#god jah is greatest jah wonderful | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mywholelove · 5 years ago

Text

Understandably, my great uncle, Marcus Garvey was misled by satan into endorsing the #slavetrade facility, created by pagans called #panafricanism.

I was also panafricanism as a profferred ideology, until I independently went to Africa in the 90s, and amongst other discoveries, saw that it was a prettily packaged, concept of malintent, created to apply human trafficking, or slave trading, and is similar to such things and phrases as " new world order ", a concept to promote mass murder, to the agenda of a league. Like santa claus, which actually is a satanic entity from east of Germany, it still sounds kind of attractive, from a distance, due to the imagery imbued in it!

panafricanism is a way to expand slave trade, without checks or account.

It's no surprise then, that in a eu state this week, ( romania ), someone was recently tried for trafficking over 1,000 vulnerable children, with intent to rob and burgle across all eu and other possible countries.

There are various reports of other activities against communities in United States of America and other places, which have received greater exposure, since the USElection2016 of United States President Donald John Trump, and his attention to the more effective protection and security of USA by improving US Military, and US Secret Service.

The eu is defined as a #paneuropean operation. #panamerican is operated across America by nafta, #panasian across Asia and Australia by asean, and panafrican across Africa by ecowas.

From the evidence, facts and truths I have witnessed, asean, ecowas, eu and nafta are the regional panafrican, panamerican, panasian and paneuropean entities, to manage the their activities under united nations holdings.

When you look beyond aesthetics, the Holy Bible, and other scriptures, reveal these in clues. This explains to me why the serpents, ( most main stream media and other plagiarist entities such as politics, religions, showbiz, sports and such ), are used to manipulate the ways of masses, in order to flatter and trick to the agenda of the league or cabal.

Watched closely, most main stream media and aid agencies promote projects which cause #familybreakdown, and war, diseases and distresses.

The Holy Bible refers to and defines the system called by such names as telnet, vax, superhighway, world wide web, internet, etcetera, as ' the backbone of the beast '.

Family breakdown is explained all through the Holy Scriptures including in the books of #Genesis, #Exodus, #Leviticus, #Deuteronomy, #Proverbs and #Revelations, and in spite of the multiple edits and obfuscations by those who support satanic or sat-un-ic agendas, ( most often those in politics and showbiz, the largest industries in this world over the millenias ), the references to Ethiopia, Ghana and Jamaica can be found. It was during my trips in Africa, that I discovered that many of the prophets and lands mentioned are in truth what are now called 'African'.

By cunning manipulation by organized crime entities, such as created by sat-un and its use of family breakdown, manipulation of the health, history and security of communities, panafricanism, as diesel being presented as ' clean ' in 2000, is presented, offered then enforced on compliant communities prepared to prostitute or embrace the sat-un-ic entities. They force people to focus on micro aspects, while they're being distracted from the greater agendas.

I was shocked when I overheard on multiple occasions, a relation reply to a question when she was asked ' what good she was achieving by dating a racist European', by her friends, that he maintained her house, bought her things and took her on expensive foreign holidays. Approval by society?

This may also explain why aid agencies operate plots and plans to encourage division of family, and therefore phrases such as " it takes a village to raise a child ".

It sounds pretty at glance, but then ask them,

" how many of your kids were raised by villages; or is that a facility to only be applied to those you consider as live stock for your exploitation? "

Due to #familybreakdown, most people, in spite of the abundance of evidences, still believe that there were no Negast, Akhan and other people from Africa in America, before the 1400s!

A combination of lessons from my daddy, my own observations and my research led me to discover that Negast or Nigga people have been established in America since at least the second century ' before christ ', about 2,200 years ago, long before Gama, Vespucci and Columbus, but family breakdown is designed by sat-un to hide knowledge and cause confusion, and the desire for social approval.

I see panafricanism as abject racism, to facilitate human trafficking, prostitution and slave trading, in support of the ' new world order ' agendas.

This also explains why, a un general secretary, the late Kofi annan, though born in, raised and very familiar with Africa and african cultures, never addressed the proliferate slave or barbaric, abominable, infidel, pagan practices across the whole world, and other matters. It took the babies nursed by western white women and islamic cultures to identify, and bring to world attention and action, the slave trade, and child slavery, then to develop and implement the system we now call #FairTrade.

