Category: Monday Morning Blog

Chapter 12

There is a teen on TikTok who translates Bible stories into Gen-Z lingo. I’m not fluent in Gen-Z speak, so let’s have a look at it by Kyle Chastain and ChatGpt.

If you’re feeling prophetic, here’s some verses from Isaiah you may recognize.

Isaiah 9:6–7
Check it out: We’re getting a baby boy, a son’s coming our way, and he’s gonna carry the whole squad on his shoulders. They’re gonna call him Awesome Advisor, Super Strong God, Forever Dad, CEO of Chill. His rule and peace game? Straight-up endless. He’ll rule from David’s throne, bossing his kingdom, keeping it legit and righteous from here to eternity. And it’s all gonna go down ’cause the Lord Almighty’s got mad passion to make it happen.

Now, how about a few beatitudes from Jesus?

Matthew 5: 3–10
Big ups to those who are low-key, they’re gonna own heaven.
Shoutout to the ones grieving, they’ll get all the comfort.
Props to the chill peeps, they’ll score the Earth.
Big respect to those craving to do right, they’ll be totally satisfied.
Hats off to the kind-hearted, they’ll get kindness back.
Yay for the straight-up folks, they’ll def see God.
Cheers to the peace-creators, they’re gonna be known as God’s fam.
Huge respect to those getting heat for being righteous, Heaven’s all theirs.

Here’s an all-time favorite with a twist.

Psalm 23
God’s got my back, I’m all good.
He’s like, “Chill in these awesome fields, take a break by these calm waters.”
Totally rejuvenates my vibe. Keeps me on point for the right reasons.
Even when things get sus I’m not stressing, ’cause You’re right here with me. Your guidance and support? They’re my comfort zone.
You set me up with a feast, right in front of the haters. You’re treating me VIP style; my life’s just overflowing with blessings.
Count on Your kindness and love chasing me every single day, and I’m hanging in God’s crib for the long haul, forever.”

Okay, one more. This time with Jesus again.

Mark 9:35–37
Jesus gathered his crew and was like, “If you wanna be CEO, you’ve gotta be the ultimate helper, serving everyone else”. Then he brought over a kiddo, gave them a hug, and was like, “If you’re cool with little ones like this on my behalf, you’re cool with me. And being cool with me? That’s like being cool with the One who sent me.”

Yo, wishing you a lit Monday morning to kick off this fresh week!

Phil

Chapter 11

Dbmaj7 – Eb – Db – Cm – Fm – Eb -Db – Cm – Fm -Eb – Dbmaj7

A progression of chords, not unusual, yet unique as each piece of muisic, put together by Moayad Aljabal, an Arabic self-taught pianist and composer. With his pieces he write tales of beauty with music, as this one called Le Rêve .

Embedded between rolling hills and whispering pines, lived a soul. It’s days were painted with the shades of a unique chord progression, like that of a daydream Dbmaj7 – Eb – Db – Cm – Fm echoing in a melody that echoed along the pine trees, the wind brushing through the rivers and reverberating on the riverbanks. As the evening dusk was bathed in a golden glow, the progression of the strings embraced the soul, bringing back memories of childhood laughter, sunlit afternoons as the mind wandered past familiar faces in the towns and villages where time was spent. The narrative took a turn with the Fm, with rustling leaves, contemplative moments, shadows of nostalgia, a silent witness to a long journey. In the midst of this near melancholy, a burst of optimism emerges on a hilltop, returning to Dbmaj7, bringing a look to the horizon. A sense of clarity and resilience with Eb standing tall, looking to the horizon. Le Rêve is not just a place; it is a state of mind, an embodiment of dreams of life’s unexpected twists and turns. Alive with much exploration, guided by curiosity, the symphony plunges into depths and heights, always with that extra peak of the 7 to the D-major. Sometimes it’s more of an opening, or it’s the closing of an evening air, with a stern sense of resolution, drifting into the pleasurable calm of a night’s sleep. Le Rêve unfolds with harmonies of joy, introspection, hope, resolution, bringing elements of timelessness.

I wonder if King Solomon had this tune playing in the background as he was in his contemplateive mode writing Ecclesiastes 3:1-8?

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Le Rêve – a time and new season for you this week!

Philemon

Chapter 10

Shortly before the passing of a preacher, he had a dream, revealing an athlete in a coffin, gripping a baton tightly. The symbolism, profound and enigmatic, beckons us to ponder its significance. The customary phrase “passing the baton” takes a nuanced turn in my preference – a notion of “passing the baton around.” It evokes the cyclical nature of life, a relay of generations where we collectively traverse the track.

