Manoah's Child: A Meditation on Judges 13-16

Part I—Arrogance of Vision

SAMSON’S EYES

I know what I want, and I want what I see:
A consumer world of Timnah for me;
Towers of Babel, confusion and scree;
A life of great pleasure; a life that is free
Of Philistine extortion; and great dignity.
I’ll bet sixty garments on the strength of a bee;
Shake the bones of the lion to justify me;
And then, with my honey, I’ll live and let be.
When the voting was done, and the riddle deciphered
Through guile and deceit, mounting bass prejudice
(A foundational disregard) and conscienceless malice,
The rights of the people were compromised, pilfered—
Truth became meaningless, alternative, filtered.
Yet, God’s Word strengthens all, when with ears they have heard.

Part II—Consequence and Exile Among the Philistines

HELL

Of course, we want you to share in our liberty,

But you are not quite like us—you sully our purity,
Raising questions in us of social security.
Yet, needing your service and abject class poverty,
Let us make space for you, call it space-parity—
A separate, chain-linked, palace vulgarity
Reminding all of our magnanimous, cruel charity
And our place in the world marked with great clarity.
Then, from prison tombs, sentenced-dead reply,
“Whatever became of the scales of blind justice,
Verdicts without rancor or prejudice?
We beg you, in the balance of Samson’s blind eyes,
Life’s about living, not learning to die,
And resurrection hope that crosses Death’s lie.”

Part III—Self-Worth and Dependence

THE DAMNED

Like bladeless knife without a handle,

Dust of the street and broken thonged sandal,
Journey in darkness without match or candle,
Absent comforting knee on which we would dandle,
We, on the margin of unruly quires
Listing the dead thrown onto pyres,
The dregs and dross casually cast into fires,
The broken, chipped vessels tossed in the mire,
We know our unworthiness, yet cry out with daring,
“Give us an edge to sever chains of injustice
And a handle to wield it in work of Your service.
Then, in Your strength, with Samson’s eyes staring,
We’ll break the pillars of shameful uncaring,
Walking in faith, our resurrection cross bearing.”

Part IV—Self-Awareness and Individuation

LET’S TURN THIS WORLD UPSIDE-DOWN
Now defeated, disgraced, with eyes put out—
Shamed, de-spirited, windless, walking ‘round about—
Reduced to grinding granules of terrifying doubt—
“What then will our circumstances be for all,
When, in wrestling with both foes and God, we fall
And eat the mealy meal of torture, ridiculing jeering shout,
To become the entertainment of the world, an abject stumbling clown,
Laughed at, scorned—in valley, hill, and town—
Ragged-walking, back bent, and head bowed down?”
Humbled in God, with sightless-seeing tears flow down,
Pray begin to know and hear the pain-filled sound
Of those who suffer loss of name, of Rachael’s children never found.
Then, stand firm in faith, between temple pillars strain for holy ground—
False Dagon’s power break. Let God’s reconciling love abound.

by Peter T. Heide, 2018

SEE YOU ON THE FLIPSIDE

THE SON TIMES
The Gateway Gospel of Destiny

SEE YOU ON THE FLIPSIDE

by Marc Yul Angelou

Dateline: Galilee Sea, June 23, 2018, 4:35:41--For those who still live in the world of vinyl (you know who you are), Jesse Benjo, after speaking ON THE A SIDE to thousands on the borders of the sea, commanded his disciples to cross over to the other side. This, of course, meant that their world was turned upside down. It also meant that they encountered adverse winds and some turbulent waves when crossing over.

One of Benjo’s disciples, Andrew Barjona, said, “It was all quite weird you know. Jesse who always speaks with the most polite and cultured British accent suddenly sounded like a brawling Australian and then he just took a lie down.”

It appears that Benjo, who has been dabbling in the world of alternative realities, exhausted after leading his people into a new consciousness, simply fell asleep leaving his followers to deal with the vicissitudes of the siren calls of change.

John Thunder said, “We physically shook him until he woke. Our boat was sinking, and it seemed like he just didn’t care.”

James Thunder, brother of John, said, “We knocked him up because a big windy had risen up and the water was washing through from the other side (that would be side A). It was like a total track bleed-through and all of our lay-downs were going to be lost. When he came to, Jesse got up and said, ‘Easy mate’, and then he shouted to the whole production crew, ‘Shut up!’. After that everything went quiet, and we were able to pass through quite nicely. I mean, Jesse shouted, things got quiet, and then we had all crossed over. It was a fright, I can tell you, but it was awesome.”

Benjo’s followers were quite amazed at his calm throughout the whole ordeal. “But then,” Barjona reflected, “He was asleep on the only life-vest in the boat.”

I come before you John 12:20-33

I come before you to stand behind you, to tell a story I know nothing about. Last night, in the middle of the day, two dead boys came out to play. Back to back, they faced each other, drew their swords and shot each other. A deaf policeman heard the noise. He came and shot those two dead boys. If you don’t believe me, go ask the blind man down the street. He saw it all.

I learned this story when I was in seventh or eighth grade. I think that its contradictions are perfect for understanding the text that we have just heard.

Today, our text follows a number of really important events in the Gospel of John. We don’t get to hear those other events, but they are important for understanding what is going on. In chapter 11, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and people are worshipping Jesus because of it. Some are even worshipping Lazarus because he has broken through the bonds of death.