During and following the severe droughts in Somalia, Ethiopia, and such, brought to our attention by pop stars like Midge Ure, Boy George, Michael Jackson, Bob Geldof, and many others pop music superstars, after some rains during dry season months in the 90s, the un administrators were at very first trying to figure a way to secure their continued funding. They'd rather flies, swollen bellied kids, than lose their funding. That's beyond sadastic politics.

As a result, in 1995, on an Indian Ocean or such island, I heard that they convened meetings. From those meetings, ( I figure ), they developed the ' jihadi ' and ' climate change ' narratives.

I discovered that the united nations pays up to $120,000.00 for a slave in the eu, while serpents ( main stream media entities ) distract the public with prejudices, pecuniary and other means. There hasn't been a war in Nigeria since the 1970s, so how come so many refugees claiming asylum in Europe, America and so on?

Iraq is further away from Nigeria than Nigeria is from France. People seeking social approval, never question obvious things.

Do you remember when many billions of US dollars, UK pounds, etcetera, were used to justify the mass slaughter of, ( say ), native Americans?

It was, until very recently, acceptable, encouraged and taught to children!

As a young kid of 5, 6, 7, etcetera, ( being Crazy ), I used to wonder

"why?

Couldn't they find a way to be friends, and ' make things better? '.

There is and always will be enough for everyone and more.

🤣🤣🤣😂😂

Never forget; God Jah is Greatest. Those who have a sat-un-ic agendas will try and countermand that position by many means.

Ras Tafari is the way of love, which brings peace and prosperity, irrespective of whether this is subsequently claimed by sat-un and or its serpents. The Most High God Jah states specifically that it is a vanity and a sin to work for nought. Where ever the counsel of Rastafarians is heeded, respected and adhered to, results in meaningful peace and prosperity.

Our Creator God Jah is truly greatest.

We give praises, glory, blessings and thanks to the Creator of the Universes, the Most High God Jah.

http://mywholelove.tumblr.com

12 notes · View notes

preservationandruin · 7 years ago

Text

Oathbringer Liveblog Part Two; Chapters 49-53

Sorry as always for the delay; life is happening.

Shallan plans to help out a mission, Dalinar Did Not Deserve His Amazing Wife Or His Wonderful Children, Jasnah actually has friends, I decide to make a post about Amaram and Manipulative Tactics (keep your eyes out for that), and Renarin makes a discovery.

And as we go into the past, Dalinar’s doing drugs. Firemoss, specifically. I’m...not sure why I was surprised by this. Like, we knew he was a train wreck; I guess I just didn’t expect how much of a train wreck. Also, at some point I’d like to do analysis of the Thrill as, essentially, a gateway drug, because that really seems to be what it’s like. The guys he’s with--Bashin and Havar--are bantering; Bashin is a darkeyes who has travelled through most of Roshar, wants Dalinar to go with him for the rest of it, and has a floppy hat.

For some reason, I’m reminded of the joke theories that Wayne somehow got his hands on a Ryshadium. Also, apparently Dalinar is worrying about Evi, although the reason isn’t specified. Also, he is torn about wanting to get into battle, because he’s still haunted by that time he almost killed Gavilar. Anyway, Dalinar decides he’s going to start wrestling in the ring, because he’s Dalinar and he’s a little high and a little drunk and very extra. But he doesn’t fight, and it turns out that in other fights Dalinar has gotten into--people have been maimed. Unable to walk, loss of arms, brain damage--jesus christ, Dalinar, please stop this.

And then, of course, Evi has gone into labor. The nurse is worried that Dalinar will be too tentative to hold his son, but Dalinar immediately takes the kid, basically does the Lion King raised hold with him, and gloryspren show up.

May you have your father’s strength, Dalinar thought, rubbing the child’s face with his finger, and at least some of your mother’s compassion, little one.

I’m looking at Adolin--Adolin who talks to his sword and feels a bond with his horses deep in his soul and gets books for his girlfriend so she can learn things she never got the chance to and defends darkeyed prostitutes from lighteyed soldiers--and, you know, I think Dalinar got his wish.

“Adolin” as a name comes from “Adoda,” “Light,” and “lin,” “born unto.” Born unto Light. Adolin.

But something’s wrong with Gavilar, and he and Dalinar go off to talk. There’s a quick mention of Jasnah-- “her lunacy,”--which supports Jasnah’s memories of her “illness.” Gavilar says he wants Dalinar to go fight on the borderlands, to remind Alethkar why they feared the Blackthorn. He also mentions that he might have something with which Dalinar can “replace” the bloodlust.