The dream’s imagery, however, introduces a somber note. The athlete, once vibrant, now rests in a coffin with the baton still held firm. What interpretation lies within this scene? Could it be that the preacher failed to pass the baton on, hesitating in the relay of life? Or did he, perhaps, withdraw from the race altogether, bringing it to an unexpected halt?

As we reflect on the dream, it prompts us to consider our roles in the generational relay. Do we embrace the baton, passing it around with intention and continuity, or do we, at times, find ourselves on the sidelines, not ready to take the baton again? The dream shares a message, urging us to run together, ensuring the baton’s journey persists, and the race endures beyond our individual strides and waiting to the baton to come again and again as we journey together.

Hebrews 12:1 b – Therefore, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

In the grand stadium of an relay race, life unfolds,
A generational run, a tale to be told.
A track where all generations partake,
Some sprint ahead, some at a slower pace they make.

The baton of time, passed hand to hand,
An interwoven run, generations understand.
Some have run the course for years untold,
While others take their first steps, bold.

Cheers echo for the swift, the ones who lead,
Yet each runner, no matter their speed,
Contributes to the relay, this dance of faith,
Weaving a narrative, generation by generation, innate.

Some race with vigor, a fire in their stride,
While others with caution, in shadows they bide.
Yet life is a relay, not a solo affair,
We depend on each other, our burdens to share.

The track bears witness to stories untold,
Of triumphs, struggles, and moments so bold.
For every swift sprinter, there’s a steady pace,
A testament to the diversity, faith and grace.

The baton is passed, from youth to the old,
and again from old to youth not to get cold.
A relay of stories, more valuable than gold.
And as we run, our turn will soon arrive,
To carry the baton, to keep the flame alive.

So let us run with purpose, together as one,
In this generational race, until the race is done.
Cheering for each other, regardless of the speed,
For in unity, we fulfill the relay’s profound creed.

Wishing a good start to this new week!
Philemon

Chapter 9

Luke 24:38 “He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?'” See,” he seems to say, “I give you my peace: why are ye troubled? why do you allow perplexing, harassing thoughts to arise in your hearts? The past is forgiven and forgotten.” “I come not, as a wrathful Judge to reckon with you for your unbelief and unfaithfulness. I bring to you something very different”.

Doubt from Cambridge Dictionary: (a feeling of) not being certain about something, especially about how good or true it is.

Why is doubt so appealing, even trendy, in today’s society? Why do some religious figures suggest that doubt signifies spiritual growth? Is doubt truly the companion of faith, or is it something else entirely? What does it say about our theological understanding when doubt is elevated as a virtue?

Brad East, Associate Professor of Theology at Abilene Christian University, has written about the basics of faith for the spiritually hungry and shares his thoughts in an essay. I’ll summarise some of the key points.

There are several pitfalls in embracing doubt. First, proponents tend to universalise a particular experience, presenting doubt as a pervasive challenge for all Christians, which may not be true in different historical and cultural contexts. Second, they elevate doubt as a necessary aspect of a mature faith, ignoring the diversity of experience and background among believers. Third, they exalt doubt as a virtue when its role in the spiritual journey is ambiguous. Finally, they fail to recognise doubt as a tool rather than an endpoint, akin to lingering on a ladder rather than reaching a destination.

At best, doubt is a ladder to climb. But ladders aren’t ends in themselves. We use them to get somewhere, to complete some job. Dwelling forever in perpetual doubt is like making one’s home on a ladder—technically possible but far from ideal.

Questions are not the same as doubts. Thomas Aquinas asked thousands of questions in his short life. Augustine’s Confessions alone contains more than 700 of them. But there’s the rub. Doubt begins with a loss of trust or credibility; questions do not. My children ask me questions every day, not because they doubt me, but because they trust me.

For this reason, saints and mystics adore questions, including questions that cannot be answered in this life. Questions arise from and foster our trust in God. Questions grow faith.

Doubt often entails questions, questions do not always entail doubt.

Faith, on the other hand, is not this desperate maintenance of inner certainty. It is just as accurately translated as faithfulness. To have faith is to keep faith, to remain faithful to God, to trust Him and to become trustworthy in return.

Doubt can be part of that struggle. The struggle is real, lifelong and common to us all. But the struggle is not the point. The point is where we are going. The point is who we follow. We are not condemned to struggle and suffer and wonder forever. Doubt may have been, is now, a ladder, but it’s not a home!

Wishing a good start to this new week.
Philemon

Chapter 8

Good Monday Morning to this new week!

