Psalmsicle

Psalm 23 Rephrase

*Important to understand that this is not God’s holy scripture. This is my paraphrase.

01. The Lord is my foster parent, he takes care of everything

02. He maximizes what I’m made to do and provides the avenues for it; there are hot tubs and jacuzzi’s in my playground

03. yet, YOU refresh me and show me the good life, not so that I’d have the good life but that my good life would rep your greatness

04. even though, this good life takes me through the toughest hood, I ain’t never scared, I got my dad there; your pimp hand and glock embolden me

05. amidst the battle we live in, I’m so protected by you that you set up a bountiful picnic in the park with all the fixin’s, this is frickinridiculous!!

06. while chillin’ with you forever, goodness and lovingkindness hunt me down like a rabid pit bull.

Hebrews: Wake Up & Smell The Jesus

This will start my Hebrews commentary. Please feel free to comment as that helps to refine me. This book is wicked heavy and I'm praying that the Holy Spirit will lead me into all truth concerning this book. The format should be easy enough to follow. I use semi-colons to break-up thoughts within a verse, besides that is should be simple.

Hebrews

01:01- God spoke through prophets (God spoke through man).

01:02- God spoke through his Son (God now speaks through God).; through his son in the fact that JC speaks/spoke audible words that we can now read/hear --> also, through his Son in the sense of by means of (the whole JC being our mediator thing); the same words that God spoke through JC to create everything we now see (and don't see), God speaks through JC to us (pretty frickin' cool!!); the only reason that we now hear God is because of what JC has done for us by being ransomed for us.

01:03- That Son we see is in fact God! He's the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of God's nature. JC beat death, took his rightful place of Honor and popped His collar;

01:04- "having become much better than the angels..." why is that said --> because angels are also in Heaven. If you don't say that, then one could wrongly assume that just like the angels are in heaven, so now is JC. The author wants to make no mistake that Jesus isn't just in heaven as the angels are, he's in a higher place of honor then they are. This now starts a chain of things/people that JC is better than; JC inherited a better name than the angels do --> we get to be co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8) --> we inherit this name as well, the only reason that we get access into heaven is the fact that we inherit JC's name!!

01:05- The author then proceeds to lay out from the scriptures why JC is better than the angels; the first cross reference in this verse is from Psa 2:7, the context of this Psalm is the nations are taunting God, but God ain't stressin' because he has set for himself the King that will lead to their ruin, namely JC (king of the universe is more lofty a title than an angel, chalk one up for Jesus); the second cross reference of this verse is from 2 Samuel 7:14, the context is that David wants to build a temple for God, then Nathan hears from God and God says that David is not the one to build the temple but that He will establish David's house forever, also that He will be a father to David's son (Solomon) and will not leave him. The author is seeing this promise as a promise for Jesus (the son of David, who's kingdom will be established forever) as the one in which this promise is fulfilled.; both verse's speak to JC's sonship and kingship; JC is better than the angels.

01:06- Basically, the first day JC is on the scene, he's the man; "firstborn"--> preeminence, over everything, so angels as well (see Col. 1 as well); JC is so much more higher than the angels that the angels all worship him; we see that first off when JC was born all the angels were singing Glory to God in the highest (Luke 2:9 and following);

01:07- The cross reference in this verse is Psa. 104:4. This Psalm is pretty much just ascribing God crazy worship. This cross ref. is thrown in their to contrast how much more better JC is than the angels; the contrast is that the angels are basically God's messenger boy but JC is the heir to the king of the universe (which gets laid out even further in the following verses), and we also know that JC is actually God himself, so again we see how much higher JC is than the angels;

01:08-09- The cross reference in this verse is Psa. 45:6-7; this is taken as more promises that are fulfilled in JC. this also speaks to God's sovereignty in all this ("...throne forever and ever..."; "...God has anointed you..."); remember the author is putting this against what the angels are, hammering in the theme of this chapter--> JC is better than the angels;

01:10-12- The cross reference in these verses are Psa. 102:25-26. This Psalm is talking about how they were destitute and God is going to show off his Glory through them and that God hasn't changed or diverted from the plan of showing himself off; this cross ref. reaffirms JC's deity, and reaffirms JC's preeminence and JC's steadfastness/durability;

01:13- The cross reference is Psa. 110:1. The Psalm is basically more glory ascribing to JC!; The Psalmist is talking about God, but the author of Hebrews references it about JC-->, again reaffirming JC's deity; It pits this verse against the truth that this promise isn't for the angels, its for the Son;

01:14- The angels are "ministering spirits"; it says that they minister to the those who will inherit salvation; what does that mean? it seems as if thats speaking to the co-heirs with Christ, God's church; i don't think that it is saying that we lord over them and they are at our beck and call. I think it means that they will minister to us as a part of serving God. Angels serve God, not us. They are at His beck and call, not ours;

Chapter 1 Quick Wrap-Up:

Jesus is better than the angels; JC is better because of His preeminence, Kingship and the fact that JC is God. The author hammers those theme's in as well.

