The Emperor!

Blogger's Note: This is by far my favorite piano concerto. I thought the title was fitting, 'The Emperor', to accompany the visual feast and glorious words of Revelation 21. Enjoy!

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"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
(Revelation 21:1-7 ESV)

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
(Revelation 22:1-5 ESV)

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Blogger's Annotation: After listening to this for the 100th time today and watching Bernstein conduct, I thought about God as the Grand Conductor of the Universe, the musicians the Angels and Saints, nature the instruments and the Pianist his Son, who is center stage, whom everyone accompanies, but yet is in time with the Conductor. Everyone working together, playing their part, bring forth the hidden song in the heart of God....

Family, Community and Faith: A Reminder

Source Article: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/movers-sheriffs-deputies-refuse-evict-103-year-old/nFp4Q/

This is a reminder of why the family, community and faith are under assault. These three fortresses, ordained by The Living God, are the hedge against the advancing evil. The Spirit of God convicted these men from doing evil to a Saint; His power made manifest in her weakness. When the Spirit of God is removed from the face of the Earth, WOE! WOE! WOE, to the World and to its inhabitants!

The World: A Meditation

art by Chris Koelle
from the ground breaking Book of Revelation App

Its grip as fierce as its eyes!

"IT HAS BEGUN!"

The world grabbed me by the throat... 

Choking...

 

...I begged for mercy.

"There is, provided you can pay for it!"

The World shouted back. 

"Give...me...what...is mine", it shrieked and clamped tighter. 

Why extend this pain and prolong death?

We both knew I had no more to give because what little I had was already taken from me. 

With increasingly little air to breathe I wished it would just finish what it came to do.

I saw NOTHING...
...I HEARD nothing

All strength left my body, I could but raise my eyes to Heaven.

I only felt the weight of The Worlds' talon gripping my flesh, demanding what has already been exacted.

"Why can't I see You?" 

"Lord, What have I done wrong?"

As The World strangles me, all The Flesh can see is a future void. But I know The Flesh has deceived me before; it is not reliable. It is a lair and an accomplice to The World.

Though I see nothing and hear nothing, and though I cannot lift myself up, in my heart and mind I am dancing on His promises; which are faithful and true. The World cannot understand why I smile and squeezes harder in a fit of rage. 

I close my eyes and continue to dance amongst the stars. Dreaming. Hoping.

the spirit recalls that...     

 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(1)
So I will...

 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
  praise him with strings and pipe!(2)
because....

 God is not man, that he should lie,
  or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
 Has he said, and will he not do it?
  Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?(3)

for...

  The LORD is gracious and merciful,
  slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
 The LORD is good to all,
  and his mercy is over all that he has made.
 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
  and all your saints shall bless you!
 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
  and tell of your power,
 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
  and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
  and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
 The LORD is faithful in all his words
  and kind in all his works.(4)

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"Powerful," is what one reader has related to me in regards to Chris' illustrations. If you enjoy it as well, please visit Chris' etsy site and browse his other prints. They are affordable and make great gifts! Or, you can collect them, like myself. I encourage every reader who was moved by what they saw here to consider supporting this independent artist financially so he can be free to continue bringing us the fruit of his spirit.

"RevelationApp: Chris Koelle - All in a Day's Work"

 

In the End: A Letter

I was thinking about everything we talked about and have some final thoughts on the matter. The vitriol we feel toward the bankers and the lawyers (modern day sophists) who create the net that catches men is just, as they contrive laws in their favor at the expense of the mass. But, when I thought about it in terms of what was written in the gospels, relating it to our present time, what came out to me was Matthew, the tax collector. He was despised and hated because the tax collectors exacted more than what was necessary, creating a tremendous burden on families and individuals. Of course the technocratic has usurped the theocratic state, but the essence of our times have a similar spirit. People were upset because Jesus brought Matthew under his grace, for how can there be forgiveness when justice must be satisfied? Does forgivness trump justice?

What came to mind was my attitude and demeanor, and I realized that a demanding justice will always be inherently violent and the violence consumes itself like the ouroboros; in that it necessitates itself for its own consumption. The poison of the serpent is this: It is its own consumption. The ultimate consumption. Regardless, there is still the paradox: how can forgiveness and justice be present in the same space? Thoughts churned and I started to think that maybe my perception about the relationship between justice and forgivness is skewed. We do not struggle against a 'system' per se, but against social constructions designed by men who lack love in themselves. Their crimes are not against us, they are against themselves. They have killed love in themselves, and this is the tragedy because they were once children, filled with awe and wonder, but over time, in a thousand different ways they have slaughtered the love in their hearts and they do not possess peace. Their crime is twofold in that their system strangles the love in ourselves and robs of us peace as well. My anger and frustration melted into pity. I realized that justice, though not necessarily always seen, is being exacted and my compassion for the child-men who have pierced their hearts was also present. Justice and forgiveness co-exist, given the proper context.

This was obviously not on my mind earlier today and am grieved that I got swept away in a demanding justice and lost the proper perspective. I am sorry that I got as upset with you as I did. It is shameful and wrong. You are my mother, who brought me into this world through your love and sustain me to this day by it as well. I broke the law, which is love, and did not honor you today. But, it is a reminder that I must hold steadfast and not let the fleeting vapor, this passing world, strangle my love. I know it is forgiven, but I wanted to let you know the other things that go on in my mind, positive things.  Speaking of thoughts coming to mind, just now, while writing this sentence James 1:2-4 popped up in my head:

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

I feel I can say that I am now counting this situation for joy. Love has won the day.

Also, while I was considering all these things, these songs came on my pandora:

I hadn't heard them before, but thought it was perfect timing!

With much love,

You Son

Love & War & The Sea in Between

By far one of the most inspired and under played albums of the year, and Josh has made it available free for the year! White Owl (1), Farther Along (3) and Revelator (16) are my favorites, but the whole album can be played through with maximum enjoyment.

The New Dawn: A Meditation

art by Chris Koelle
from the ground breaking Book of Revelation App


 

I closed my eyes. I stilled my mind. I felt His Spirit on me: becoming the body electric. My eyes broke open and the poison of the world spilled out as I praised him for his grace and mercy; that despite my nature he grants me the pleasure of His glance, a hint of His smile and the warmth of His embrace. The body melts as my soul unfurls and catches the Spirit's breath, sailing me through the fabric of space. On a sea of tears I go, beyond the stars into a new dawn. Into the raising Son, the living heart of God.

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Let all those that seeke thee, reioyce and bee glad in thee: let such as loue thy saluation, say continually, The Lord be magnified. But I am poore and needy, yet the Lord thinketh vpon me: thou art my helpe and my deliuerer, make no tarrying, O my God.

Psalm 40:16-17 KJV

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If you enjoyed the illustration used, please visit Chris' etsy site and browse his other prints. They are affordable and make great gifts! Or, you can collect them, like myself. I encourage every reader who was moved by what they saw here to consider supporting this independent artist financially so he can be free to continue bringing us the fruit of his spirit.

"RevelationApp: Chris Koelle - All in a Day's Work"