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man, i’ve been trying to write this one for days… it might still be a little immature, but i finally got it down in my journal so i think i can get it out here. i’ve been stuck in Matthew 7:7-11 from the Complete Jewish Bible “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened. Is there anyone here who, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will your Father in heaven keep giving good things to those who keep asking!” the other versions leave out the “keep” part. i think it changes the meaning for me. always before i read it as if i were asking for a one time gift of some kind. but i don’t think Jesus is suggesting that this is like “oh, i wonder what the answer to this question is… i think i’ll go ask.” or “i wonder who i’m supposed to marry, think i’ll go seek them.” i think Jesus is talking about a voyage… a journey… one in which we continue to search for the beauty look intently for the treasure desperately seek truth and justice and mercy always knocking on the door of heaven longing for entrance to God’s presence. and he keeps on giving us what we seek keeps on opening himself to us continues to respond to our question i love that Jesus uses food for children as an example. something that is needed daily, but not something children can produce for themselves… it must be given to them every day or they become emaciated and eventually die. as i was seeking the presence of God this morning i was having great difficulty clearing my mind. i felt as if i was in a room with dozens of TVs on… you know, blaring their news and demanding your attention i was asking God to clear my mind and help me focus on him and i saw myself running (of course i was lean and athletic, more proof that this is a metaphor) running and running toward a presence so far away that i could not tell whether i was getting anywhere and then i sensed another runner i turned to look and there with me was a lion a great maned beast running with me and i felt his smile and we gloried in the running i felt him wishing me to join with him so i sprang on his back an oh did we fly we made some time now… and i realized it is good to run it is very good to run with Jesus and it is better still to be carried by him to everything there is a season the trick is to keep knocking keep asking keep seeking journey on this is a great voyage with great trials but God will always open, answer, and reveal… we can look forward to good gifts and grand adventures
Original content at: http://towardsimplicity.net/?p=874.
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.