mur-c-mi

burnt stones

only in the last few days have i come to a point where i've been able to verbalize some of the things i experienced over the last several weeks (i'm even including a meeting i had this AM). first of all, i've come to terms with something about myself. that is in the midst of an intense situation i'm not very good about articulating what i'm feeling. i can describe clearly what i sense is going on in someone else even help them process their way out of a bad spot. however, to put into words what i might be feeling i can be as articulate as a toddler. which means i end up saying something poorly or prematurely formed only to realize later what i tried to say did not best represent what was going on inside. all that to say is, after two very full weeks since returning home i can clearly say i've felt a deepening love and absolute awe of these burnt stones that form the beautiful, broken, body of Christ.

on our three week BOILER ROOM tour http://www.24-7prayer.com we hung out with 24/7 folks, as well as YWAMers, Brazileros, Scotsmen, and a crew of saints from all over the world living in community committed to reaching out to the old city of London. then since being home, i reconnected with my house church homies, took a road trip to the Albany Vineyard with the DHOPers, went to a few planning meetings and got to see David Bryant of Concerts of Prayer fame (hearing him speak when i was in college changed my life). now, this last week i keep hearing myself pray "Lord, thank you that its not perfected vessels that you're looking for. Jesus thank you that my weakness and frailties do not disqualify me (and the rest of the lot i'm around), but rather qualifies me for your use. You're not so impressed with our strengths. in fact, they often need to be dismantled. YOU want to be perfected in our weakness."

i've been thinking about how in Isaiah 61 it says the ones Jesus came to set free will be the restorers of the breach. so today, while driving, the picture of Zerubbabel prophesying "grace, grace" to the mound of burnt stones came to mind. then it occurred to me that the stones used when Solomon built the first temple were hewn away from the temple mount (I Kings 6). this was to ensure the least amount of effort, noise and chaos would occur at temple mount work site. Solomon's temple was built to perfection in perfection. maybe, that is how it was in the beginning when the foundations of the earth were being formed. but, now since the fall there is no longer a prestine work area. even further, "Jesus only has broken wounded people to work with" (quote by Mike Bickle) that generally don't fit together that well. He has burnst stones that have to be chipped, sculpted, and reshaped to be built into the walls in real time. i wonder if this why in the natural Eziekel's temple was never completed, because WE are that building (maybe not - that probably tweaks some end time theology). anyway, so next time you find yourself being fused together with the bumpy burnt stone next to you keep a few things in mind. first, you ain't all that. second, you can freely shake your head even letting out a heavy sigh saying "grace, Jesus, grace." its a very biblical prayer.

i dare say on this side of eternity this is what we can count on encountering: brokenness, frailty, weakness, imperfection and not seeing eye to eye. don't you just love it! this is so liberating. yes, HE clothed Himself in this fragile tent so that we could hope for the heavenly tent that awaits us. but, while we wait we are being formed into His temple, His vessels and His broken likeness. yes, we are the lovely, majestic, beautiful, broken body of Christ.

posted by kt @ 10/22/2005 10:48:00 PM