Daniel reads the words “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” and interprets them.

Meanwhile the Persian Empire had invaded Babylon. Today it would be like Iran invading Iraq. Geographically, ancient Babylon was Iraq and ancient Persia was Iran. And Nabonidus had left his excavations to try to lead the Babylonian armies against Persia, but he was being defeated. Back to the story; The king and everyone else was intoxicated, and the banquet had become a drunken orgy. What was happening in this room was X-rated. It was vile. In his intoxicated state, the king’s inhibitions were lowered and he impulsively decided to commit an act of sacrilege against the God of Israel. Nebuchadnezzar had taken holy vessels from Jerusalem fifty years before, and they had remained in the royal museum or treasury. In his drunkenness and arrogance, Belshazzar made sacrilege against the holiness of God. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking. The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled. The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!” she said. Don’t be alarmed. Don’t look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who had the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, king Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”So Daniel was brought before the king; Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means. You, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. Daniel was blunt. But he was also calm and confident. That is, he is simply telling the truth and letting his words do the work. He isn’t out of control. He isn’t frantic. He is calm, but he is as blunt as an anvil. Daniel continues;  The Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms of earth and sets over them anyone He wishes.

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

In short; Numbered, weighed, and broken in two. History repeats itself? The expression “the writing on the wall” is often used metaphorically today to convey the idea that there are clear signs or indications that something is about to happen or that a situation is not favorable and yet …

Summing up these reflections on division, the writing on the wall, and their consequential impact, the undeniable truth emerges—the writing on the wall leads us to one of the most captivating aspects of our God, Jehovah: His profound understanding of grace.

I draw my conclusion, resonating with the sentiments expressed in Lamentations 3:22-23.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.

The kindness of LORD JEHOVAH that does not fail and his mercies that do not end

Wishing you a good start to this new week!
Philemon

Chapter 7

Yahweh is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I have taken refuge, my shield and the horn of my deliverance, my stronghold. Psalm 18.2

Upon arriving in Israel on October 6th in Bethlehem, none of us had any idea of what lay ahead for Israel, Palestine and the whole region. Reflecting on these events from last year, I’m drawn back to a particular visit amidst the tumult of October 7th. Despite the unfolding events, we managed to embark on a day trip a few days later to the remarkable historical site of Masada.

Masada from the word Metzuda for fortress – a mountain fortress overlooking the shores of the Dead Sea where Jewish insurgents held out for three years against the Romans after the fall of Jerusalem. In Short, at 70 AC, after the second temple in Jerusalem was demolished by the Romans, the last known fortress for the Jews was Masada. Its location- near the Dead Sea and not so far from Jerusalem made it easy for refugees to escape to Masada. For the Romans to break into this fort, it took them a very long siege using three Roman legions, just to find out that the whole people of Masada committed suicide saying “It is better to die free than live as slaves”.

There are two main gates for the stronghold: the main gate, where one can enter by car-cable or a very organized trail- the snake trail. The minor gate (the ramp gate), is known where the Roman soldiers entered the site. The ramp trail is much shorter than the snake trail, but no car cable on this site. Between those sites, there is a small and sometimes very steep trail. It is known as the runner trail, which was the path of the Legion’s runners.

Though the breadth of the violence was great, and the implications overwhelming, the message conveyed by the Sicarii was undeniable:

We will fight for justice, we will fight for what we believe, and we will not give in.

Perhaps there’s something to be learned from this story. On the surface, the terrible and stark realities are evident. There’s a deeper lesson, though, a lesson of resilience and perseverance.

This story consistently underscores the significance of steadfastly upholding our beliefs and advocating for them without wavering.

Wishing all a good start to this new week!
Philemon

Chapter 6

Hosea makes this enigmatic statement; quite the opposite of the domino effect – but we’ll just get to that!

They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind. Hosea 8.7

When making decisions, we may be drawn to ideas that seem appealing at first but fall apart upon closer examination. I recently read a passage that caught my interest, to be honest, really bothered me as I also heard a conversation in which the same concept was mentioned.

‘If you base every decision on the Bible, then one good decision will lead to the next; it’s a domino effect. But bear in mind that the process also works in reverse.’ If someone chooses not to base their decisions on the Bible, it can lead to a negative domino effect – a chain reaction that goes from bad to worse.

The domino effect, also known as the Domino Theory, was originally based on the fear of communism spreading from the Soviet Union, which was America’s former ally in WW2 against Nazi Germany. It suggests that if one domino falls, it can trigger a chain reaction where all the dominoes fall.