Dalinar turned back and regarded Gavilar, who was bathed by the bleeding light of a fire reaching its end. “Words are important.” Gavilar said. “Much more than you give them credit for being.” “Perhaps,” Dalinar said. “But if they were all-powerful, you wouldn’t need my sword, would you?” “Perhaps. I can’t help feeling words would be enough, if only I knew the right ones to say.”

Find the most important words a man can say.

Anyway, to the present day. The epigraph tells Hoid not to return to Obrodai, and that “a new avatar of our being is beginning to manifest there. She is young yet, and--as a precaution--has been instilled with an intense and overpowering dislike of you.”

So that’s interesting.

Dalinar is flying with Kaladin above the Shattered Plains. He’s holding hands with Navani--there’s something deeply unnerving to him about flying this high above the ground. Anyway, he starts talking to Stormfather; he also vaguely remembers a long trip by boat to the Valley, that he can’t clearly remember.

Kaladin is mentioned as the only one who flies with any grace--but he said it himself when he fought Szeth. He was born to be in the sky.

Dalinar is worrying about logistics--he points out that they can’t survive in Urithiru only on gemhearts, especially as Shallan predicted that they drove chasmfiends to near-extinction.

Queen Fen just sent them one word: Yes. Good! More people are listening to Dalinar! Navani is also designing something that seems to be an airship. At least, I hope it’s an airship. Dalinar goes to visit the monastery in the Shattered Plains. He’s looking for the room that Taln was in.

He realizes that the room Taln was in was boarded up, but there’s light under the door--it opens the possibility that they just left him in there, although I don’t think they did because we saw fucking Amaram interacting with him at the end of WoR. Yep--someone (Amaram) cut him out using a shardblade. Anyway, Dalinar tells Kaladin to take the next Highstorm to Thaylenah and open the Oathgate there.

Back to Moash. The parshmen he’s working with--the ones I think are Kal’s old crew--don’t like him, but he doesn’t really care because he doesn’t like himself. And Moash learns he’s going to be...running a ladder toward the walls of Kholinar. Just. Like. The. Bridges.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Anyway, over to Shallan--she’s going in to see Elhokar.

Shallan, literally one of the only Knights Radiant: I didn’t want to be a bother.

She tells Elhokar that she’s been preparing a team of spies, and mentions that they might be useful in Kholinar if, say the Parshmen have already taken the Oathgate. She knows in some sense that’s she’s being avoidant, getting away from her problems, but justifies it in that she can be useful to the team.

Back over to Dalinar, 18 and a half years ago. He’s done fighting the Herdazians at the border, and moving to engage the Vedens--he’s been on campaign for four years. Kadash, who will be an ardent, is still one of his warriors at this point. I’m still waiting for whatever Dalinar does that made Kadash quit.

Anyway, turns out this is where Dalinar learned the hard work of logistics and planning, setting up camps and supply lines. He did it because the reward was the Thrill; he’s glad that these other countries are snapping at Alethkar’s boundaries. But Evi showed up to see him (a great mention of the fact that she’s dressed perfectly as a lady but has sturdy walking boots on, dress+boots is a great aesthetic) and he kind of yells at her. Fucking hell Dalinar, you don’t deserve this woman.

She brought the children (plural; Renarin must be born) and it turns out Dalinar hasn’t been answering her letters, which--Dalinar, you do not deserve this woman--and it also turns out Renarin has literally never met Dalinar.

“Renarin?” Dalinar said, trying to work out the name. He hadn’t picked that. “Rek-her...no, Re...” “Re,” Evi said. “From my language. Nar, after his father. In, to be born unto.” Stormfather, that was a butchering of the language. Dalinar fumbled, trying to work through it. Nar meant “-like unto.” “What does ‘Re’ mean in your language?” Dalinar asked, scratching his face. “It has no meaning,” Evi said. “It is simply the name. It means our son’s name, or him.” Dalinar groaned softly. So the child’s name was “Like one who was born unto himself.” Delightful.

Hey Dalinar? Novel fucking idea, but if you didn’t bother to be there for the naming of your second fucking son, you have no say in the goddamn name. Also, “like one who is born unto himself” can basically be simplified to “like one who is parentless/parents himself” which...given that Evi dies and Dalinar does not seem to be a competent parent as evidenced by the fact that he hasn’t been home in like four years because he’s literally an addict re: the Thrill might be eerily prophetic.

