Evil – Path Without End

20200719_073640 I’m 75 pages into this book. Snow is very easy to like and feel sorry for at this stage of the game. But he wants to climb the ladder of success, and the ladder is evil. What shall he do? Can one climb such a ladder and not become evil too?

One strong point of the Hunger Games is catching Lightning in a bottle. What is the mystical magic of what causes an individual to become the Lightning Rod of a Sea Change? First of all, perhaps there is a need? Perhaps this need has existed for a while. The people who are most affected by this need are looking for an answer, a way to solve this “lack”, this “pain”, this “discomfort”, this “evil” in their life. But who has the answer? Many may try and fail, but then somehow…unexplainably perhaps…mysteriously… an odd combination of events…chemistry…personality…talents…right place, right time… and it happens! Magic! Lightning in a bottle! And that person, or people, now become Lightning Rods of a chemical chain reaction taking place…if they do not abort!

Many visions have been aborted by their parent when things got a little too rough, scary, chaotic, or unpredictable. Where is this going? Where is this taking us? This wave? How big might it grow? Can we ride this thing? Should we ride it?

But sometimes the need is so great, a line has been crossed, and the wave must be ridden. And if there is no Lightning Rod willing to pay that price, then it is tragic, as the wave fails and the need returns even greater than before. Jesus became our Lightning Rod on the cross that day. Peter aborted the mission, but Jesus still rescued him and he became such a lightning rod too.

I’m still talking Hunger Games, of course; and I’m still talking Brian Sanders and his book/church > “UNDERGROUND CHURCH”. For me, his book has been Lightning in a bottle. I’m so glad he and his people have not aborted the mission of Christ. I’ve read 73% of his book now and continue being inspired!

There is a need. This need has been growing for some time, and someone like myself who actually got desperate enough to leave the modern church system and start a small fellowship of our own, has been looking for others. We know they are out there. And we know someone may already be doing what we’re searching for. Brian Sander’s book is meeting a real spiritual need in my life, and at a very good time.

The world is changing, folks, have you noticed? And there are major forces out there, who would love to see the “true” church die. This new breed of church, which is actually very old, as in the beginning, is like the Jabberjay who became the Mockingjay. Rather than die, it transformed! The Jabberjay became the Mockingjay! It did not die as expected. It did not die as hoped for by the rich and powerful of Panem! But it bred with the Mockingbird, producing many babies! It adapted to its new environment and multiplied! It became the Mockingjay! And Panem hated it! It became a symbol for the defeat of Panem and rebellion against the horrible Hunger Games.

The hunger Jesus gives is a hunger that actually satisfies. In other words, it brings peace, contentment, and fulfillment. It’s one of those Biblical paradoxes only a supernatural God can do. These modern churches with their materialistic preaching only causes more hunger. It does not teach our people to want less, but to want more! Live like a king! You’re a king’s kid! But Jesus taught us to be the servant. And to become “disciples” of his ways. I don’t see an earthly mansion or sports car on our Lord’s “to do” list. Our worldy Panem church hates it when the Mockingjay sounds off. They hate its song, and they hate its survival. They do not want to hear our message, nor search the scriptures to see if it may be true. They want to continue in Panem. Jesus would have been in the Districts. He did go to the Districts! Is there not a cause? Is there not a need? But there will always be a King Saul who both loves and also desires to kill, the “Davids” of our world.

If your church does not SERVE money and programs, then I’m not likely talking about your church. But there are those of us who hunger for the early church ways the Apostles planted. Not the church that grew in Jerusalem at Pentecost, but the form of church that scattered forth, went forth from there. Some of us believe that is the church we need to return to, and the destination God has for us in these last days.

I’ve not met Brian Sanders and have not experienced his ministry. I’ve only read his book. I live in Indiana and evidently this all is taking place in Tampa Bay area. But I don’t need Brian personally to experience the magic of God’s Lightning! I simply need a true path that meets my personal spiritual need! And now I become a spark, an ember, that has sparked off of his fire, and I begin to do something here in Indiana. I have high hopes for it.

Unless I ever connect with the UNDERGROUND CHURCH personally, it is likely I will never be a copy of his ministry, but at least I’ve found light leading out of this growing darkness! And I can do something with that. I can do something Jesus is laying on my heart. Because we are a priesthood in the earth. We are all anointed of Christ to be a family of priests! And to lay aside our royalty for a time, our ability to seek luxuries and blessings, even as our Lord did, and follow Him into the Districts!

This is my pleasure to do. Our modern church system is losing this country. Saving our way of life through voting will only buy us so much time, if we continue losing hearts. The true church is about the transformation of hearts. A society filled with the ways of Christ will be a blessed country. And if not, then ever growing darkness and violence is upon us.

I don’t know about you, but I love the Katniss/ Mockingjay character. She’s honest, honorable, and strong. The world around her has an evil that ought not be, but so far she has been one of the lucky ones, surviving day by day, taking care of her own family, right? But then this evil finally touches one of hers, and she knows her little sister will be slaughtered in that arena. Yes, slaughtered. And she just can’t stand the thought! This day the evil has crossed a personal line with her, and do or die this evil shall be faced! Game On!!! She will not watch her little sister slaughtered by this evil machine. If it ever happens, she will be dead first.

