A Stone's Throw | A Parable for the #Christian & #LGBT Communities

A Parable...(Fiction with a point)

Joseph Oilman was well known in the region of Dallas Texas, for being a spiritual man, and friend to all. He and his staff were around a table at a local Starbucks, discussing a new project to feed the homeless and provide them with job skills.

They were also planning a second project to refer those homeless to a partnering local health clinic, to provide treatment for people who's insurance did not cover the needed medications.

A large, angry, crowd of people walked in and interrupted him. They brought news papers before him, and laid them on the table. A shooting at an Orlando nightclub had resulted in about 50 gay men and women being murdered.

The crowd, mostly full of religious teachers and pastors, also brought forth a young gay man. They tossed him into a chair in front of Joseph, as though he were on trial.

The leader of the angry crowd, a pastor in Fort Worth, laid a bible on the table. It was crisp, new, no markings or notes. The edges glittered in golden sheen.

The pastor turned to Joseph, and said:

"Look here, the bible says that homosexuality is a sin, deserving of death. Does this man deserve to die or not?"

They had been trying to discredit Joseph Oilman for some time now, and they hoped this would be the day. His "Love Hard" campaign had made them look bad, and he would be put against the bible now. He'd have to choose. They had him this time.

Joseph, raised his eyebrow, looking slightly irritated at the interruption. He turned from the crowd, and slowly opened his back back. He fiddled around silently in the bag for about two minutes.

"Well?" the pastor said. "Are you going to answer us?"

Joseph pulled out his own bible. It was not new or shiny. It was well worn, broken on the edges. There were notes hand written across the pages, underlines, highlights, and markings of various kinds.

Turning to the same passage (Romans 1), Joseph tossed his own bible on the table, right on top of the other mans'. He pointed to the page, and read it upside down.

He replied:

"Well now... " Joseph paused for effect... "According to this list of things that deserve death, there is:

• depraved mind/depravity

• wickedness

• evil

• greed

• envy

• murder

• strife

• deceit

• malice

• gossips

• slanderers

• God-Haters

• Insolent

• arrogant

• boastful

• those who invent ways of doing evil

• people who disobey parents or leadership

• people of no understanding (ignorant people)

• unfaithful people

• people who don't walk in love

• people who don't show mercy

He took a moment to re-read the list to himself again, under his breath.

"Nope... I'm not seeing 'being gay' on this particular list... but I'm about 99% sure that you are personally violating three or more of these right now as we speak."

His staff got a kick out of that. Some laughed, some snorted.

"Tell you what... bring me a gun and we'll start with you first, since it says here that you need to die. Then we can take out anyone else who wants to use this list as the measuring stick? How does that sound?"

The pastor looked like someone had poured lemon straight in his mouth. He grabbed his bible, and turned away in a huff. Stomping out the door. About half the crowd left with him.

The remaining half stayed, and apologized to the young gay man for their harsh treatment of him.

Joseph Oilman addressed to the remaining crowd:

"Now... if the rest of you, and you young man, would like to hear about what the WHOLE bible says, in context, about how God feels about every human on earth... please turn with me (if you have a bible) to John 3:16..."

*** On a personal note:

When I heard (here) that a pastor in Fort Worth, Texas and another related Pastor in Sacramento, California actually said they supported the shooting of gays... my heart dropped.

To this pastor (and others like him):

You need to get saved... it's obvious you are not. You can't be, and speak like this. You are in Fort Worth, shut down your church. All of you need to get saved, then go to Gateway Church's Freedom Ministry.

To my gay friends out there: 

God does not hate you, some religious people do. There's a big difference. Religion hated Jesus too. He died for me, you, and everyone else on earth (even the religious people). He loves you passionately, more than any lover (male or female) you will ever know.

• God LIFE? Not sure? Click here to find out. 

********

By Darrell Wolfe | #BeStillBeLed

Story Teller | Creative | INFJ | Intellection | Learner | Ideation | Achiever | Input | Multipotentialite

New here?