Just saying.

Little Adolin was terrorizing one of the chulls, perched atop its shell and swinging a wooden sword about

Thank you brandon for this hilarious mental image I love it. He’s fighting “evil flying chulls.” And when he sees his dad...he salutes. Not hugs him, not even addresses him as a dad, he fucking salutes that’s heartbreaking. He remembers Dalinar because they burn prayers for him every night.

Dalinar also notes that he still feels the Thrill, which is really fucking worrying. I don’t want that interfering with him interacting with his family--god, especially Renarin. And Renarin is a baby, trying to catch blades of grass, and Dalinar doesn’t even feel the excitement seeing him that he did first seeing Adolin.

Holy shit, Dal, you’re a fucking asshole. He didn’t even talk to/interact with Baby Ren once.

Anyway, over to the present day. We get Nazh, who apparently was very unhappy at being sent into the Calligrapher’s Guild to do research (although we get that the “kalad” in Kaladin’s name is the same character in “kalazeras,” the Everstorm, and it means “eternal” meaning that Kaladin’s name, as Brandon has said, is “Born unto eternity” and unifies Adolin, Renarin, and Kaladin’s name all as being “born-unto” names).

Another letter (probably to Hoid) starts, calling him “Friend” and talking about a previous letter that was “intriguing, even revelatory.”

Jasnah’s POV. She’s researching the Jah Kevedian ancient king NanKhet’s death, which fascinated her because he’d only spent three months on the throne but survived six assassination attempts, all from his family. He apparently killed his own family after that, all of them, but then died choking to death on the feast he threw for himself immediately afterwards.

Jasnah has turned an area in the tower into, basically, a fully functional think tank. Renarin’s been joining the scholars some, but still has his bridge four patch--he’s still floating between worlds, as Jasnah notes. She’s worried because she sees--from stories like NanKhet’s--that the greatest danger to a ruler is from within the royal family itself, and she refuses to let her family collapse. We get that Renarin apparently has been asking around the Stormwardens, seeing if they really can predict things--Jasnah disapproves.

We also get that Jasnah has friends! Ethid is Azish and a scion, while Jochi, who pretends to be female to do scholarship, is actually a male Thaylen pastry seller. Both of them trained with her as Veristitalians ans she actually smiles while talking to him. Ethid is tracking Nakku/Nalan/Nale. Jochi sighted Axies the Collector, and Ethid passes news to Jasnah of Lift; apparently, she’s avoiding Ethid. Either she knows she’s passing information or Lift has just taken a dislike to her. Either could be true.

Jasnah says she has sketches of the Heralds’ “true faces” provided by an “unexpected source” which was five thousand percent Hoid, but that the Heralds probably won’t be help to them due to how broken they are. Navani and Shallan are apparently discussing wedding preparations--that’s nice--and Renarin is talking to himself or his spren, and we casually learn that Jasnah can read lips. Jasnah gets that the spren for truthwatchers usually looks like light reflected through a prism, and goes to talk to Renarin. She goes to talk to Shallan about it, but someone arrives first.

A tall, square-jawed man had darkened the opening. He wore Sadeas’s colors, forest green and white. In fact, he was Sadeas now, at least its regent. Jasnah would always know him as Meridas Amaram.

Anyway he was looking for Jasnah, so that’s...great. Please Brandon let me see Jasnah verbally annihilate Amaram.

“Jasnah,” he said when he drew close. “I was told I could find you here.” “Remind me to find whoever told you,” Jasnah said, “and have them hanged.” Amaram stiffened. “Could we speak together more privately, just for a moment?” “I think not.” “We need to talk about your uncle. The rift between our houses serves nobody. I wish to bridge that chasm, and Dalinar listens to you. Please, Jasnah. You can steer him properly.” “My uncle knows his own mind on these matters and doesn’t require me to “steer” him.” “As if you haven’t been doing so already, Jasnah. Everyone can see that he has started to share your religious beliefs.” “Which would be incredible, since I don’t have religious beliefs.” Amaram sighed, looking around. “Please,” he said. “Private?” “Not a chance, Meridas. Go. Away.” “We were close once.” “My father wished us to be close. Do not mistake his fancies for fact.” “Jasnah--” “You really should leave before somebody gets hurt.”