The Passion Of Kanye...

In response to Jesus Walks:

Obviously, I don't know the Louis Vuitton Don himself, so all I can go off of is his music (which I know quite intimately). I think that Kanye is trying to justify himself under the umbrella of Jesus. In the same way, that 50 Cent will thank God for his In Da Club. I think the message that he is sending is "Hey, live your life however you want, Jesus will go with you." Jesus didn't really put up with all the bullschnazz. He got to the point of things. Where Kanye continually points to himself and all his glory, Jesus would bring it all back to the Father.

It is slightly encouraging that he confesses his need for Jesus, I hope that God shakes this man up and show him that He is the only way of life that is significant.

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Halleleezy, Praise Jeezy!!!

So i wanted to get ya'lls take on something.

What is Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" really saying?
Does Jesus really walk with him?
Is this a praise song that Dave could lead us in?

Here are the lyrics:

"Jesus Walks"

Yo, We at war
We at war with terrorism, racism, and most of all we at war with ourselves
(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me) with me, with me, with me [fades]

You know what the Midwest is?
Young & Restless
Where restless (N!g&as) might snatch your necklace
And next these (N!g&as) might jack your Lexus
Somebody tell these (N!g&as) who Kanye West is
I walk through the valley of the Chi where death is
Top floor the view alone will leave you breathless Uhhhh!
Try to catch it Uhhhh! It's kinda hard hard
Getting choked by the detectives yeah yeah now check the method
They be asking us questions, harass and arrest us
Saying "we eat pieces of s#!t like you for breakfast"
Huh? Yall eat pieces of s#!t? What's the basis?
We ain't going nowhere but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke rental car from Avis
My momma used to say only Jesus can save us
Well momma I know I act a fool
But I'll be gone 'til November I got packs to move I Hope

[Hook x2]
(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me)
The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walks)
And I don't think there is nothing I can do now to right my wrongs
(Jesus Walks with me)
I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long

To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers even the strippers
(Jesus walks with them)
To the victims of Welfare for we living in hell here hell yeah
(Jesus walks with them)
Now hear ye hear ye want to see Thee more clearly
I know he hear me when my feet get weary
Cause we're the almost nearly extinct
We rappers are role models we rap we don't think
I ain't here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I'm just trying to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis that's the way I need Jesus
So here go my single dog radio needs this
They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
But if I talk about God my record won't get played Huh?
Well let this take away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope this take away from my sins
And bring the day that I'm dreaming about
Next time I'm in the club everybody screaming out

(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks)
The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walks)
And I don't thing there's nothing I can do now to right my wrongs
(Jesus walks with me... fades)
I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long

Please let me know what you think this song is saying and I'll give you my take (aka the right answer) for my next post.

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iGrace

Sorry Chris, I hope you didn't patent the i thing on the blogs.

So let me tell you what grace is. I'm sittin' in a very comfortable plane seat on my way back from Minnesota. I got the iPod rockin', this particular time, it happened to be The Wreckers "Leave The Pieces" when all of a sudden, it just stops. I do the reset thing, and the black apple comes up and i'm like yeah. Then, it goes to a white screen with a picture of an iPod with a frown and it had a support url under it. The next day, i go to the Apple store, and they communicate to me that their product works just long enough to exceed the warranty then it breaks and their is nothing i can do. For someone to take away my music, is like someone take away my life. I felt my world crumbling apart. God checked me, told me to get over it and praised God for the fact that I'm his child and that in the bigger of the schemes, it really doesn't matter. Two weeks later, one of my homies comes over (after i just had bailed on him to help him move a friend) and he gives me a brand new 30 GB iPod. That my friends is grace. Four of my very best friends all pitched in and got me a new iPod. I don't have to have an iPod. It is very much a luxury item (although, i would pick music over food, drink, or shelter every day of the week). Most of the world lives on maybe 3 of my songs from itunes for their whole days wage. My boys showed me just how extravagant grace is. We don't deserve it. We aren't owed it. We just get it. Kinda like my iPod (which I dubbed Optimus Ipod). I don't deserve it. I am not owed it. What I'm trippin' on is, that in this horrible, fallen world, where Jesus is not yet glorified as he should be, and i'm showed this kind of grace... how f-in' amazing is Heaven gonna be. Praise the King who is coming back for his bride very soon.

