The journey to the finished product of a book seems so far away for me at this stage. The Lord keeps taking me up to and thru many steps to tell the story HE wants to tell. In the process I am becoming extremely fortunate to develop friends. Meeting fascinating brothers and sisters that are walking with their eyes and ears open.



One such individual that I would like to count as a friend is a Native American Scholar named Robert Francis. Over the last 8 years I have sporadically had the opportunity to read some of his writing. His perspective of the Kingdom of God is remarkably similar to mine. Of course, I have only come to this understanding of the Kingdom after listening to Robert, and many other Native American Christians over the last 10 years. So I guess the proper way to say what I just said is that my perspective is remarkably similar to his. Or, maybe that the process of TRUELY listening to the heart of those you want to understand, and taking the time to be patient, is the best way to learn that person's heart.



Here is a small portion from the first chapter of Robert's book; "Theologies of Freedom, are those theologies that encourage harmony - the same harmony (Unity in Diversity) that is the very nature of Creator as mirrored in Creation.....



Theologies of Freedom (the need for the Church to be INCLUSIVE versus EXCLUSIVE) encourage recognition of giftedness and choseness as well as neediness of all peoples (one's own as well as others). The encourage the understanding that there is no place where Creator is not already made known through Creator-Offspring, no place where Creator-Spirit does not already move. In regard to the sharing of good news, Theologies of Freedom encourage an attitude of watching and listening first for the good news already there. They encourage an expectation of seeing Creator-Offspring's presence already evident in every aspect of Creation, including each and every human people and culture."



The more I research history the more I come to the understanding that when Father God/Creator-Spirit moved people to the lands that He wanted them to live on, each people group retained a memory of Him. Some were better able to retain that memory than others, which has resulted in the corruption of that image in many cultures over the world. But, it is there....the modern church has just lost the ability (realization) to look for Him in a culture different than ours, to see Him dressed in the clothes that makes Him at home there in that Tribe or Culture. If we looked we would find Him.



This is the goal of my book to resurrect that image in as many cultures as I can. To show that fingerprint as it was revealed long ago. That will show that there is Redemptive Value in every culture of the world.

Beyond Amazing

Last Sunday my friend Bob LeDuc and I went on our Sunday Afternoon prayer time. Sometimes when it is sunny we walk, but this Sunday it was raining and we prayer drove. It was a good time of prayer.

We have a special historical place on Humboldt Road that we have been praying at called Hog Springs. The Lord has shown us that this is a place of restoration that we can pray from, so we have. With all of the recent rains we are praying that the spring itself would overflow.

Besides praying we have had many good talks about Our Lord. This Sunday it hit me again how wonderful it is to have such a GOOD God as our Creator. I had this overwhelming thought about how mankind over the years has tried to "Control" God. Some people call this putting God in a Box. Bob and I agreed that this is due to people being somewhat afraid of what they cannot control. But, for myself I find great comfort in my inability to control God. Why would I want to control God? If I could control Him .....would He be God?

This is the train of logic that God exclaims in the Psalms, and alludes to in Romans, when He says that the Creation is evidence enough that He exists. And, throughout history some men have come to this conclusion naturally without any kind of help. Take for example the Inca and their understanding of the Creator, who they call Viracocha. Don Richardson wrote in "Eternity in their Hearts", that;

"Pachacuti, king of the Incas from 1438 to 1471, restored one of the temples of the god worshipped by all his people - the sun. But he began to have doubts. He noted that a mere cloud could dim the 'god.' The sun did nothing but the same thing over and over, acting more like a laborer than a god. His observations brought the conclusion that the sun is neither universal, nor perfect, nor all-powerful. In Inca tradition there was a vague memory of Viracocha, the omnipotent Creator. Pachacuti's own father had had a dream in which Viracocha reminded him that he truly was the Creator of all things.

Deciding that the Creator, not the sun, was worthy of worship, Pachacuti met with the sun priests. He told them that the Creator is supreme and uncreated. He made all spirits and all peoples by his word. He manifests himself as a trinity when he wishes but otherwise he is surrounded only by archangels and heavenly warriors. He warms the world through his created sun. He brings peace and order. He is in His own being blessed and He has pity on people's wretchedness. He allone judges and forgives and enables pople to overcome their evil tendencies. From now on, Pachacuti commanded the aristocracy, the sun was to be regarded, like humanity, as created and that prayer was to be directed to Viracocha with awe and humility." (http://net-burst.net/hot/pagans.htm)

It makes me feel Loved that The Untamed Uncontrollable Magnificent God that Created ALL things has control of my Life.

After all, If He is for me....who can be against me.

Be Blessed in your weakness for He is your strength.