I felt the need to separate this bit out just because every part of it is beautiful. First of all, @Amaram:

Second of all, he is a classic manipulator in this scene. Common manipulative tactics include trying to get someone alone--which he does repeatedly--and repeated use of someone’s name. He also assumes House Kholin runs on manipulation--works the way he does--in his assumption that Jasnah will “steer” Dalinar. He also tries to rewrite history, claiming they were close just because Gavilar wanted them engaged. All of this is stock manipulation.

He goes on with it, too; I’m probably going to make a separate post on Amaram and manipulation in this scene alone, because otherwise it’ll stretch too long. Keep your eyes out for that.

Anyway, Jasnah accuses his mother of sleeping around, Amaram of being attracted to pigs (I’m dying) and, when he goes to summon his Blade, dares him to give her an excuse. He leaves, and Jasnah gives a spot-on analysis of him:

Amaram genuinely thought he was Alethkar’s only hope and salvation, and had a keen desire to prove it. Left alone, he’d rip the armies apart to justify his inflated opinion of himself.

Anyway, Shallan is literally clapping and squeeing at the end of this, as would I. Jasnah points out that her first insult to Amaram was very sexist, though--attacking his blameless mother, although Amaram did bait her into it by using his mother as a shield.

The scene ends, then, as Renarin figures out how to unlock hidden drawers, showing gems that vibrate to musical notes--in a pattern, Pattern says. Turns out, infusing the walls with stormlight opens the drawers--and finds gemstones that carry the knowledge of the ancient Radiants, hopefully.

#oathbringer spoilers #stormlight archive liveblog #god do i hate meridas amaram #blackthorn dalinar is a fucking train wreck

19 notes · View notes

aznmissy · 8 years ago

Text

We Could Be The Greatest Team/Rucas

“Fun, flirty, fluffy and oh so sweet one-shots about Rucas and Joshaya!”

If you have any ideas you want me to write, please, let me know!

Enjoy!

OoOoOoOo

Lucas Friar was the new guy, yay! Actually, no. Lucas hated the stares and whispers. The known fact of being out of place. And most importantly, the act of making friends will only end using you for your looks. He had little expectations of John Adams High, but once he set foot on the campus, something felt different.

He found the office, got his schedule and was greeted by his tall and skinny guide for the week, Farkle MInkus. Farkle almost reached Lucas’ 6 foot stature, was polite and made Lucas feel welcomed. Farkle talked about the school, showed Lucas his locker and took his schedule out of his hand and exclaimed happily that they had majority of their classes together. And for some reason, Lucas was pleased with that.

The two guys started to make their way to their first class and when they rounded the corner, Lucas’ breath hitched when saw her. She was taking to another girl, probably her friend and though he felt this ‘feeling’ before, it was never this strong. This girl was driving him crazy on his first day without even trying. Hell, they didn’t even know each other. But, that was all going to change.

Lucas suddenly saw the two girls starting to walk off and without even thinking, jumped into action and went to open the door for them. But sadly, his chivalry act turned into something disastrous. When reaching for the door, Lucas didn’t take into consideration his strength or the weakness of the door and as soon as he pulled on it, the door hit someone square in the face.

The high pitch scream brought Lucas back to reality to see the beautiful brunette holding her face with her blonde friend comforting her. “Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you in the face with the door. I was just trying to be polite and a gentleman. And oh god, you must hate me now. Is there-,” Lucas begins rambling before getting interrupted.

“You must be new, huh?” the brunette asks, giving him a small smile.

“Yeah. How’d you know?” Lucas wonders awkwardly, feeling his cheeks starting to blush.

“Because, no one opens the door for us girls. It’s sweet. But next time, please, be careful. Someone could get seriously injured,” the brunette finishes, finally removing her hand from her face.

Lucas saw the bright red line on her cheek and absentmindedly blurted out, “Oh god, your cheek.”

“Wow newbie, way to be a gentleman. You’re definitely making points today,” the blonde friend hisses, pulling the brunette away and walking down the hall.

“Sorry!” Lucas shouts again once they’re gone.

“Don’t worry. Riley will be fine. Let’s get you inside before anything else happens,” Farkle moves on, dragging Lucas into the classroom. Strike one, Friar.

OoOoOoOo

Riley, that’s a nice name for a pretty girl Lucas thought, feeling guilty all day, all night and into the next day. But, he gave Riley a white tulip the following morning and apologized again for what happened. Riley, whose smiles made his heart beat faster, accepted the apology and welcomed him to JAH. Then, that’s all he got from her. Which, he guesses is for the best. They had a horrible first encounter. Well, at least with them only being acquaintances, he wouldn’t hurt her again. Or, so he thought.