• Start Here for more information.
• Ask me anything
• Got LIFE? Not sure, click HERE to find out.
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Vote @GovGaryJohnson for President in November 2016

Gary Johnson

#Libertarian For President

#LiveFree | #MakeAmericaSaneAgain

After much thought, review, and internal debate this past 12 months. I have taken a stand. I endorse Gary Johnson, Libertarian, for President of the United States of America. I will be voting Libertarian at every level (President, Senator, Mayor, School Board... etc) in November 2016.

I ask you to support a common sense approach, and to run from the Tyranny of Donald Trump AND Hillary Clinton (and their parties).

When men and women are free from government and corporate interference, they are the happiest and more prosperous people.

You and I may have honest intellectual disagreements on the moral quality of one choice or another, and we can debate and discuss those choices openly and freely in a free society.

However, as long as you are not harming my person or property, and I am not harming your person or property, we should not attempt to control each other through government force. We should each be free to walk away from that discussion without the government dictating which of us is right.

You check out more from him here:

GaryJohnson2016.com
Twitter: @GovGaryJohnson

Facebook: GovGaryJohnson

YouTube: GovernorGaryJohnson

Instagram: GovGaryJohnson

Darrell Wolfe

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The W Storyboard Structure | *Concept by MaryCarrollMoore.com

I'm pretty sure I've seen this, may have even written about it, but it was fresh to me today. It seemed to simplify the idea of Story Structure for me... after all I am a Pantser. 

I was going through material for authors, and I came across this awesome concept teaching by MaryCarrollMoore.com; called The W Storyboard Structure (here).

I made this infograph to help me understand it.

• 1st Trigger Event (>Enter The Problem)


• 1st Turning Point (>Problem Recovery)


• 2nd Trigger Event (>Problem Worsens)


• 2nd Turning Point (> Problem Resolution)


• Climax > Resolve

1st Trigger Event (>Enter The Problem)

Introduce your Characters normal life, and then interrupt that life with a chaotic event.



This event introduces a specific, problem. You can set up two problems, one minor and one major, but they need to be specific, felt from the start, and resolved at the end of the story.



This event forces your character to leave normal life. He/She cannot return to normal life until after the Resolve, if ever.



The resolution need not be what he/she wants. More on that later.



This event forces your character into reaction, a low point, and all hope will seam lost.



The following events are your character(s) reacting to the event(s) they encounter.

1st Turning Point (>Problem Recovery)

An event with conflict.



This is the lowest point so far. The reacting is complete, and there is nothing left to react to. No direction, no guidance. There is an action hole.



Enter: Hope.



Some new event/conflict introduces new insight, ideas, help/assistance... and a new direction/path is lit for your character.



The character is not trying to solve the problem, not yet. The character is trying to understand the problem better. All actions taken from this point to the next point are taking each next indicated step to understand the problem.

2nd Trigger Event (>Problem Worsens)

The character has been climbing into hope, trying to understand the problem. Hoping for an answer that will eventually lead to a solution.



Enter: Roadblocks



An event causes the character to loose that momentum, and slide back down a hill of defeats. They will keep loosing momentum until they fall to the very bottom of the hill.

2nd Turning Point (> Problem Resolution)

The Rock Bottom.



All hope of solving this problem is gone. All efforts that looked like they would help only made things worse.



At this point, the character is resigned to his/her fate.



Enter: Hope



Then something happens to make your character hope again. A new angle, new solution, new idea, new path, something he/she hadn't thought of yet.



It's not a solution to The Problem, not yet. But it's a solution to the current pit, and it gives the character a new path to follow, trail to hunt down.



This is your character's climb back up.

Climax > Resolve

Just before the end, there is a final conflict, the largest so far. This time the problem is faced head on, and it is resolved.



But, this problem may never be solved.



The resolution may be that your character needs to learn to adapt and live with this problem. (Permanent injury, loss of a job/wife/child, etc).



Or it may be that your character can return to his/her life, but there is a soul-wound left from these events.