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Psalm Sunday

Psalm 25

Important Notice. MY REPHRASE. NOT HOLY SCRIPTURE!!!

01. Man, God you're all I got

02. You're the only one who gots my back

03. Fo sho, those who count on you, you always come through; those who act like a punk get dealt with.

04. School me to the game God, show waz up

05. Make me know your truth God, school me man; You, God saved me!! I wait for you like a kid waits for the ice cream man.

06. 'Member God how you've been compassionate and merciful for a hot minute.

07. Clear my record God; check me out through the Loc's of your love, for it is dope for your love to cover me.

08. God since you are only good and just you teach sinners the real way to live;

09. He brings the afflicted justice and even teaches the afflicted his victorious ways.

10. Every God does to those who roll with him is lovingkindness and truth.

11. To the spread of your rep., show me mercy in spite of my great sin.

12. What will the guy look like that fears your properly; you will mentor him in the best way,

13. That mans soul will be ballin and his kids will inherit the turf.

14. God will reveal the mystery to those that fear him and show him the promise.

15. I always make sure I can see God cause he keeps me protected.

16. I'm lonely and afflicted please God chill with me.

17. I'm stressin like a mug and my heart is scurred.

18. God you know all my ish, please redeem me.

19. You see all those haters who game-face me.

20. Have my back; when I'm rollin with you, I know I can't get punked.

21. Keep me straight as i chill;

22. Take care of all of us God; all our drama

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Oh Amazing Calamity, How Sweet The Sound...

An oft quoted verse of the bible reads as such, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." You don't have to look at your bumper sticker or your knitted wall plaque to tell you that's Romans 8:28.

Is that really true? Do we experience that? Is this the truth that you walk in?

Your sister gets killed by a stray bullet at a convenience store robbery, is God working for your good then? When you have just undergone your 3rd miscarriage in-a-row, is God working for your good then? Etc, etc., etc. We all have those stories to throw in there. I would submit that Romans 8:28, biblically understood is inexpressibly true and you should stand on that promise.

Misconception number one about that verse is that God is your own personal genie now that you are tight with him. That couldn't be any falser from what scripture teaches! One of God's most normative attributes is, God is free and sovereign. When Moses asks God for his name in Exodus 3, God calls himself, I am who I am; in Ex. 33 when Moses asks God to show him his glory (translation- i want to know all of you, i would argue your best qualities (?)) he responds by saying i will cause all my goodness to pass before you, i will show mercy to whom i show mercy and compassion to whom i'll show compassion. All that to say, God is free and does what he wants.

Misconception number two is that the way you interpret goodness does not trump how God doles out goodness. The fact that you call something not good does not necessarily mean it really isn't good. Take wealth for example. You may see someone is very affluent. You might say, "Wow look how God has blessed him/her!" God making that person rich may be all of his wrath poured out on them. Why are we so quick to proclaim wealth=blessing. This is the same trap that Job's three comforters fell into. They saw what had happened to Job and pressed the fact that Job had some great sin and that was the reason that the calamity had fallen. Job knew that in this instance there was no sin that had caused this to happen. God actually backs that thought up in the beginning of the book. By the end of the book we see that God says i do what i want, and berates them with all of the 'where were you...' questions. Job repents (not for the sin that caused the calamity, because there wasn't one, but because of God's amazing holiness and Job's righteousness is as filthy rags to God) and its all good. The moral of Job is not that if you are good guy God will hook you up monetarily and circumstantially in the end. The moral is that God does what he wants and will spare no 'expense' for his children to see his amazingness. Sorry, long Job rant. This misconception is sooo important to right.

Truth: Everything (rape, murder, child pornography, natural disasters, etc.) that happens to you as a child of God is God doing what is absolutely best for you. God can only do what is good. God is only just all the time. Only righteous. Only holy. There is no other option for God. Just like we can't not sin, he can't not be holy. So what we experience on our vaporous life here is, God doing whatever it takes to make sure that HE is getting all our praise, adoration and attention, you then even say it was good for me to be afflicted so i could learn all your decrees (Psalm 119:71 paraphrased). Along those same lines, when God is in that place in your life (getting all praise, adoration and attention; completely Lord of your life; you are in deep communion with him; etc.) that is actually the very best thing God could do to/for you. Because God is the 'good' that Rom. 8:28 is talking about. Its not stuff. Its not golf, sports, sex, music, self esteem. God is the good. The truths that come along with God (like forgiveness of sin, no hell) are not the blessing, fully; it is God himself, that is the blessing. In his presence is fullness of joy and praises forevermore (Psalm 16). Rewarding you with him self is the absolutely, most postively best thing that God can/does do for his children. AMEN! When you take joy in the God that created the Grand Canyon and not in the Grand Canyon, you will get it. When you take joy in the God that ultimately invented every single thing ever, instead of those physical things, you are getting it. We haven't even touched on the fact that apart from Christ you are absolutely evil and ANY thing that you receive from God besides the most severe fullness of his wrath, is blessing to you. You aren't owed a dang thing. Your life as a child of God is you constantly falling on your face and crying out to God why me. Why show your mercy to me? It doesn't seem right to me but i will take your grace and everyday cover my life with it.

