Kingdom Living in Paupers Clothing:
An Irishman's heart is nothing but his imagination. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
Bondage is a horrible thing. So many Christians are so caught up in their "religious piety and dogma" that experiencing life comes with the weight of heavy shackles attached to their hearts. Where does this bondage come from if Christ has died to set us free? Sure Scripture is full of rules and guidelines on how to live a productive and Godly life but I’ll let you in on a little secret. When God gave mankind the ten commandments He was setting us up to teach us the hard learned lesson of inadequacy. It’s totally impossible to keep them. That sounds like a practical joke of the most heavenly proportions doesn’t it? Yet God gave us something greater than the law. He gave us grace so abundant. Grace so amazing that it unlocks a freedom in Christ in living a life to its fullest in a world that God is the architect and designer of all things.
Having just spent a day at a Renaissance festival filled noble knights and dragon imagery I realized I have come a long way in my journey of experiencing Jesus in the everyday moments. Several years ago I wouldn’t be caught dead or alive for that matter, in such an environment of perceived hedonism or debauchery. The theme of the festival and the reason we chose to go this weekend was because it was a Celtic celebration of tradition and folklore. The sights, the sounds of flutes and the colors of the celebration was awesome. My blood runs Irish green and the thoughts and traditions of my ancestors have been ingrained in my soul since I was young lad. My great-grandfather James Sweeney was a rebel rouser of the most despicable kind. Hard working, hard drinking and always looking for a fight. I was told his hair was the color of a burning sunset and his stature was that of a giant but packed in a leprechaun’s body. But no one ever told him that to his red freckled face :-) This is my earthly heritage but my heavenly linage and security is traced back to an old rugged cross whose power is lost to the religious one’s who worship at the feet of law and judgement.
Wenches Want Me but Jesus Loves Me Even More:
Wench: n. 1. A young woman or girl, especially a peasant girl. 2. A woman servant. 3. A wanton woman. A woman of an undesirable reputation.
Wenches. So if this is what a "wench" is then why did they fancy me so much at their washing well this fine afternoon’s day? We may never know that answer but If the truth be told, there are many "wenches" mentioned in the Scripture. Mary Magdalene was one and Jesus called her beloved and friend. Wenches also tend to dress in outfits that are pretty revealing and to the "religious" eye of every evil imagining, "ungodly." God forbid we enjoyed their company so much. Yet we did. As a matter of fact , we enjoyed everything inside these castle walls and towers setting. It was like stepping back in time a few hundred years to a time where even the simplest of things was a chore. Everything was made by hand and life wasn’t as easy as a trip to Walmart to get everything you needed. They worked hard but they lived and played hard also. From the washing well wenches to the royal court musicians and even the court jesters with their annoying pointed hats with tiny silver bells, there was a good time to be had by all.
So what exactly is the point of my story and how does it relates to our Christianity? For those religious one’s, did I forfeit my salvation by enjoying myself so much in the mist of all that religion despises and loves to judge as hell bound? Think carefully before you answer. If you think I forfeited anything then you sorely have miscalculate the power of the cross of Jesus Christ. Do I sin more so that grace can so much so more abound as the apostle Paul would say? For the grace seeker’s, my answer would be, how could I or anyone undo or have an affect on what God has done by way of a cross. Freedom doesn’t come cheap. The body of Christ testifies of the scars and puncture wounds that will always bare witness to that. Practical living is about just that, living practically in a world reconciled back to God. Religion formulated by man rebels against anything that they feel grace isn’t able cover. How foolish is the traditions and laws of men when compared to the total freedom found in God’s boundless grace.
My circumstance or my paupers clothing of human flesh in this life doesn’t dictate nor does it prevent me from living a Kingdom existence now. So some will severely judge me and some will actually think about what I have written concerning God’s unexplainable grace. True heart issues can only be seen by God and not men. God knows my heart. My blood may be Irish born with some German barbarism mixed into it but my bloodline is of a Royal heritage come down from heaven in Christ Jesus. I’m free to love, to live and enjoy God’s world as my heart for Him so dictates. I am a prince only because He has called me one. I will live and die as one because I will live and die free in Christ Jesus.
Now I’ll end with my own special toast. How I got so modest and sweet I’ll never know but graciously I'll accept. And where my journey's may take me, the power of His cross I’ll never neglect. Cheers!!!!
Eat and feast at life’s bountiful table in the light that His endless grace has provided us and His cross has eternally secured. Death is not the only thing in life that is guaranteed, the journey you freely chose is guaranteed as well my friend.
