Verbifying "Afflux" (A short Book-like thingy on the vision of the river)

The River dreams and aspires"To be an Afflux of Authentic Life"



This is our great hope! We believe that this is what Jesus came to do in us and through us (1). He tells a lady at a well that if she drinks the Water He gives (a euphemism for experience Him, His life) will never thirst again and that water will, in/through her, become a spring of water welling up to the best kind of life (or life of the ages)! (2) Jesus told a crowd that if anyone is thirsty (for real life) come to Him and drink. Who ever believes in Him, out of their heart will flow rivers of living water (3)- I guess this is what we mean by "An Afflux of Authentic Life"!



To put it in simple terms, living life with Jesus, living the life in the Way of Jesus (4) is Authentic Life, and when we live this life, we inevitably become a source of Life to others (5).



But.......what is this life? What is it about? What does it look like? How does one live it? How do we "Afflux" this authentic life? Do we obtain spiritual enlightenment? Do we shut ourselves out from those who aren't like us? Do we keep ourselves unstained by the impurities of the world? How do we "afflux" authentic Life?



I was conceived a Christian:)! I think my dad's junk is/was elect! I attended church from birth through H.S. graduation. I went to Sunday School, boys Brigade (which we used to joke was boys "be-gay" b/c it was so lame [6]), VBS, and I even attended private (Christian [7]) School from 5th grade through H.S. [8]. In addition to all this- my dad was pretty consistent in family "quiet time" [9]. I learned a lot over the years. In H.S. the church I attend was a modest size of 300. We had an array of "youth" pastors during my tenure in high school, I think 9 in 4 years. My knowledge of scripture was exceptional for most high schoolers, more so of doctrines, and often caused problems for the college aged "youth" pastors who weren't as fortunate in biblical education. I was often thought of as a "good" chrisitan (as opposed to a "bad one") by the parents and adults in our Berean church [10]. Why? Because I looked so much Like Jesus in my life..........not hardly. I was equally skilled in wickedness. I was a "good" christian b/c my knowledge of the bible/doctrine was so copious. Knowledge, understanding is the authentic life in this type of culture. Yet, this accumulation of information was so empty (I value this as my story, but see it now as incomplete) and vain. There has to be more.......right?



Later I was a part of a fundamentalist movement for a short period that considered holiness the path to true authentic life. Their understanding of holiness was more in terms of being spic and span clean. If I don't own a t.v. (or watch certain shows) I'm holy. If I don't go to movies (although in more recent years it's about not going to rated "R" movies or "PG13" movies) then I am holy. If I don't listen to Rock music-holy! If I keep my hair short-above the ears, no facial hair- holy! It seems these things are A-moral. They are neither good nor bad in and of themselves. They neither commend you to God nor take you further from him [11] This culture of Christianity is unhealthily obsessed with rules.

Even today, I was dealing with a lady at a local thrift store. She was obsessed with rules on how one makes a purchase. After assuring her that no one was trying to break any rules on the procedure of purchasing an item, she kept insisting that rules needed to be followed. Even after we had agreed that the rule needed compliance, and that everyone intended on following the rule-she was hell-bent [12] on the rule. The very idea that there was a potential infraction plugged her ears to all reason, logic, and communal conversation. She insisted that God wants "rules" to be followed, although she seemed to miss the bigger picture of all rules- Community!

Perhaps the problem lies in our definitions of these things, perhaps not. What I've learned is that Knowledge often puffs up [13 ] and Holiness (at least in dealing with humans) is less about spiritual bleach and more about understanding the hallowedness of living in community w/ God, God's people, and towards those not yet realizing the kingdom life.

The List of peripheral issues that isolate us from The Way is a seemingly endless list. The point appears sufficiently made in the first two examples. So, what is "Affluxing"? What the Afflux is Afflux?

It was late one night and a man named Nicodemus came to Jesus. Nic was an esteemed leader of the Pharisee sect with great honor among Jews. Nic perceived that there was something divinely inspiring about the works of Jesus. And Jesus says something remarkable to him: "unless one is born from above (or again) they cannot SEE the kingdom of God"! Obviously this is quite the enigma. Nicodemos hasn't a clue what Jesus means so he takes the most literal understanding [14] possible. "How can a grown man go back into his mother's womb" [15]? Jesus blows his mind again- "unless you are born of spirit and water, you cannot ENTER the kingdom of God. That which is born flesh is flesh, and that which is born spirit is spirit [16]. Don't marvel that I said to you- "you must be born again/from above', The wind/spirit blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit"[17].

There is this connection between "SEEING" & "ENTERING". Jesus is teaching that the Spiritual life (or Spirit-Filled Life if you prefer), or the Life of Faith- is about Seeing. Seeing is entering.

In the Edenic Sonnet Adam and Eve are told by the Serpent that if they eat fruit of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil they will have their eyes opened. As we read it, it seems so odd. Eyes Opened? Really? Could they not see? Eve saw the fruit before she ate it. She saw that is looked good to eat. She stared at it for at least a moment. Her mouth must have watered, and her taste buds were erupting with anticipation. She ate it! because she saw it with her eyes. And she saw it in her mind ending in something good. Adam saw things too. He saw Eve[18]! He saw her breast, her butt, her Pishon[19]! He saw her, with his own eyes. They saw each other. He saw her beauty, her femininity, her gentleness- HER! She saw his muscles, his manliness, his care for her, his protuberant lower appendage-HIM! When they ate the infamous forbidden fruit- their eyes were opened[20]. All the various groups of people who account for the various stories that were passed on to become the bible for us-they all use action oriented stories to describe what not only happened, but continues to happen. Adam and Eve could "SEE" just fine before they ate. In fact, their eye sight was as good as eye sight could be, and the things they saw -WOW!- they must have been amazingly resplendid! What happened in this story is that the way they saw things- that changed. Not for good- for worse. And their now deteriating eyesight is genetically (in every sense of the word) passed on to their children, and their children-all the way down. (Not going Reformed here, just re-telling the story in basic form).

