Chazak Amenu - We stand as one

With all the stuff that is going on in the Holy Land... i love the message in this one... and the video- more so the voices of the Masculine- as a Davidic Salient note...
Baruch Ha Shem- my friends... shalom, cat

Matisyahu - King without a crown

God i love this Guy... bless His socks off!!!

DRAMATIC IRONY .....

I'm sitting here drinking a glass of red wine from Chile, the label on the bottle says..... (OOPS)- "Cheeky Little Red"- with it's ruby glow, this cheeky little red brimming with blackberry and oak flavour has an aroma of leather and vanilla. It's superb with red meat, or tomato pasta dishes.
The Lost grape of Bordeaux discovered in Chile masquerading as a Merlot!"

A bit abstract of a reference, perhaps ... but the Lost Grape is called "Carmenere"- and it has an interesting history.... so grab a glass of Vino or Welche's (if you MUST)- and here/hear is a little drama from the side of a wine bottle....it says.... (my thoughts)

"An aristocratic past- (church)--- Early in the eighteenth century there were six noble grapes of Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, CARMENERE, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. These grapes helped build the reputations of some of France's grandest and most famous wine Chateaux. (denominations) Then in the 1860's a devastating root- feeding aphid, phylloxera, abruptly wiped out the vineyards throughout Europe. Later, when the replanting began, only the Finicky Late - Ripening CARMENERE proved TOO difficult to RESURRECT." (enough prophetic significance here to choke a sacred cow and kill it!- but it gets better...)

"Carmenere a.k.a "The lost grape of Bordeaux"- had been transplanted from France over a century ago, before the particularly nasty ROOT louse threatened it's very existence." (prophets & healers of the Land take NOTE!)

" Soon Forgotten, the Carmenere grape grew FREELY with Merlot grapes and were ASSUMED to be Merlot, until, SUDDENLY in 1994, viticulturist Jean-Michel Boursiquit revealed the Mistake.... OOPS! Although Merlot and Carmenere grapes look alike, Carmenere is something between a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Carmenere has great depth of deep-purple color, a jammy-fruity aroma, and soft tannins, just like Merlot, but it also has more complexity and earthiness, like Cabernet. Today, these same Carmenere grapes that have enhanced the Merlot of Chile for over 100 years add a distinctive style and character to all of our (OOPS) wines. Cheers!!"

Ok, some of my "seer- gaze-er" friends are now off somewhere in the 3rd heaven, with their discernment noses whiffing the Glass & Cork, pulling down all sorts of revelation notes of colors, fabrics and tastes!!! So to "you'se guys"- hit the selah/pause/ponder button on your olfactory/ocular spiritual senses and come down to first heaven- get grounded and sit back for the (pinky- 5 fold ministry... teacher)- aspects. (i had to slip/sip... in the Hand metaphor there... didn't i?)

Seems things are shifting - Just sitting back today and look'in over the last 10 months and scratching my head while sipping the wine. Ever really wonder just how HE does it? ( as a few dear ones of mine are cringing cuz i keep using the HE--- well- not all emergent are that hung up God being referred to in the masculine.- but for those who are ... feel free to substitute whatever- just careful on the transference) N'uff said.

Recently, I've been told that my life was exciting and that the stuff i get to see God do is amazing. Well i haven't thought of my life as all that exciting- yet i know that God is both exciting and amazing! Perhaps some of it is "deep waters" and Him brooding over it... (thanks Mark... listening to "same deep waters as me" at the moment...)

Can't really post everything on a public blog, yet what I've seen God do and How He does it... way beats the Soap Opera's on the USA channels in mid -afternoon.

LIFE... is filled with Drama and passion like the story on the side of the wine bottle from which i'm sipping.

It got me thinking on the Dramatic Irony of things....

Stage wise... here is the frame.... loosely..... defined.....

DRAMATIC IRONY:

"a contrast between what the audience perceives and what a character does NOT know"

"situation where a character is unaware of something the audience knows"

"is a circumstance in which characters reveal their inability to understand their own situation. Dramatic irony is most effective when characters make fateful choices based on information the reader realizes is incorrect."

