THE TARSUS TURN http://tarsusturn.posterous.com Abre mis ojos posterous.com Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:31:00 -0700 Pilgrim, Sing on your journey... http://tarsusturn.posterous.com/pilgrim-sing-on-your-journey http://tarsusturn.posterous.com/pilgrim-sing-on-your-journey
From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop (Sermo 256, 1. 2. 3: PL 38, 1191-1193)

Let us sing alleluia to the good God who delivers us from evil

Let us sing alleluia here on earth, while we still live in anxiety, so that we may sing it one day in heaven in full security. Why do we now live in anxiety? Can you expect me not to feel anxious when I read: Is not man’s life on earth a time of trial? Can you expect me not to feel anxious when the words still ring in my ears: watch and pray that you will not be put to the test? Can you expect me not to feel anxious when there are so many temptations here below that prayer itself reminds us of them, when we say: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us? Every day we make our petitions, every day we sin. Do you want me to feel secure when I am daily asking pardon for my sins, and requesting help in time of trial? Because of my past sins I pray: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and then because of the perils still before me, I immediately go on to add: Lead us not into temptation. How can all be well with people who are crying out with me: Deliver us from evil? And yet, brothers, while we are still in the midst of this evil, let us sing alleluia to the good God who delivers us from evil.

Even here amidst trials and temptations let us, let all men, sing alleluia. God is faithful, says holy Scripture, and he will not allow you to be tried beyond your strength. So let us sing alleluia, even here on earth. Man is still a debtor, but God is faithful. Scripture does not say that he will not allow you to be tried, but that he will not allow you to be tried beyond your strength. Whatever the trial, he will see you through it safely, and so enable you to endure. You have entered upon a time of trial but you will come to no harm—God’s help will bring you through it safely. You are like a piece of pottery, shaped by instruction, fired by tribulation. When you are put into the oven therefore, keep your thoughts on the time when you will be taken out again; for God is faithful, and he will guard both your going in and your coming out.

But in the next life, when this body of ours has become immortal and incorruptible, then all trials will be over. Your body is indeed dead, and why? Because of sin. Nevertheless, your spirit lives, because you have been justified. Are we to leave our dead bodies behind then? By no means. Listen to the words of holy Scripture: If the Spirit of him who raised Christ from the dead dwells within you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your own mortal bodies. At present your body receives its life from the soul, but then it will receive it from the Spirit.

O the happiness of the heavenly alleluia, sung in security, in fear of no adversity! We shall have no enemies in heaven, we shall never lose a friend. God’s praises are sung both there and here, but here they are sung in anxiety, there, in security; here they are sung by those destined to die, there, by those destined to live for ever; here they are sung in hope, there, in hope’s fulfillment; here they are sung by wayfarers, there, by those living in their own country.

So, then, my brothers, let us sing now, not in order to enjoy a life of leisure, but in order to lighten our labors. You should sing as wayfarers do—sing, but continue your journey. Do not be lazy, but sing to make your journey more enjoyable. Sing, but keep going. What do I mean by keep going? Keep on making progress. This progress, however, must be in virtue; for there are some, the Apostle warns, whose only progress is in vice. If you make progress, youwill be continuing your journey, but be sure that your progress is in virtue, true faith and right living. Sing then, but keep going.

Origin of WAYFARER

Middle English weyfarere, from wey, way way + -farere traveler, from faren to go — more at fare
First Known Use: 15th century
Book VI, The Land of Shadow, The Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkein)
 
There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

Camino al infierno, Camino al cielo

 (The Road to Hell is paved with rosebuds,

The Rose to Heaven with thorns)

El_camino

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Sun, 02 Sep 2012 22:17:00 -0700 Pilgrims Progress or Settler's Regress http://tarsusturn.posterous.com/pilgrims-progress-or-settlers-regress http://tarsusturn.posterous.com/pilgrims-progress-or-settlers-regress

 

 

Pilgrim's Progress, Settler's Regress:

How to Grow Up and Not Lose your Destiny - Notes

 

1.     The Call: Matt 22:14; John 15:16; Romans 1:6; Revelation 17:14

2.     Pilgrimage: Psalm 84: 5-7, 10.

3.     Project Restoring you: Proverbs 25:28; James 5:16; Proverbs 28:13

4.     Born Again, Grow Up Again: 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 8:19-21

5.     Brokenness and Healing through Christ: Matt 18:21-35; Psalm 147:13

6.     Destiny and Your Adversary: John 10:10; 1 John 3:8

7.     Nehemiah 3 Counterclockwise Tour: 10 gates embodying 10 milestones in the Pilgrim's Progress to Zion i.e. Christian maturity  