Over the weeks, Lucas and Riley had gotten past the ‘incident’ and started to have something good going on. They had a flirty relationship and that made his feeling for her grow even more. But like always, he did something to screw it up.

It was a month later and Lucas was finally comfortable at JAH. Things were going well, better than he expected. He’s made friends, some guys from a few of his classes and of course Farkle, Riley and Maya. Yes, you heard that correctly. The brunette beauty he hit in the face with the door on his first day and the blonde, feisty best friend.

It was a lunch time and Lucas was walking with some guys, talking about sports when he misjudged his step and trips over a chair, spilling the contents on his tray all over his friend, crush and gorgeous, Riley.

Gasps fill the air as Riley lets out a shriek from the liquid and unknown food items that were running through her hair and down her back, staining her white lace shirt. “Riley,” Lucas whispers, afraid of her reaction.

Riley stiffens in her seat from the familiar voice and calmly stands up, ignoring Lucas as she walks away. “Great work, Huckleberry,” Maya snaps angrily, running after her friend with both their bags.

Once again, Lucas feels terrible and swears the universe has it out for him as he lets out a string of curses under his breath. Strike two, Friar.

OoOoOoOo

It takes Riley a few days to forgive Lucas, and for good reason. But once she does, she can tell that Lucas has been miserable from his actions and can’t help but feel bad for the guy. Besides, it’s not like he meant to do what he did.

It’s a cold winter morning and Lucas is playing football before school starts, outside the main doors with a few friends when one guy throws the ball in his direction. He runs for it, not looking to see who was around and after catching the ball effortlessly, he runs right into someone, knocking them to the ground.

Quickly wanting to help the person up, his heart breaks when he sees Riley laying on the ground and staring up at him. “Riley, I’m so sorry,” he immediately apologizes, bending down to her level and supporting her as she sits up. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Luckily the grass cushioned my fall,” Riley chuckles, not surprised Lucas was the cause.

“I really am sorry Riles. I just can’t seem to stop injuring you in some way. It makes me feel like I’m cursed. Or, really bad luck,” Lucas sighs sadly, assisting Riley when she stands up.

“You’re not cursed or bad luck, Lucas. You’re just unlucky and like many others can’t control what happens around them. Don’t beat yourself over it. I’m okay and I know you’ll never purposely hurt me. You’re too sweet for that. I mean, after the first time, you brought me a flower. The second time you took me shopping and now, I have the perfect way for you to make it up to me,” Riley beams as she gathers the last of her books off the ground.

“Really? And what would that be?” Lucas inquires with a raised eyebrow.

“You take me on a date,” Riley smirks with a twinkle in her eyes.

“You got yourself a deal, Matthews,” Lucas instantly agrees.

“Good. Because that was your third strike Friar,” Riley winks before walking away.

Lucas couldn’t help but smile and laugh at his soon to be girlfriend. He may have struck out, but he got the girl anyways and couldn’t be happier with the way things just work themselves out.

#girl meets world #Rucas #Joshaya

10 notes · View notes

makeyouhappy · 5 years ago

Photo

Taylor Swift

in last BBC Strictly 2019 performance at BBC studios London UK

Taylor Swift performs Lover - The Final | BBC Strictly 2019

3K notes · View notes

johnhardinsawyer · 5 years ago

Text

Looking Forward

John Sawyer

Bedford Presbyterian Church

6 / 30 / 19

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Luke 9:51-62

“Looking Forward”

(. . . Into the Future, Being a Blessing)

I don’t know how many of you have ever worked with someone for a good amount of time, and you look up to them, and you’ve learned from them – maybe they have mentored you in some way or another – and then, one day, they come to you and tell you that they are leaving – they are moving on to something else. Something like this is happening in the life of our church. It is happening to you and to me. My friend and colleague, Karen Hagy, is retiring at the end of this year. After a lot of prayer and conversation, Karen is moving on to something else.

As Pastor Karen said in her sermon last week, change is hard. Change definitely produces some anxiety. And how we respond to that anxiety is very important when it comes to being the church and moving forward.