The final scenes are a natural reaction to the events of the entire story, and they allow the character/reader to breath a sigh of relief... for now.

Post Credits Scene:

One final scene sets up a new issue, a new trigger event... and story two will be under a different set up covers.







Darrell

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The W Storyboard Structure | *Concept by MaryCarrollMoore.com

I'm pretty sure I've seen this, may have even written about it, but it was fresh to me today. It seemed to simplify the idea of Story Structure for me... after all I am a Pantser. 

I was going through material for authors, and I came across this awesome concept teaching by MaryCarrollMoore.com; called The W Storyboard Structure (here).

I made this infograph to help me understand it.

• 1st Trigger Event (>Enter The Problem)
• 1st Turning Point (>Problem Recovery)
• 2nd Trigger Event (>Problem Worsens)
• 2nd Turning Point (> Problem Resolution)
• Climax > Resolve

1st Trigger Event (>Enter The Problem)

Introduce your Characters normal life, and then interrupt that life with a chaotic event.

This event introduces a specific, problem. You can set up two problems, one minor and one major, but they need to be specific, felt from the start, and resolved at the end of the story.

This event forces your character to leave normal life. He/She cannot return to normal life until after the Resolve, if ever.

The resolution need not be what he/she wants. More on that later.

This event forces your character into reaction, a low point, and all hope will seam lost.

The following events are your character(s) reacting to the event(s) they encounter.

1st Turning Point (>Problem Recovery)

An event with conflict.

This is the lowest point so far. The reacting is complete, and there is nothing left to react to. No direction, no guidance. There is an action hole.

Enter: Hope.

Some new event/conflict introduces new insight, ideas, help/assistance... and a new direction/path is lit for your character.

The character is not trying to solve the problem, not yet. The character is trying to understand the problem better. All actions taken from this point to the next point are taking each next indicated step to understand the problem.

2nd Trigger Event (>Problem Worsens)

The character has been climbing into hope, trying to understand the problem. Hoping for an answer that will eventually lead to a solution.

Enter: Roadblocks

An event causes the character to loose that momentum, and slide back down a hill of defeats. They will keep loosing momentum until they fall to the very bottom of the hill.

2nd Turning Point (> Problem Resolution)

The Rock Bottom.

All hope of solving this problem is gone. All efforts that looked like they would help only made things worse.

At this point, the character is resigned to his/her fate.

Enter: Hope

Then something happens to make your character hope again. A new angle, new solution, new idea, new path, something he/she hadn't thought of yet.

It's not a solution to The Problem, not yet. But it's a solution to the current pit, and it gives the character a new path to follow, trail to hunt down.

This is your character's climb back up.

Climax > Resolve

Just before the end, there is a final conflict, the largest so far. This time the problem is faced head on, and it is resolved.

But, this problem may never be solved.

The resolution may be that your character needs to learn to adapt and live with this problem. (Permanent injury, loss of a job/wife/child, etc).

Or it may be that your character can return to his/her life, but there is a soul-wound left from these events.

The final scenes are a natural reaction to the events of the entire story, and they allow the character/reader to breath a sigh of relief... for now.

Post Credits Scene:

One final scene sets up a new issue, a new trigger event... and story two will be under a different set up covers.



Darrell

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I serve in my spirit... a relaxed and peaceful way to "Serve God" !

A Roman Story

Hi Daddy.... Good morning. 

Hey there Son. How are you this morning? 

Tired. I was thinking about my new friends back in Rome. The ones I met on my last trip to Italy. How do you think they're doing these days? I need to get down there, I really think we could help them. Maybe you and I could go and give them some gifts and treats? I know they were having a hard go of it, last time we talked. 

That sounds like a good idea. I'll check the schedule, and see when we can fit in a trip over there. OK?

That sounds great. 

Now I do have a few things I'd like to chat about before you head out today. 

Alright Daddy. What's on your heart?

You remember the other day when...