James Robert Kessler
Because of Him art Ministry copyright 2007
An Irishman's heart is nothing but his imagination. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
Bondage is a horrible thing. So many Christians are so caught up in their "religious piety and dogma" that experiencing life comes with the weight of heavy shackles attached to their hearts. Where does this bondage come from if Christ has died to set us free? Sure Scripture is full of rules and guidelines on how to live a productive and Godly life but I’ll let you in on a little secret. When God gave mankind the ten commandments He was setting us up to teach us the hard learned lesson of inadequacy. It’s totally impossible to keep them. That sounds like a practical joke of the most heavenly proportions doesn’t it? Yet God gave us something greater than the law. He gave us grace so abundant. Grace so amazing that it unlocks a freedom in Christ in living a life to its fullest in a world that God is the architect and designer of all things.
Having just spent a day at a Renaissance festival filled noble knights and dragon imagery I realized I have come a long way in my journey of experiencing Jesus in the everyday moments. Several years ago I wouldn’t be caught dead or alive for that matter, in such an environment of perceived hedonism or debauchery. The theme of the festival and the reason we chose to go this weekend was because it was a Celtic celebration of tradition and folklore. The sights, the sounds of flutes and the colors of the celebration was awesome. My blood runs Irish green and the thoughts and traditions of my ancestors have been ingrained in my soul since I was young lad. My great-grandfather James Sweeney was a rebel rouser of the most despicable kind. Hard working, hard drinking and always looking for a fight. I was told his hair was the color of a burning sunset and his stature was that of a giant but packed in a leprechaun’s body. But no one ever told him that to his red freckled face :-) This is my earthly heritage but my heavenly linage and security is traced back to an old rugged cross whose power is lost to the religious one’s who worship at the feet of law and judgement.
Wenches Want Me but Jesus Loves Me Even More:
Wench: n. 1. A young woman or girl, especially a peasant girl. 2. A woman servant. 3. A wanton woman. A woman of an undesirable reputation.
Wenches. So if this is what a "wench" is then why did they fancy me so much at their washing well this fine afternoon’s day? We may never know that answer but If the truth be told, there are many "wenches" mentioned in the Scripture. Mary Magdalene was one and Jesus called her beloved and friend. Wenches also tend to dress in outfits that are pretty revealing and to the "religious" eye of every evil imagining, "ungodly." God forbid we enjoyed their company so much. Yet we did. As a matter of fact , we enjoyed everything inside these castle walls and towers setting. It was like stepping back in time a few hundred years to a time where even the simplest of things was a chore. Everything was made by hand and life wasn’t as easy as a trip to Walmart to get everything you needed. They worked hard but they lived and played hard also. From the washing well wenches to the royal court musicians and even the court jesters with their annoying pointed hats with tiny silver bells, there was a good time to be had by all.
So what exactly is the point of my story and how does it relates to our Christianity? For those religious one’s, did I forfeit my salvation by enjoying myself so much in the mist of all that religion despises and loves to judge as hell bound? Think carefully before you answer. If you think I forfeited anything then you sorely have miscalculate the power of the cross of Jesus Christ. Do I sin more so that grace can so much so more abound as the apostle Paul would say? For the grace seeker’s, my answer would be, how could I or anyone undo or have an affect on what God has done by way of a cross. Freedom doesn’t come cheap. The body of Christ testifies of the scars and puncture wounds that will always bare witness to that. Practical living is about just that, living practically in a world reconciled back to God. Religion formulated by man rebels against anything that they feel grace isn’t able cover. How foolish is the traditions and laws of men when compared to the total freedom found in God’s boundless grace.
My circumstance or my paupers clothing of human flesh in this life doesn’t dictate nor does it prevent me from living a Kingdom existence now. So some will severely judge me and some will actually think about what I have written concerning God’s unexplainable grace. True heart issues can only be seen by God and not men. God knows my heart. My blood may be Irish born with some German barbarism mixed into it but my bloodline is of a Royal heritage come down from heaven in Christ Jesus. I’m free to love, to live and enjoy God’s world as my heart for Him so dictates. I am a prince only because He has called me one. I will live and die as one because I will live and die free in Christ Jesus.
Now I’ll end with my own special toast. How I got so modest and sweet I’ll never know but graciously I'll accept. And where my journey's may take me, the power of His cross I’ll never neglect. Cheers!!!!
Eat and feast at life’s bountiful table in the light that His endless grace has provided us and His cross has eternally secured. Death is not the only thing in life that is guaranteed, the journey you freely chose is guaranteed as well my friend.
James Robert Kessler
Because of Him art Ministry copyright 2007
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