Both of today’s scripture readings are filled with anxiety in the face of change. Jesus and his disciples are traveling through the countryside and, as the story goes, Jesus has “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51) A change takes place in his mind and heart. God is calling him to move forward into some difficult work that will include his own death. Jesus is a man on a mission and it shows in his face and his demeanor – so much so that when they enter a village and the people see that Jesus has Jerusalem on his mind, they do not receive him. A little later, someone says to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go,” to which Jesus replies, “if you follow me, you’ll likely end up homeless with no place to lay your head.”[1] Jesus invites someone else to follow him and they say, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father” (9:59) As Eugene Peterson translates it, Jesus tells the man: “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!”[2] And then Jesus invites someone else to follow and they say, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home” (9:61), to which Jesus replies “No looking back. Only look forward. That’s the way of the kingdom of God.”[3] The way of the kingdom of God is filled with purpose – God’s purpose. No looking back at what we might be leaving behind. Only looking forward to where God is calling us.

Doing this does not come without some real difficulties, though, as I am sure you know. There are real-life very-human obstacles to only looking forward. There are people we love and need to care for. There are worries and fears that plague us. And there is also the fact that the urgency of God’s call on our lives doesn’t always feel so urgent or we don’t want it to feel so urgent – especially with so many other things going on in our lives.

In today’s second scripture reading, we find the story of Elijah and Elisha. Yes, I know, their names do sound quite similar. Elijah, whose name means “God is God”[4]and his student, Elisha, whose name means “God is salvation”[5]are having a moment in today’s story. Somehow, it becomes known that Elijah is about to leave – to move on.

Elijah is one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. He has repeatedly spoken out against the worship of idols, calling out King Ahab and his idolatrous wife, Jezebel. Elijah has spoken truth to power even when his life was being threatened. Oh, and he has the unique ability to call down fire from the Lord to destroy those who are not doing right. Just prior to today’s story, Elijah does this repeatedly to make the point that the only God people need to be worshiping is the one true God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. I guess if your name literally means “God is God,” it is likely that you are going to be about the business of telling people that God is, indeed God.

A while back, when Elijah was on the run and thinking that he, alone, was the last person who believed in the God of Israel, the Lord sent him to a farm where Elisha was out plowing the fields with his oxen. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him as a sign that Elijah had chosen Elisha to be his apprentice. Just so you know, the word “mantle” is a word that means both “cloak” and “glory.”[6] It was a piece of cloth that symbolized the power that Elijah had.

Now, when the greatest prophet in the land comes along and chooses you, it might spark something within you that makes you want to leave your oxen get up and follow. And, Elisha wants to follow, but he says something that sounds strangely familiar in light of today’s reading from Luke’s gospel. He says, “Let me kiss my father and my mother [goodbye], and then I will follow you.” (1 Kings 19:20) Elijah responds by saying something like, “I’m not sure I want someone to follow me who isn’t truly committed.”[7] Anyway, Elisha ends up following Elijah – learning from him – and, in today’s story Elisha receives one final lesson. After living a full life with all of the ups and downs of being an Old Testament prophet – the Lord takes Elijah on one final journey.

You heard the story, earlier. Elijah and Elisha walk down to the Jordan River at basically the same spot where, generations before, the children of Israel had crossed through the river on dry ground to enter the Promised Land.[8] Elijah rolls up his mantle and slaps the water. Since it’s summer, this makes me think about someone taking a towel and slapping the water in a swimming pool. When the mantle hits the water, the river parts to one side and another – just like it had for Elijah and Elisha’s ancestors – and the two of them walk through the river on dry ground. And then Elisha asks if – when Elijah goes away – Elijah can leave some of his spirit, his prophetic power, with Elisha. “You have asked a hard thing,” Elijah says, “but maybe it’ll happen.”[9]

And then, in one of the most dramatic images in all of scripture, a chariot of fire, pulled by horses of fire, comes between Elijah and Elisha and Elijah ascends into heaven in a whirlwind. In the Old Testament, a whirlwind is a sign of God’s presence and power. We see it in the Book of Job and several other places.[10]

Elijah moves on, to heaven, and Elisha stays behind – overwhelmed by what he has seen. And then, once the fire and smoke have cleared, he sees Elijah’s mantle – Elijah’s cloak – lying on the ground. Apparently, the whirlwind had knocked it loose, or maybe Elijah dropped it. As the story goes, Elisha picks up Elijah’s mantle and he goes and stands on the bank of the Jordan River. He knows he needs to cross back to the other side, but what will happen when he lifts the mantle and slaps the water?