********

God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. Romans 1:9-10

Interlinear:

3000 [e]latreuō | λατρεύωShort Definition: I serve, worship3000 latreúō (from latris, "someone hired to accomplish a technical task because qualified") – properly, to render technical, acceptable service because specifically qualified (equipped).

4151 [e]pneumati | πνεύματίShort Definition: wind, breath, spirit4151 pneúma – properly, spirit (Spirit), wind, or breath. The most frequent meaning (translation) of 4151 (pneúma) in the NT is "spirit" ("Spirit"). Only the context however determines which sense(s) is meant. The Hebrew counterpart (rûach) has the same range of meaning as 4151 (pneúma), i.e. it likewise can refer to spirit/Spirit, wind, or breath.

I serve in my spirit  (What/Where/Why I do... )

When I say that I'm going to "serve the Lord"... many religious things immediately come to mind. 

• Preach/Teach/Pastor
• Worship Leader/ Play on Worship Team
• Usher, Greater, Checker
• Clean the church bathrooms
• Tithe/Give offerings
• Read my bible every morning, and beat myself up when I don't
• Pray (go through my checklist of wishes and people I wish for)

The fall was the result of Adam's action in taking the fruit of a single tree. 

The tree Knowledge. 

The Tree of Knowledge of Good was not the opposite of the Tree of the Knowledge of Evil...

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is a single tree, and that tree is the source of all human suffering.

• If you haven't read my definition of LIFE, see HERE for more on that.

There is a subtle lie built into all of these things listed above. These are Good Things, and you Know to do them. But they are physical actions that can all (even the form of prayer at the end) be taken by someone who has no LIFE, and no living relationship with LIFE Himself. 

If I have LIFE, I am connected to LIFE Himself. That connection is a spiritual connection.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” English Standard Version | John 4:24

We are Spirit, Soul, & Body. My SPIRIT is the real me.

So if I am to serve in spirit, I have to make, keep, and maintain a spiritual connection. 

So how did Paul serve "in" his spirit? ...how constantly I remember you in my prayers (How I do... Modus Operandi)

The NASB translates it this way:

For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, New American Standard Bible , Romans 1:9

• He just talked WITH God. 

I mean seriously... that's it. No to-do list. No nine things you must do to be super-spiritual. He talked with God. 

He did not just talk TO God, he talked with Him. 

He had dialogue. 

He had a relationship. 

Notice the conversational, almost nonchalant, phrasing: "I make mention of you..."

That could sound like: 

"Oh... by the way Jesus. I was thinking about the 1st Church of Rome just now. How are they? You know they serve you, but they have needs. Can we talk about them for a few moments?"

Frequent dialogue with the one who made you... that's all serving God means. 

That's way less pressure than a to-do list. 

********

By Darrell Wolfe | #BeStillBeLed

Story Teller | Creative | INFJ | Intellection | Learner | Ideation | Achiever | Input | Multipotentialite

New here?

• Start Here for more information.
• Ask me anything
• Got LIFE? Not sure, click HERE to find out.
• See DarrellWolfe.com for more of my sites.

Read more →

Righteousness vs Salvation | Being Right with God, and being Saved are not the same...

Righteousness vs Salvation

10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10 | King James Bible

A deeper look (here):

dikaiosynē | 1343 [e]δικαιοσύνῃ | righteousnessShort Definition: justice, justness, righteousness
My Definition: Be Right With God 

sōtērian | 4991 [e]σωτηρίαν | salvation
Short Definition: salvation, welfare, prosperity, deliverance, preservation, salvation, safety.
My Definition: Whole, Restored to Pre-Fall State

Right vs Saved

Being Right with God, and being Saved are two different but inter-dependent concepts.

• Right-ness is the legal/positional state of being.

• Saved is the outward manifestation(s) of that right state of being.

I am right with God by believing in and on the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ. That is it. That is all there is to it. There is no work left. If I believe, I am made Right-With-God (righteous)

I experience the effects of that Rightness by opening my mouth, and speaking the things in my heart.

So once I believe that Jesus paid the forever price to my sin, I open my mouth and tell him. I am saved from sin.

