The City Waiting to be Born (#1033)

8 Comments

1. Thanks Kyle and Wayne, this conversation gave some encouragement as I am learning to follow Jesus (and have eyes first on him) Then to see these other things around this relationship fall into place, and leaving the strain behind. Less self consciousness and more confidence and focus on him(slow process of learning with Jesus being very patient)

2. I love hearing that from you, Sue. Thanks for sharing. (Wayne)

3. Hi
   Thank you for another thought provoking podcast. You talked a bit about power & I have been looking at Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly. Here she defines “power over” as a fear-driven, dominance-based leadership style that uses coercion, control, and cruelty to maintain authority. Unlike “power with” (collaboration) or “power within” (self-worth), “power over” is finite. I’m trying to connect all this with Jesus telling the disciples that if they want to lead in the kingdom they must be servants. Mark 20:43-45. How do you see this playing out in the life of the church?

   • Thank you, Mark, for your thoughts and sharing Brene Brown’s thoughts. She has lovely take on power. As to how this plays out in the life of the church, it depends on what church we’re talking about. If we’re talking about the ones humans are building, it is most difficult. Institutions need “power over” to function. If we’re talking about the church Jesus is building, those relational community and connections really allow for the power of collaboration and the safety of walking with people. It’s more about love and helping each other than it is building something that has to be managed. It seems the more “stuff” we collect (buildings, organizations, budgets) the more we tend away from the soft power of love, to the forms of power a fallen world needs to get anything done. But those things are not to be so among God’s family, the community to share his life and love with the world.

4. I loved the concept of God’s delight in the city waiting to be born. In the past year I have read several other accounts of visions of heaven, both from the recent past and from the 1200’s. I have been impressed with the joy that can’t be put into words, and by the way, the description of colors in the near death experiences remind me of your difficulty in describing the vivid colors. What really challenges me is that Joy and Delight are not in my default image of God, nor are they in my own relationship with God to any extent. But I am seeing that they ought to be. I am growing into a deep heart longing that they become personal for me. Not that I can manufacture it, because it “ought” to be there, but something is lacking in my vision, my essential knowledge of God. I wonder if that is one of the purposes of the vision for you?
   Isn’t it remarkable how God continues to grow a person, such as yourself, such as me? I’ve been in true faith since 1983, but that event was the beginning of a slow process that keeps on getting better. It’s a process (for me) that seems infinitesimally slow, and then there are little jumps forward!

   • I love how God grows us up, Bruce. And I love how he uniquely reveals himself in his time and in his way to each of us. My friend Luis has the most extraordinary dreams, actual conversations with Jesus that are powerful and illuminating. I’ve never had a dream like that, though Jesus has often revealed things to me in dreams. I think it best that we don’t get lost in how h reveals himself, but that he has a unique way in doing so for each of us.

5. Embodying God ‘s power or just carrying the Glory 2 Cor 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
   Having had many visions over my 42 years in Jesus ( some taking 20 years to unfold ) here are my thoughts for you Wayne . In an incredibly broken world a message of Hope is most needed now . You are bearing witness to that Hope . The purpose being what you said in the beginning of the discussion , Jesus came to terrified disciples and said ” Peace ”
   Or as the Psalmist said in Ps 62 ,,My soul finds rest in God alone ,, So keep sharing the vision and those who have hearts to receive will find the Hope they long for today . Thank You for giving me fresh hope today .
   All the Best to you Brother

   • Thank you, Wade. It has certainly overflows with hope in my heart; I’m glad it did for you as well. And may it be so with others.

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