"when the reader, listener or viewer understands more of what is going on than the characters involved"

"a discrepancy between the REAL and the EXPECTED"

"involves a situation in a play or a narrative in which the audience or reader shares with the author knowledge of present or future circumstances of which a character in the work is ignorant. ..." (Hmmmm kinda like that one.)

"occurs when a character or speaker say or does something that has different meanings from what he or she thinks it means, though the audience and other characters understand the full implication of the speech or action"

Ok, ok, ..... In THIS PASSION PLAY- who participates?

In the First heaven view of things... (THIS EARTHLY realm for those not used to that lingo)- we are both Actors & Audience..... Participants & Witnesses. (occasionally body parts become props!) ;-o

(My life sometimes feels like a big Improvisational "Who's Line is it Anyway" skit)

From the second heaven standpoint, there is a co-drama going on at the same time, between the forces of the demonic and the Holy Host of Angelic beings. (that's NOT pretty...ps)

These realms of the First and Second Heaven are always in interaction. This is the space where SOME of the audience/ witnesses in this play can see what is happening in this "Ether" realm, while the main characters often do not. The "some" that can sense or see that interaction, are often the Prophet's & Seer's.

Granted, the following maybe considered surplus, but it's important to understand the significance of these individuals and the present day influence of prophetic revelation. How we must honor the fore-fathers and mothers who were and are the marathon runners that gave birth to this present day Post Modern Passionate Drama, in which we are now living.

Prophet (thank you)-- (http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/prophet.html)

Hebrew: nabi, from a root meaning "to bubble forth, as from a fountain," hence "to utter", compare Ps. 45:1)

Nabi is is the first and the most generally used for a prophet. In the time of Samuel another word, ro'eh, "seer", began to be used (1 Sam. 9:9). It occurs seven times in reference to Samuel. Afterwards another word, hozeh, "seer" (2 Sam. 24:11), was employed. In 1 Ch. 29:29 all these three words are used: "Samuel the seer (ro'eh), Nathan the prophet (nabi'), Gad the seer" (hozeh). In Josh. 13:22 Balaam is called (Hebrew) a kosem "diviner," a word used only of a false prophet.

The "prophet" proclaimed the message given to him, as the "seer" beheld the vision of God. (See Num. 12:6,8.) Thus a prophet was a spokesman for God; he spake in God's name and by his authority (Ex. 7:1). He is the mouth by which God speaks to men (Jer. 1:9; Isa. 51:16), and hence what the prophet says is not of man but of God (2 Pet. 1:20,21; compare Hebrews 3:7; Acts 4:25; 28:25).

Prophets were the immediate organs of God for the communication of his mind and will to men (Deut. 18:18, 19). The whole Word of God may in this general sense be spoken of as prophetic, inasmuch as it was written by men who received the revelation they communicated from God, no matter what its nature might be. The foretelling of future events was not a necessary but only an incidental part of the prophetic office. The great task assigned to the prophets whom God raised up among the people was "to correct moral and religious abuses, to proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected with the character of God, and which lie at the foundation of his government."

Any one being a spokesman for God to man might thus be called a prophet. Thus Enoch, Abraham, and the patriarchs, as bearers of God's message (Gen. 20:7; Ex. 7:1; Ps. 105:15), as also Moses (Deut. 18:15; 34:10; Hos. 12:13), are ranked among the prophets.

The seventy elders of Israel (Num. 11:16-29), "when the spirit rested upon them, prophesied;" Asaph and Jeduthun "prophesied with a harp" (1 Chr. 25:3). Miriam and Deborah were prophetesses (Ex. 15:20; Judg. 4:4). The title thus has a general application to all who have messages from God to men. (as was Esther in my eyes and i won't even go into the place where JEZ tried to destroy the prophets... and almost did!!)

But while the prophetic gift was thus exercised from the beginning, the prophetical order as such began with Samuel. colleges, "schools of the prophets", were instituted for the training of prophets, who were constituted, a distinct order (1 Sam. 19:18-24; 2 Kings 2:3, 15; 4:38), which continued to the close of the Old Testament. Such "schools" were established at Ramah, Bethel, Gilgal, Gibeah, and Jericho.