 

 

 

Downwards

Upwards - Psalm 24:3-4

Sheep: Rev 12:11; Heb 4:14; Heb 10:14; John 10:7-10; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11-12, 15; 1 Cor 3:11-15; Mark 4:3-8

Fish: Mark 1:17

Old: Eph 4:17-23

Valley: Psalm 23; Gen 26:19

Dung: Jer 17:9-10; Isaiah 29:13; Matt 15:16; Psalm 139:23-24; Prov 20:27; 2 Cor 2:14-15; Heb 9:10-12; Ezek 26:36

Fountain: John 7:38; Heb 4:12; Eph 6:17

Water: Eph 5:25; 1 John 2:27; 1 Thess 5:19; Eph 4:29; Jer 2:13

Horse: Rev 19:11; Malachi 4:1-3

East: Zech 14:4; Ezk 44:1-3; Judah (Gen 49:8-10; Judges 1:1-2); Issachar (Gen 49:14-15)

Miphkad (Inspection): Judges 5:18; Matt 25:31-46

 

8.     Pilgrim's Progress or Regress?

§       Childish things: 1 Cor 13:11

§       Fidelity vs Adultery: John 15:18-19; 2 Tim 3:12; 2 Chrn 16:9; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Cor 6:15

9.     Wholeness (holiness): body, soul, spirit: 1 Thess 5:23; Mark 12:30 cf: Captivity

  • Body: Romans 12:1l; 1 Thess 4:3-8; ekporneuo[1]; Eph 4:17-19; Eph :26; Matt 18
  • Soul (intellect, emotions, will): Romans 12: 2; 2 Cor 10:3-6; 2 Thess 2:10; Col 2:8; Prov 12:1; Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 1:21-22,29; Galatians 3:28; Lev 22:8; 1 Cor 6:9; Universal Moral vs Ceremonial Law: Acts 10:9-15; Genesis 3:4-5; Isaiah 5:20; Humanism as spirit of the anti-christ[2]; The Intolerance of Tolerance[3]; Emotions and Will e.g. tongue: Proverbs 18:21; James 3; Isaiah 50:4; Jer 15:19
  • Praise (Psalm 24:1; Gen 49 on Judah); Thanksgiving: Psalm 50:23; Jonah 2, Acts 16; Trusting God: Psalm 27 and Hebrews 11; Washing with the Word: Eph 5:26; Psalm 91; Psalm 73; Armour of God: Ephesians 6
  • spirit: Romans 6:14-19; Hebrews 10:16; Matt 6:24, Luke 6:92; Rev 19:10

 

10.  How not to be disqualified

  • Pleasing God or man? 1 Thess 2:14
  • Noble and Ignoble vessels: 2 Tim 2:20-21
  • Attitude of Champion Athlete/Solider: 2 Tim 2:4
  • Mature and Immature: James 1:4 (perseverance); Heb 5:12 (milk v meat); focused, vigilant and responsible: Phil 3:12-15, Luke 21:19-26; Acts 19:13-16
  • Responsibility and Action: Ezk 22:30; 2 Cor 7:14
  • Destiny of a Nation: Acts 17:26; Matt 25:32; Rev 21:24-27
  • Righteousness and Lawlessness: Ps 89:14; Prov 14:34; Matt 26:40; Romans 1:24-31; 1 John 3:4-5; Ezek 22:29-31; Ezek 20:25; Matt 24:12; Judges 5:8; Acts 17:6 (spirit of effeminacy v bold witness)
  • Lawlessness and God's Judgment: Leviticus 18; 18-25 Jude 1:7; Genesis 15:16; Proverbs 11:21; Psalm 9:17; Psalm 107:33-34; Gen 6:5, 11
  • As you have done to Israel: Obadiah 1:15[4]; Genesis 12:1-3
  • Gideon chooses the 300 hundred: Judges 7.

 

 



[1] See Homosexuality vs God's Holiness: THE ORDINANCE OF THE AMORITES: http://www.defendproclaimthefaith.org/homosexuality_and_god_1.htm (John McTernan, Defend and Proclaim the Faith)

[2] See Derek Prince, 'Humanism: Forerunner for Antichrist' http://www.pastornotes.com/notes/278.pdf

[3] Don Carson, The Intolerance of Tolerance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PVJlnvVeSM

[4] John McTernan, As America has done to Israel: http://www.defendproclaimthefaith.org

 

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