I am not certain about everything that the future holds, but I do know that the day just might come when many of us will have a moment not unlike Elisha – a moment in which we will have to step out in faith. Maybe we will be standing on the brink of a big choice or a big risk or a hard illness or a great loss. We know we need to move forward, but we’re not sure what will happen if and when we do.

It is just starting to sink in – for me and for a lot of you – that Pastor Karen has set her face toward retirement and family and being an even-more-wonderful grandmother. She’s not planning to ascend into heaven in a whirlwind – at least, not yet. But her planned departure does raise some questions in our minds and hearts of what will happen when the kind and good and steady and loving presence of Karen Hagy leaves the building: What will our church become? Whowill we become? Will BPC still feel like the church we know and love? Surely, some things will be different. But will things be okay? Will webe okay? It is as if we are standing on the riverbank – on the edge of whatever it is that lies ahead – holding the knowledge and love and care and hope and prophetic power that Karen has passed on to us over her nearly-twenty-one years at BPC, Will we be able to move forward in faith?

I don’t want to put words in Pastor Karen’s mouth, but I do believe the first thing she would tell us is that any power she has does not come from her. It comes from God. And it is God – often working through people – who grants us all that we need to put one foot right in front of the other, creating a sense of urgency and purpose within us that leads us into the future, into the hard, but holy, work of building the kingdom of God.

As Karen has told us, “God is doing a new thing.” God is always doing a new thing. And oftentimes, in order for God to do a new thing in our lives, we have to look forward and move forward. This doesn’t mean that we don’t give thanks for the blessings and people that have brought us thus far in life. It’s just that there is simply no going back to what has come before. Instead, God is calling us into the future and promising that even though we might not know what the future holds, it isfull of God, and God’s great power, and God’s holy and urgent purpose, and, above all else, God’s loving presence. Because God is God, and God is our salvation. We have been called by Jesus, whose name means “savior, rescuer.”[11] And the One who saves us and rescues us lives up to the name – lives and dies and lives again into the name. God has gone before us into the unknown and God is leading us forward – even now.

I’ll close with this. . .

It is hard for me to believe that time has passed so quickly, but for the past fifteen years, through two moves and an untold number of uses as a bookmark, I have carried a blue notecard in my Bible. It’s a bit faded and a little ragged around the edges, but it comes from a youth group meeting that I led on August 29, 2004 – my last night as the youth director at Amity Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. I was ordained as a minister a month later. This blue card is from the night that I said farewell to my first youth group. I can see them sitting there, crammed on those uncomfortable couches – Benny, and Michael, and Stephanie, and Kellen, and the rest. I remember reading them the story of Elijah and Elisha and the whirlwind and talking about the story, using my notes on the blue card. By the end, just about all of us were more than a little choked up and teary-eyed. And then, I said, “You don’t want me to leave and I’m very sad to go, but there are gifts that you have received from God in my time here that will bless the world.”

I believe this is true. Each of us has received gifts that God will use to bless the world – gifts from beloved teachers, and pastors, and mentors, and parents, and grandparents. The lessons we have learned from them – the urgency and passion and knowledge and power that have been imparted by them cannot be kept hidden or tucked away by us. The mantle has been passed. God is calling us forward into a way of life that brings blessing and healing and justice and hope and love.

Elisha stands on the riverbank, takes Elijah’s mantle and strikes the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” (2 Kings 2:14) “I’m right here with you,” God says in return as the river parts and Elisha goes over to be a blessing to his people.

May we, too, be a blessing, giving thanks for what lies behind us and looking forward to where God is leading us.[12]

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

-----------

[1]Luke 9:58 – Paraphrased, JHS.

[2]Eugene Peterson, The Message – Numbered Edition (Colorado Springs: NAV Press, 2002) 1426. Luke 9:60.

[3]Luke 9:62 – Paraphrased, JHS.

[4]F. Brown, S. Driver, and C. Briggs, The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon(Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997) 45.

[5]F. Brown, S. Driver, and C. Briggs, 46.

[6]F. Brown, S. Driver, and C. Briggs, 12.

[7]1 Kings 19:20 – Paraphrased, JHS.

[8]See Joshua 4:7-17

[9]2 Kings 2:10 – Paraphrased, JHS.

[10]Job 38:1, 40:6; Psalm 83:15; Jeremiah 23:19; Zechariah 9:14.

[11]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_(name).

[12]Paraphrase and/or alternate reading of Philippians 3:13.

0 notes