How does this all work? I HAVE NO FLIPPIN' IDEA. I just see this to be biblically true.

What does this mean for non-children of God? In the most ultimate sense, everything that happens to them is good. Not in the same way as it is for the children of God. It is good in the sense that God is doing what is right (remember, he can only do good) by showing off the glory of his wrath on these people. The largest act of sedition and evil done to the non-child of God is the smallest fraction of what their sin deserves compared to the perfect holy God. That same act of great sedition to the child of God could (and usually is) actually an act of sanctification and in fact blessing because of the same magnitude of sin that they have before the same holy and perfect God.

I have just said some very large claims. Please challenge me on these. Am i going too far? I am still in process as well, so please add your input. This may and probably does come off as harsh, for that i kinda apologize, but this is the only way i know how to express myself. There are, I'm sure, better ways to communicate these truths, but i don't know them as of yet.

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Psalm Pspeech

Again. Really important. NOT HOLY SCRIPTURE. MY PARAPHRASE!!!

Psalm 42

01. God, I'm thirsty for you like a mofo.

02. Everything in me wants, nay needs you, the living God, the God that IS. When can we hook up again?

03. My sadness has fed me all day. They mock me and scoff, "Where is your God now?".

04. I get caught up daydreamin, reminiscing about the good ole days; man, i used to lead the party to your house God, now those were the days.

05. Why is my most innerward parts sad? Why have i become so down in the dumps? Count on God, for i will be glad in Him again, when i'm near to him.

06. On the real though, I'm wicked depressed. I yearn for you in the land of the Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mt. Mizar.

07. The mighty ocean that you are have sent your swails and have crushed everything that i am.

08. God will shower me with love in the day and sing me lullabye's in the night; i hope and pray.

09. God i wanna holla at ya. Why have you left me hanging. Why am i being overtaken by the enemy. You are God, my rock, right?

10. They destroy me, God, mocking me about you, taunting me, "Where is your God, now?"

11. Why is my most innerward parts sad? Why have i become so down in the dumps? Count on God, for i will be glad in Him again, the sustainer of my everything and my very, real present God.

Consumer Church Love-ectomy

I need the word LOVE to be redeemed by God. I'm very jaded by the cheesy American consumer church with the use of that word. You'll hear all the time preachers/speakers say God loves you so much and is usually followed up by and has a wonderful plan for your life. I just cringe when i hear that. It lacks all power and any kind of gusto. This is definitely my issue i think not theirs, i don't think they are necessarily in the wrong, i think that i'm (and possibly they are) thinking inaccurately about the Biblical love of God. But when they say it, it seems like this is what they are really saying, “Because you are so lovable and such a good person, God loves you. He wants to make sure that your life is good now because you said a prayer once and you would make Gods day if you would please be on his team; you have so much to offer.” God's day is already made and you have nothing to offer. The nothing to offer actually really attracts God to you, not your strengths. What also fuels this is the fact that most of the church doesn't see God's wrath as glorious. God is very glorious in his wrath. It is not a second class attribute. I get very excited about God showing off his amazingness in his wrath (maybe too excited). Part of my excitement is my love for justice, part of it is my acknowledgement of the evil that drenches humans apart from Christ, and part of it is that most people, even in the church, think that we are essentially pretty good. The reason why thinking we are essentially good is so dangerous is because it takes away from God's holinesss. If we close the gap between God and man, apart from Christ, then he is stripped of his other than qualities. The whole point of it all is that He is other than us. Any of our attempts of love or good will, apart from Christ are in vain. Any of our heroic efforts, apart from Christ are selfish and self-promoting. Any money we give to charity, apart from Christ, is an attempt to buy righteousness. I don't care what a person might say or tell you, apart from Christ their thoughts, their inclinations, their heart is completely and by definition evil, fighting against God and reeks of the only, evil all the time feel that is is Gen. 6. He is infinitely more holy, perfect, righteous, etc. He is the definition of Holy and we are the anti-definition. Thats the whole freakin' point. When i say “God loves you/me” i want that to mean this “God is so unquantifiably glorious. His depth is deeper than an analogy. His Godness is unparalleled. Because he cares for and guards his glory sooooo much, he agapes us, the very thorn in his heel, the very damnable damned, by snatching us, literally stealing us against our will from Hell, where we already feel at home and have repainted the cupboards, placing his righteousness on us, making us righteous, which permits us and also overwhelmingly compels us to worship him, providing provision for us, as it lines up with him getting glorified most, all this before the foundations of the world, and right now and forever, all at the same time. God loves us!!!!!!!!!” Thats what i want to think/feel when i hear someone say God loves you.

