyred, I have to remind myself of this. The rabbi that we are supposed to come follow after, be covered in dust by... was killed upon the cross. His disciples (eventually, by eventually... during the worst time. They were pretty terrified, but hey I would be too if I was amogst people who want to kill me.) took that quite seriously.

Let us not forget Hope either. Hope in a new world, hope that this discipleship will lead to a better tomorrow, when taken seriously. Not just a walk in the park.

A tour guide just doesn't show you the beauty and simplicity. He shows you the hardships, the strenuous activity. From that they can show you a beauty, they reveal their journey to you. It's why their a guide in the first place.... this trail, mountain or water way is their journey.
Showing truth is yours, how to look through it and understand the journey. Help guide you along the way until, your are sort of on your own enjoying the trip.

It's tough, few will take up the cross... I question how much I REALLY understand this and how seriously I take picking up the cross.

I'm not sure where we got the idea in the church to be opposite culture, instead of seeing culture and just pointing out God where culture doesn't see Him (truth) Where we as believers miss Him.

At the cross, yes a place most instantly speak of.. but how many times do we... or for that do I, actually really take the time for a, 'contemplation on the cross"?

Transfigurative (definitely not a word or I spelled it atrociously) powers of the cross... a lot stopped there and was renewed or birthed. Our birth from death... dying to being reborn into righteousness.... A justified act of grace. Christ got the pain and suffering for our sins we deserve.

So, my point of thought is, it's tough not always the roughest times. There will be simple times of being a Christian, but not all ways a cake walk. We should let people know that. it isn't the spritual faith that you hear on TV (most the time) that you'll be rich, a rockstar or a movie star if you believe in Christ... the opposite could happen and something amazing could blossom from that. The road is tough and the path is narrow...

There is so much to ponder and reflect on... I'm off to do just that, lates.

God's love is astounding...
Christs compassion is amazing...
The holy spirits guidance is exceptional...

so easy to discuss, so difficult to just do. So hard to let yourself just sit and bask in such... amazing grace and love.