In this chapter, Jesus has previously eaten supper with Martha and Mary along with Lazarus. Here we find that the people are so excited about Lazarus being raised up from the dead that many people are believing in Jesus. Jesus’ popularity has created so many believers that the priests and the elders have now decided to not only kill Jesus, but they have added Lazarus to the list of undesirables as well. Then, before any of that can happen, Jesus enters into Jerusalem in order to celebrate the Passover, and people spread palm branches on the road before him celebrating Jesus’ entry as a conquering king.

After all of this has taken place, some Greeks come wanting to see Jesus. But wait a minute, Palm Sunday isn’t until next Sunday! You see? I come before you to tell you a story that happens after the events of next Sunday, and yet these events have all already taken place for your sake and for the sake of the world. Are you confused yet?

As we come to the end of Lent, we are challenged to question: Who is this Jesus we follow? Do we follow because of the miracles he performs? Is it because he has changed the water into wine? The teaching of Nicodemus? Because he traded banter with the woman at the well, cured the cripple at the baths, fed the 5,000, healed the blind man, forgave the woman caught in adultery, or raised Lazarus from the dead?

Or, do we believe in Jesus himself? Is Jesus, by himself, enough to believe, or do we need something more concrete? As we come to the Passover festival, do we, like the Greeks of this text, need to physically see Jesus? What will that personal introduction mean for us?

So, Philip goes to Andrew to ask, “What to do? What to do?” Andrew apparently doesn’t have the right answer and only volunteers to accompany Philip when approaching Jesus with the request. And then, Jesus doesn’t say, “Show them in.”

Instead Jesus starts talking about seeds, dying and rising, and something about glorification, driving out the ruler of this world, and being raised up. Our time seems out of joint. And yet, it is this very sense of time being out of joint that prepares us for this final week of preparation before Holy Week when we will again witness the events that lead to the cross and death of Jesus, to those events that turn our world upside down.

As we come to see Jesus entering into Jerusalem, eating his last supper with his disciples before his death, as we witness the trial and crucifixion, and then enter into that time of rest at the end of the world, in that moment of not knowing the power of God’s ability to conquer death and the joy of the new creation resurrection start of the world, in that time, we will see all that the Greeks wanted to see. We will see in Jesus, the power to put death to death. We will see the ruler, that is Satan, be driven out of the world, and we will see all people, that is, the nations of the world, being gathered, drawn, to this one, this Jesus, our Messiah, the Christ God’s word revealed to us, enfleshed, who lived and lives among us.

We are not yet able to shout those words of joyful resurrection, but in Jesus’ words today, we are prepared for saying, “Hosanna, Lord, save us!” and rest in the assurance of God’s promise of salvation wholeness that comes to us through Christ himself.

Okay, I might have fibbed a little at the beginning. I have come to tell you a story I really do know something about. There is one who was dead who comes out to play. That one who comes out to play has got our back. While his words may, like a sword, cut us to the quick, the core of our lives, they also have the power to heal, to give the wholeness that brings hearing to the deaf and vision to the blind.

In the midst of all of the contradictions we hear in our world today, there is one thing that is constant and true: Christ has come into the world so that that the world might be saved, not just the people of the world but the world itself and all who dwell there. Christ has died. Christ is risen! Christ will come again. In the relationship we have with the risen one is the truth that gathers us to himself and sets us free to be in relationship with one another.

BENJO DISAPPOINTS FANS AS FAME RISES

THE SON TIMES
The Gateway Gospel of Destiny

BENJO DISAPPOINTS FANS AS FAME RISES

by Jack D. Sypal

Dateline: Jerusalem, March 18, 2018, 12:20:33--Pundits now believe that Jesse Benjo has greater name recognition than the emperor and more popularity than Herod. Benjo’s popularity will affect the great Passover festival celebrations this week as thousands gather in Jerusalem. Several fraternity activity chairs and their sorority sweethearts came to Philip, one of Jesse’s disciples, asking for backstage passes. It is not known at this time whether passes will be given now or in the future to Greeks or any groups.

It certainly appears, however, that there is no subject Jesse Benjo is unwilling to address. Changing water into wine was his first venture into the speaking circuit. Since then he has tackled how to feed those unexpected supper guests, curing illnesses, how to worship, and the value of lighting in dark places.

Today, although not a farmer himself, Benjo spoke publicly about what it means to be a farmer. He extolled the value of self-sacrificial calendar-keeping. Citing the importance of knowing when it is time to plant wheat and getting it in the ground so that there can be a bountiful harvest, Benjo stated that the hour had come for the work to be completed so that the glory of those fields of future fortune could be harvested.

And Benjo spoke of the importance of harvesting at the right time for maximum productivity. “If you think that you are the most important person during harvest time, you are mistaken. For the greatest harvest, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE WHEAT. You can’t be overly concerned about your sleep. When the wheat is ready, it’s ready; and you need to get on it right away.”

Benjo also extoled his confidence in these times. With the rising market and the projected futures, he claimed, “The abundance of the harvest will bring people from around the world to receive the benefits of our work today. It is, as they say, time to make hay while the sun shines. That time is now, and we’re burning daylight. If rain and storms come soaking the wheat or blowing it down, your harvest is lost. So, we must put the shoulder to the wheel, strike while the iron is hot, labor under the beautiful spacious skies amid the golden waves of grain. We need to put up for a rainy day not be put down by it.”

While Benjo was speaking, a thunder clap brought his speech to an abrupt end. He did take time for a very short Q&A, but then Benjo quickly got off the stage. Many huddled in groups discussing the speech. Others kept looking at the sky before hurrying home to their farms.