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Worship Run-ons

I was rereading the Old Testament of my life aka my journal, and i ran across something that i'd like to share. Its called a glory rant. Just think of the most glorious things you can and attribute them to the goodness of God and voila (someone better give me props on the correct spelling of that)!

Glory

Glory or Kabod in the original

Heavy is the glory of the Creator and King

Massively engulfing the universe with this Kabod

Delicacies where the cake and the icing are equally enjoyable

Peaches with the core as edible and succulent as the outer

Midday skies lavender, midnight skies baby blue

Inside jokes never ending, intimacy unadulterated

Explaining the who, whats and why they are there

When? Always! How? Who cares!

Dancing, spinning, laughing, falling, crying, loving

Frittering days away in the Glory

GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!! GGGLLLLLOOOOORRRRRYYY!!!!!!!

Acclamation, proclamation, propitiation, sanctification--

Glory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Throne gathering, table sitting, bearing the cross-ing, everything-ing

Glory!!!!!!!!!

First day, last day; all the same day glory, glory, glory.

The reason the earth spins and the caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

Better than raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens.

Satisfyingest everlasting happiness enduringest unequivocable.

Glory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glory!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glory!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The Beautiful Art of Translation

Every week i try to re-write a psalm in language that i understand.

Important notice: THIS IS NOT HOLY WRIT. IT IS MY PARAPHRASE.


Psalm 73

01. Mos def, God hooks up his peeps aka his pure to the core ones.

02. This is what went down for me, i almost really f'd up.

03. I was jockin the arrogant while they were rollin hard.

04. Even their death was easy and they had plenty of grub.

05. They don't seem to tarry as most do, their life is peaches and cream.

06. Pride is their bling and their gear, violence.

07. Nothing they see is off limits and their carnal desires are havocing.

08. They look down on the the low and judge from their ivory towers.

09. They run smack all over the earth.

10. From their fountains run wealth.

11. God has slept on us, they say. He can't see me.

12. Behold, they have slept on God. They are evil, free as a bird and ballin' outta control.

13. I must be trippin to have stayed clean.

14. I struggle all day just to go to bed and get up to more troubles.

15. Everything i have said, the opposite has happened 2 fold.

16. All this ish didn't seem right. All i saw was injustice.

17. God took me into his presence and schooled me to the game. Then i saw what was up.

18. You have intentionally clothed them in f'd upness. They will most certainly lose in the end.

19. You punk them rather quickly by their most terrible of anxieties.

20. Upon waking them up from their dream, their reality is a most horrible nightmare.

21. I wasn't trusting you, leadin to my wicked bitter heart.

22. I was like a unconsolable beast wrapped in my ignorance like a whining, hungry lion while my trainer is taking me to my dinner.

23. Even still you take me and make my strong hand as if it where yours.

24. You will teach me how to live and then after, your glory!!!!!!!

25. Out of all the riches in all the worlds, i get you, the prize gem. I could want nothing else that i can grab.

26. All of my efforts may fail to the very core, but God is my replenshing/ever-filling of my soul and my always harvesting crop for eternity.

27. Those who don't roll with you will be obliterated. You will not have obstination.

28. This is how its goin down now, it is in my best interest to be close to God, in fact, i will be so close to God that He will be my address so that i will all encompassingly to the full, tell of His Glory.

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Obligatory Blog Mission Statement

Very simple. To provoke. To challenge. To offer the opinion that people are too scarred to tell you. To lead an internet audience that will go outside the box. To make the liberals more conservative and the conservatives more liberal. To b-slap political correctness. My hope is that you will be able to chew through much of my ungrammatically correctness and my run-on sentences longer than the preamble and find yourself provoked toward Jesus. A view of Jesus that doesn't see yourself damned by Him but rescued from God's wrath. A view that puts Jesus on the throne and you on your face.

The second, far less important purpose of this blog is to free my mind of clutter. I tend to process, through speaking, writing and very rarely through 'thinking'. Its pretty sweet, because God really tends to use the least qualified for doing amazing things (like a blog) so i'm excited to start this ish.

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