Causal reasoning and the connection between cause and effect imply that everything in our lives is intricately linked. However, this idea leaves me unsettled as I question whether it accurately captures the complexity of our experiences.

What if life isn’t entirely governed by causality? What if peculiar and unexplainable events occur? Perhaps, at times, we are merely recipients of good or bad luck, and it seems as though a higher power, through God in moments of mercy, intervenes in our lives.

I prefer the “butterfly effect.” While the domino effect suggests that one event triggers a sequence of similar events, the butterfly effect, on the other hand, is a concept from chaos theory that suggests small, seemingly insignificant actions or events can lead to significant and unpredictable consequences. It implies that a minor change in one part of a system can have far-reaching effects throughout the system.

Hosea prophesies that those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). The small decisions made along the way can have far-reaching and devastating consequences.

Jesus speaks of the ultimate rewards associated with selfless, kind, and humane decisions, as opposed to those who live for themselves and ignore or abuse the weak and downtrodden.

At times, I feel as delicate and unsteady as a butterfly in a hurricane. Reason can sometimes appear unreasonable, and outcomes may seem irreconcilable with our beliefs.

However, we must choose whether to trust in the God of order amidst chaos or to reject Him and be tossed about by the winds of controversy. I choose faith, having witnessed a lot of His grace to believe in His goodness and received much of His patience along the way.

Butterfly, will you fly on your wings or rest in the cleft of the rock? Your choices also, not only, not just a domino in a long chain of events, have a significant impact on every circumstance, situation, and decision, whether you perceive it amidst the chaos or not.

As for now, I prefer a butterfly effect over the domino effect!

Wishing you a great start to this new week!

Philemon

Chapter 5

2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of “How Great Thou Art,” and to celebrate the hymn’s legacy, songwriters Matt Redman and Mitch Wong contributed a new verse in a collaborative recording. CT

The original poem, written in 1885 by Carl Boberg, was set to a traditional folk tune and published in the Swedish Missionary Alliance hymnbook as well as a US Swedish hymnbook called Sionsharpen. Subsequent translations preserve Boberg’s focus on God’s power displayed in creation and human wonder.

The version we know and sing now came from British missionary Stuart Hine, who learned the Russian version while ministering in western Ukraine in the 1930s and eventually created his own translation in English. He wrote the fourth verse (“When Christ shall come …”) in 1948, moved by his encounters with some of the Ukrainian refugees flooding into England in the aftermath of World War II.

How Great Thou Art” is an example of a hymn that invites a response of praise—like inhaling and exhaling. It’s a striking “music and mission collide” …. with a forward-looking tone…

Until that day
When heaven bids us welcome,
And as we walk this broken warring world,
Your kingdom come,
Deliver us from evil,
And we’ll proclaim our God how great You are!

Since you know how much I like paraphrased versions of Bible verses, it was interesting what the great-nephew of Boberg writes. “My dad’s story of its origin was that it was a paraphrase of Psalm 8”.

Charles Spurgeon calls this psalm “the song of the Astronomer”, as gazing at the heavens inspires the psalmist to meditate on God’s creation and man’s place in it.

In the insightful narrative of the Midrash Tehillim, sharing from the verses 5 through 10 of Psalms in Hebrew, as a profound dialogue unfolds. The celestial beings inquire of the Almighty during the divine act of world creation, focusing on the esteemed figures among the righteous men of Israel.

The angels query, “What is man that You are mindful of him?”—a reference to the patriarch Abraham. They continue, “And the son of man that You remember him?”—alluding to Abraham’s son, Isaac, born through God’s remembrance of Sarah. The narrative progresses, “Yet You made him less only than God,” signifying Jacob, who demonstrated remarkable prowess in breeding flocks.

The angels observe, “And have crowned him with glory and honour,” spotlighting Moses, whose countenance radiated divine brilliance. “You give him dominion over the work of Your hands,” resonates with Joshua, who commanded the sun and moon to stand still. “You put all things beneath his feet,” reflects the triumphs of David, whose enemies fell prostrate before him (II Samuel 22:43).

The celestial discourse extends to encompass Solomon, noted for his understanding of the language of beasts, symbolized by “Sheep and oxen, all of them” (I Kings 5:13). The angels then evoke “the beasts of the field,” attributed to either Samson or Daniel. “The birds of the sky” are linked to Elijah, who traverses the world with bird-like agility and is nourished by ravens.

The dialogue deepens with “and the fish of the seas,” referencing Jonah’s dwelling in the belly of a fish. The angels acknowledge, “He traverses the ways of the seas,” symbolizing the miraculous journey of the Israelites through the parted sea on dry land.