(I have much more to say on all of this. I feel on fire! I hope you do too!)

Sloth-Hanging-Out_300x300 Yinney was just preparing to head out on his first six day journey to tell others in the neighborhood about his 7th Day Tree and invite all seekers of peace to visit and have spiritual discussions. However, his plans were suddenly interrupted when Lu-Lu, Me-Me, and Jo-Jo came flying into the tree with wings all a flutter!

“Yinney! Don’t go yet! We think we got it!” Lu-Lu blurted out.

Yinney became motionless except for three slow blinks of his eyes as he tried to understand what the three macaws were talking about? First he blinked one time, then a second, and a slow third. “You got what?” he finally asked.

“We got a name for our Fellowship!” Jo-Jo loudly declared.

“Ohhhh, wonderful! Let’s hear what you have come up with this time? Surely it must be a good one to be as excited as you are.”

“Yes! Yes!” all three happily agreed. “It is the best one yet! It perfectly fits the theme of our message and Fellowship. And with you about to go out witnessing, teaching, and inviting, it would help if you have a name for the Fellowship!”

All three macaws were talking at the same time, but he heard every word and was delighted they were taking such an interest. “Okay, what have you got?”

Suddenly the birds went totally quiet, starring at each other with blank faces.

“We never decided who would make the announcement,” Lu-Lu pointed out.

“I think you should, Lu-Lu,” Jo-Jo said. “You’ve been here the longest.”

“Oh but I couldn’t,” she declared. “That would not be fair. We all worked on this. We all prayed about it. We all agreed it was from God. And Me-Me really thought of it first.”

“But you’re the leader,” Me-Me immediately countered.

Yinney watched in amazement as the macaws debated the issue at a speed he could only dream of. Fortunately, there was no schedule to his journey. This was part of his way, a sacred way, the beauty of slow, in which one can always take the time to appreciate the simple things, like enjoying friends just the way they are.

“We could draw straws,” Me-Me suggested.

“Yes! Lets draw straws! I’ve always wanted to do that! It’s on my bucket list!” Jo-Jo excitedly declared. “The short straw makes the announcement!”

“But why is it the short straw that always is the one?” Me-Me asked. “Why not the long straw?”

Or the middle straw!” Lu-Lu added.

The entertainment continued as the bright blue birds flew about gathering three twigs. Then it required another big decision as to who would mix the twigs and hold them. It ended up being Jo-Jo. Finally it was decided it would be the middle straw. Then the macaws drew. After a very diligent comparison, it was decided Me-Me had the middle straw and would give the announcement.

“Ahem!” she cleared her throat signifying she was about to make the announcement. “We believe…as in us three believe…that being Lu-Lu, Jo-Jo, and I, that a very excellent name for our Fellowship would be…wait for it….wait for it… ”

“Oh come on, Me-Me! Just say it!” Lu-Lu ordered.

“The Fellowship of the 7th Day!”

Now everyone was quiet again. A small gleam could be seen growing brighter and brighter in Yinney’s eyes as he meditated upon the possible name. Other names had been proposed over that past week or so, but all were rejected. This was the longest he had pondered. The macaws grew more anxious the longer he took. Was it really taking him this long, or was he exercising them in patience? One could never be sure with Yinney.

“Are you looking for an answer now?” he asked.

“YES!!!” all three birds loudly responded.

“Well I love it. It’s perfect,” he said. “We shall be known as the ‘Fellowship of the 7th Day’, because God finished all his work in six, and then entered REST on the seventh. Adam and Eve were created on that sixth day, and then entered into God’s REST with him on the seventh. And in that 7th Day REST they lived, resting in God’s finished work, until the rest was destroyed by their betrayal. Yes, it is a very nice summation of the heart of our message. Well done Macaws! I will go forth with our new name, the Fellowship of the 7th Day!”

The macaws were clapping and slapping each other on the back. They were so happy. “We knew it was the one!” they shouted. Yinney declared they should share drinks and celebrate the new name. There was no hurry to his leaving. And so they did.

Only God can watch the drama playing all over the earth at the same time. The individual lives experiencing joy or sadness; pleasure or pain at any given moment. God was aware of Jerry celebrating his latest big deal over a drink at the bar, and he was aware of Dorothy, Jerry’s wife, home alone and bored.

He also saw Rachel tossing and turning in bed, trying to sleep after eye-witnessing an execution. Even the sleeping pill wasn’t working. He saw Clara as she heard her mother get back up and go to the kitchen. He saw Frank leaving the scene of the crime, climbing back into his car and beginning to drive. He would slowly cruise by Rachel’s apartment, wishing he could go in and comfort her, but that would need to wait, still eight hours away.

He saw the macaws up late still working on the Fellowship name, because they wanted Yinney to have it as he went forth. He would watch them share that name with great joy that next morning, as Frank and Rachel drank coffee at a simple table, and she tried to understand how people can be so cruel.

There were no easy answers. At least none that man wanted to accept, as God watched it all, and brooded over his children, both saved and lost alike.

angelwings