Salvation's Manifestations

However, Salvation is more than just freedom from sin. It is healing, wholeness, provision, sound mind, a total restoration of the Pre-Fall State.

Why am I not experiencing that? Because we still live in the fallen world. The final and total restoration will come at the end of all things. But we can experience degrees of this state now, here, on this earth.

And the degrees will be dependent on our believing and saying.

Mind vs Heart

I cannot get there on my own. For all the good Christian Apologetics has done to strengthen believers, it cannot change the heart of an unbeliever.

It is possible that, through the course of tearing down mental walls, truth can reach the heart through this reasoned approach, but it cannot change the heart on its own.

So I can know (in my mind) that the bible says healing belongs to me as His child, but still struggle with my heart.

Because faith doesn't come by reading and passing a test.

Convinced

Once I believe at the heart level, I open my mouth and effortlessly say what is on my heart (Luke 6:45).

This is part of the reason more healings and miracles occur over-seas than in the USA. We are so full of "teaching", our mind is so full of theological positions (some God's some just Man's), that our heart is cut off from the process much of the time.

As we discussed the other day (here), Faith comes by hearing the voice of God.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.English Standard Version |Romans 10:17

So the trick is to convince the heart... that can only come from spending time with the One...

You cannot hear Him speak to your heart, if you are not listening...

Spend some time listening today.

#BeStillBeLed

********

By Darrell Wolfe | #BeStillBeLed

Story Teller | Creative | INFJ | Intellection | Learner | Ideation | Achiever | Input | Multipotentialite

New here?

• Start Here for more information.
• Ask me anything
• Got LIFE? Not sure, click HERE to find out.
• See DarrellWolfe.com for more of my sites.

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It's so easy to do things your own way...

... plotting, scheming, planning, working the plan, just trying to get this thing to work.

Submit to God’s righteousness

2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. | Romans 10 | English Standard Version

...being ignorant of the righteousness of God (God's ways of doing and being)...

Defined (here):

dikaiosynē | 1343 [e]
δικαιοσύνῃ | righteousness
Short Definition: justice, justness, righteousness
My Definition: Be Right With God

hypetagēsan | 5293 [e]
ὑπετάγησαν | they submitted
Short Definition: I place under, subject to
My Definition: Hand It Over

If I submit a report to my teacher/boss, I am handing it over to them. I may have a memory of it (a copy) but the report has been turned over. I'm not working on it still, I'm done with it.

If I submit a form online, it's gone. I can fill out a new one, but that form is handed over.

Seeking to establish your own will/plan does not leave room for God's. You can always bring Him your hurts, pains, problems, questions... He's happy to hear you.

However, what you cannot do is come to God with a list of demands (your will), ask Him to bless them (so-called prayer), and then leave to go about your day. This is not prayer, this is submitting your list.

Being right with God could also be understood to mean being in step with Him. In that sense, I cannot be right if I'm not listening. If I'm turning myself, my situation, my problem to Him, then I'm following not leading. 

So next time I pray, instead of bringing a list of demands, why don't I ask Him what He'd like to talk about today... and just Listen. 

Commercial Disclosures:

Warning: You may want to talk about your perceived problem, and he wants to talk about something seemingly unrelated. He may choose to deal with your problem without your help, while He has you dealing with something totally different. He may choose to fix the root cause of the problem, so that the problem stops recurring. He may want to fix your heart so that the "problem" stays, but your experience changes. Side effects may include peace, joy, reduced anxiety, surprising events, and adventures. Some people have found their desires changed, while the problem still persisted. Some people have found the problem went away, seemingly on its own. Your results may vary.

********

By Darrell Wolfe | #BeStillBeLed

Story Teller | Creative | INFJ | Intellection | Learner | Ideation | Achiever | Input | Multipotentialite

New here?

• Start Here for more information.
• Ask me anything
• Got LIFE? Not sure, click HERE to find out.
• See DarrellWolfe.com for more of my sites.

Read more →