The heavenly conversation concludes with a reverent acknowledgment: ‘O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth.’ The angels confirm, ‘Do as You please; Your glory is to dwell among Your people and Your children.’ In this harmonious exchange, the angels celebrate the divine connection with humanity and express awe for the splendor that fills the entire earth.

Somewhat further afield, did you see Coldplay play at the Citadel in Amman, Jordan? It was amazing. In their performance of ‘Arabesque’, a poignant lyric resonates, “Music is the weapon of the future”. This has remarkable resonance in the context of our current conflict-ridden times. In the midst of war, the assertion that music serves as a potent weapon takes on a profound meaning.

Songs endure, unlike conventional weapons, which are quickly used and exhausted. Transcending the ephemeral nature of conflict, these songs endure, outlasting any weapon and the passage of time itself. In this lyrical assertion, a real, tangible force, both in the present moment and for generations to come.

There is a song that sends out a message and there is a song that answers just the one question that you may be asking. This is where this song resonates in both ways.

“Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.”

Until that day … How great Thou art!

Wishing you a good start to this new week
Philemon

Chapter 4

Journaling and writing a diary are amazing activities! How about we write a few days ahead and plan this week this way?

“All the noise in my brain. I clamp it to the page so it will be still.” by Barbara Kingsolver.

“Writing a journal means that facing your ocean you are afraid to swim across it, so you attempt to drink it drop by drop.”

Barbara Kingsolver and George Sand assert that writing can provide solace for the mind. Putting our internal thoughts on paper brings a sense of calmness, as we contemplate the vastness of the ocean one sip at a time.

In the quiet corners of scripture, we find a profound assurance. Psalm 139:16-17 resonates with the idea; You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God, they cannot be numbered.

Diary Entry #22: January 2024

Starting a new year can feel like navigating uncharted waters. Some plans are set, others uncertain, yet there’s a bit of an awkward feeling as if so much depended on ourselves and our performance. Great guidance is found in the following verse;

Proverbs 16:9 “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

Diary Entry #23: January 2024

Whose story is it? Is it my story? Do I need to do it all alone?
Guidance through a voice behind me – yes I like it!

Isaiah 30:21
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

In a world that often emphasizes self-authorship, a different perspective emerges. Isaiah 30:21 suggests that, regardless of our plans, a guiding voice directs our steps. It’s a realization that our narrative might be less about self-dictation and more about listening to divine guidance.

Diary Entry #24: January, 2024

Overthinking creeps in my way. They say, “Look before you leap.” So look. But do not look for too long. Do not look into the void of uncertainty trying to predict each and every possible outcome.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1. Peter 5:7

Diary Entry #25: January, 2024

Today’s agenda didn’t go as planned – struggling to make progress, overwhelmed by a daunting to-do list, feeling stressed, and encountering unexpected challenges along the way.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Yes, He will straighten our path, your path, my path!

Diary Entry #26: January, 2024

As the week unfolds, it’s already Friday many rays of sunshine pierce through the circumstances, all the work, all the to-do’s and duties.

Time to get anchored a little more:

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:26-28 The Message

In this journey through this busy week 4 of 2024, the pages of our lives unfold, and the divine narrative weaves through our uncertainties, offering a thread of hope and purpose as He writes the story for us, with us, in us, around us!

Have a great week!
Philemon

Chapter 3

“The word Israel, the chosen people, the people of Israel are those who wrestle with God. It’s a fascinating idea. It indicates something, even in many of the deepest religious texts. There is something about the existential conflict, and engaging in that, that’s actually part of the moral substructure of life. Let’s say that the simple belief, whatever it might mean, in a deity isn’t sufficient. There is an active engagement with the infinite. It’s a battle in some sense.” J. Peterson

Genesis 32:22-32 (Jacob Wrestles with God):
“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.”

Hosea 12:3-4: (the all night struggle)
“In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor.”

Job 23:3-7 (Job’s Complaint):
“Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.”

Psalm 42:1-2: (appearing before God)
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”

Matthew 26:39 (Jesus in Gethsemane):
“And going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'”

Philippians 3:10-11 (Paul’s Desire for Christ):
“that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

These verses illustrate Biblical individuals grappling with their faith, questioning God, and seeking a deeper understanding of their relationship with the divine.

The passage above known as the Gethsemane moment, portrays Jesus in a vulnerable state as he struggles with the impending sacrifice. His prayer, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,’ demonstrates a profound engagement with the divine will, highlighting that even the Son of God wrestled with the path set before him.

I trust you will have a great start to this new week as you continue to engage with faith.

Philemon