The "sons" or "disciples" of the prophets were young men (2 Kings 5:22; 9:1, 4) who" lived together" at these different "schools" (4:38-41). These young men were taught not only the rudiments of secular knowledge, but they were brought up to exercise the office of prophet, "to preach pure morality and the heart-felt worship of Jehovah, and to act along and co-ordinately with the priesthood and monarchy in guiding the state aright and checking all attempts at illegality and tyranny."

In New Testament times the prophetical office was continued. Our Lord is frequently spoken of as a prophet (Luke 13:33; 24:19). He was and is the great Prophet of the Church. There was also in the Church a distinct order of prophets (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 2:20; 3:5), who made new revelations from God. They differed from the "teacher," whose office it was to impart truths already revealed.

(ok, i'm in teach mode at present.... i know the weight of that title... so please grant me grace!)

Of the major Old Testament prophets there are sixteen, whose prophecies form part of the inspired canon.

These are divided into four groups:

The prophets of the northern kingdom (Israel), viz., Hosea, Amos, Joel, Jonah.

The prophets of Judah, viz., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah.

The prophets of Captivity, viz., Ezekiel and Daniel.

The prophets of the Restoration, viz., Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Biblical prophets:
Abraham ,Asaph, Barnabas, Daniel, David, Deborah, Elijah, Elisha, Enoch, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Haggai, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeduthun, Jeremiah, Joel, John, John the Baptist
Jonah, Joshua, Malachi, Micah, Miriam, Moses, Nahum, Noah, Samuel, Books of Kings, Zechariah. (Again, i would add Esther)

I kinda think of Prophet's and Seer's as Elvin directors, that have the vision and wisdom to maintain the frame in this, mostly, improvisational drama that we call LIFE.

Granted, "we see and hear in part"- which is where communication is crucial to access "wise counsel". (TRIBE COUNSEL of PEERS)

Hence, lest we become an independent dictator and unteachable spirit; subject to the influence of self-sufficient pride. The above information would also indicate that we need to "learn" how to effectively and accurately use those prophetic/seer gifts.

That is where touching different parts of this Body we call Christ's, is the incarnational reality where heaven touches earth. The actors and visionaries need that dialogue, based in prophetic senses, to combat the demonic legions of "hope killers" and "destiny stealer's". However, the divine orchestrator/CREATOR of this passion play, has another avenue up His celestial sleeve.

Thankfully, that influence is another realm in the spirit; which makes, at least from my perspective, things a bit more bearable. I'm referring to the 3rd Heaven view of things... aka HIGH GROUND.

The Apostle Paul, included in the New Testament, contains an explicit reference to the Third Heaven. In a letter to the Corinthian church he writes, "I knew a man in Christ about fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)--- ( really wonder what that man heard!!)

This also includes the "Great Cloud of Witnesses" in Hebrews 12-

THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,- Amplified Bible.

The "great cloud of witnesses" referred to are those listed in the previous chapter - Heb. 11. There we read that "by faith Abel offered"; "by faith Noah prepared"; "Abraham obeyed"; "Moses chose"; and many others including Sarah, Gideon, David, Samuel and Rahab.

This is the Veteran example of offering, preparing, obeying and choosing... which i believe that to be the volitional measure of Faith, when we say YES to HIS will. It is their testimony of actively listening to God and obeying even when it was costly, that is LIVING precedence. (yes, cost is subjective.... but laying down ones life for another was and is .... no greater LOVE... and that IS what we are called to... no nice way to sugar coat it... even if it's a Mary Poppins spoon full)

So what of all the interplay between this 3 ring circus of realms? The dramatic irony in the knowing, or as my old pastor Lee used to speak on... "epiginosko"----" to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, know well, to recognise, by sight, hearing, of certain signs, ( to perceive who a person is)."

Our ability to directly affect the outcome of individual lives, by perceiving their true, authentic identity based in Christ, is the highest form of prophetic gifting. I love what Corinthians has to say about it...

1 Corinthians 14:3 (New Living Translation)
" But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them."

I think there is a difference between audience and witnesses. For the most part, the audience is made up of spectators, where as witnesses give an account and testimony.

My heart is to stand (when having done all!) in this realm, in agreement with the 3rd Heaven "cloud of witnesses" and agree with Jesus, that it "be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Not just from a spectator standpoint, but in active participation, to see fully the Justice of Heaven proclaimed and imparted, so that our Destiny in God can be revealed and manifested.

The way God has revealed to my heart this divine participation is centered in two things... Bearing one an other's burdens and persistently coming before the High Court of heaven and interceding. Where standing in the gap and dialogue in prayer causes the heavens to shift. It is often not the place for the audience to watch, but the witnesses and actors to say - Yes and Amen (let it be so).

Galatians 6
Nothing but the Cross
1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

Luke 18

The Story of the Persistent Widow

1-3Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me!'

4-5"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.'"

6-8Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

So what are the names of the Actors that can navigate all three realms of this passion play? Love, Hope, Charity, Sacrifice, Prayer, Burden Bearer, Long Suffering, Justice, Peace, Joy and Persistent Faith?
Where can we give them voice and bear witness?

Jesus bearing the Cross and the Resurrection was the most Dramatic Irony ever played out. However there is a bit of a juxtaposition in this scenario. Jesus was the primary actor, but HE KNEW - rather than the audience, the final prophetic relevance to His action. Some knew, partially, what was prophesied about the Messiah, they had the revelation part right, but their interpretation of the coming King and the application as to how HE would "save" reign and rule was quite different.

There even was one reluctant actor who was drawn out of the audience to help HIM carry the Cross!!

I wonder if that man had known the significance of Fully God and Fully Man needing another, to help Him when He fell; would he have begrudgingly done so. Even HE that knew the end from the beginning, in whom all the power of the Godhead, so humbled Himself to not only become sin for us, but also allow a sinner to help Him lift that cross.

How much more than do we need each other, or more SO... Christ in each other to help lift our burdened hearts and daily Crosses. How God orchestrates the Judas's and Judah's in our lives, to keep us humbled and empowered by the prophetic epiginosko that by Grace we will finally stand on High Ground.

Mark 8:34 (The Message)
34-37Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Mark 8:34 (New Living Translation)
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.

Perhaps it's just the call on my heart.... but i speak it into the heavenlies....

It's not enough just to restore an other's position or dignity... it is our Heavenly responsibility, as we are joint ("joint" prophetically - congruently speaking as in relationship to)...heirs... to co-labor and to see HIS Destiny fulfilled in this present passion play.

i need your wisdom, knowledge and prophetic voice to "make it"... more so... finish strongly. Please grant me your voices and strength... i can't carry it alone... and i wasn't meant to....

My gift is my honesty and need....

I want to be an actor, troubadour, witness and participant -
My hearts cry is to play before an audience of ONE.... to that i Bow.... only....

When i Finish... i want to bow before HIM..... but can't do it without those who love me...
I need this broken and valiant Tribe... i call my friends.....

Shattered AND Broken..... by HIS love,
Cathryn

Unified Theory- The Cobalt Season-

Ok a bit more background...Ryan Lee Sharp and Holly Sharp ARE... the cobalt season... I really like what was written on their CD...
"This album was made possiable by the freely-given time and energy of several good people. It was recorded in several homes across Northern California and Texas. On each son you'll hear home noises, reminding us that the messy place called "home" is where we really live. No matter how we dress up the album, the nuance of real life comes through. In all our searching for ideals realized, the four walls that enclose our lives might tell who we are more than our words ever will. Shalom"
For those of you who want to take a closer gander... The album is ... "in search of a unified theory"- www.thecobaltseason.com
It's worth checking out.... and vesting into their vision.
Holly and Ryan... really enjoyed the music and the sharing. (and getting to pray for your wee one!) Nice barter of gifts!!! LOL!!! this crazy tapestry tribe keeps getting bigger! (and please! put that Larry Norman song on the next CD- get Tripp to sing it!!!!
Shalom- glad to share the wealth!
Big Kingdom!!!!!!
xo

Help Me Out Here

Got to spend an evening with these guys Tuesday night... Tender Spirits... very rich in the depth of purpose. Will write more on it later.. just thought i'd share the love...
blessings - cat