We SEE things all jacked-up now. That is- we SEE things through a poor lense, a broken, dirty lense. And to add insult to injury, well, the world in which we look at- it is in many ways broken, dirty, jacked-up also.[21] Our eyes are bad-that is till the second-birth starts.

The "SEEING" that Jesus tells Nic about is a NEW SIGHT being given. And ability to see the world as it is, and as it is becoming. Jesus delivers a vividly shrewd sermon on the side of a mount. He describes in extraordinary terms the Heavenly kind of life. In the middle of this portrait of Kingdom Citizens he says- "Happy[23] are the pure in heart, for they shall SEE God!" You know who are pure? Babies. (I know, I know- they are fallen, but you're never more pure then the moment you swim through the vag' canal). New born babies. What Jesus is saying is that when we are "born again/from above", [24] "renew our thinking"[25] we learn to SEE God in all of life. We don't SEE things in black n& white, we see things in Color. Like in the WIzard of OZ, life was in Black & White til Dorothy entered, saw the Land of OZ. then everything was vibrant, colorful, Beautiful.

Our New vision doesn't mean that we don't See brokenness in the world, but rather that we SEE it, mourn over it, desire to change it. Our New Way of SEEING is about all of life. Its simple. Not the type of simpleton thinking that says- "God said, I believe it! I'm just that simple" (I heard people say that at a particular bible college I attended. They said it a lot. I got the feeling they didn't really think they were simple for saying that, but quite clever. It's not clever. It is a simpleton way of thinking that is ignorant). It's simple b/c this NEW SIGHT sees things differently. It's sees others. The old sight is consumed with Self. That's why when Adam's & Eve's eyes were open in Genesis 3- the first thing they noticed (saw) was their own nakedness. How dissappointing that must have been [26] to them. Adam went from looking at Eve's Pishon to staring down at his own arrow [27]. The New SEEING is about seeing the world the way God intended, and the way God is Renewing it to be-call it New Creation. And those who are Newly Created with Restored Vision-we not only are called to SEE IT, we are called to help.

This is the so-called Great Commission (I believe). For those of us who have already had our EYES Renewed (and constantly being renewed [28])-we are called to Help others SEE the New CREATION. Remember Jesus told a group of Religious leaders that they were like the "blind leading the blind"[29]? The world is in darkness to those who haven't been given New Sight [30] and our Calling, our duty- No Our Joy is to help navigate others through living and proclaiming [31] and sharing life with anyone, all.

This is AFFLUXING! It is a life that is learning to SEE [32] with Heavenly Eyes. And we want others to see, hear, smell, taste, feel this Kingdom Life in every way possible. We want everyone to. This is our desire (if our eyes are working properly).

And our growth is about learning to use these new eyes, to use this new vision. That's why Peter says that if we don't "add" to our faith, then we end up w/ poor eye-sight, even blindness again. [33].

this is the vision (no pun intended) of The River: To Afflux Authentic Life with NEW EYES and Help others see it. Like one of those 3D hidden pictures. There is a vague image of a bunch of little thingys. Somewhere hidden in this blurred picture, is a Mysterious Picture. Some people see these things more clearly than others. Some never seem to get the vision. Those who see it, they share it. They describe it and even point out where it is and what it looks like. Because they want their friends to see it also. So they can share it together. This is AFFLUXING the Authentic life! It's SEEING (and hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling) the Kingdom of Heaven in all of Life, and showing, sounding it out, aromaizing [it's a word BK:)], touching, feeding it to others, everyone we have oportunity.

There's more to discuss, but we'll save this for a follow up.

God who dwelled Fully in Jesus the Christ, we ask that you continually Grace us with New Eyes and the ability to use them, not only for our own enjoyment, but also that we find joy in bring sight to others. Grant to us ears that hear the sweet sound of Jesus and His life. Taste Buds that are only satisfied w/ Love feasts in Kingdom Communal Meals. Bless us with the blessing of loving others with Holy Hugs and Warm Welcoming Hi-Fives (for Jesus!). God, thank you for showing us a life beyond the mundane-a colorful, meaningful life. May our greatest joy be in You Wholly, and all that flows from You!
Amen.



Footnotes:










1. John 10:10b

2. John 4:14

3. John 7:37b-38

4. John 14:6

5. John 4:14, 7:38

6. My intention here is not to make fun of homosexuals. It's a word we used to describe things that were lame growing up. I never thought of this word, in this context, as being about Homosexuals, but dorky, geeky people:) Like my brother!

7. See the movie "Saved" to best understand the school I attended

8. In 4th Grade I attended a "christian" school also. This school made me wear navy blue pants, with a red shirt, and a tie with little American Flags all over it. We sat in cubicles facing a wall and had to put a little Flag Pole in a hole if we had a question or needed to use the restroom. They burned books monthly in chapel, including bibles (NIV, NASB, NKJV)-that weren't KJV! It was a traumatic time for me, but has proven to be an invaluable source of laughter in my adult (if you can call it that) life.

9. Quiet time really wasn't quiet. It was a time when my dad would teach us doctrine through the book of Romans. He did all the talking except when he quizzed us. Which was hilarious to my cool sister who often managed to escape leaving me alone with my mom and dad. My mom wasn't allowed to answer the questions (you know, b/c she was..I guess still is.....a woman). Occasionally my dad would, as he puts it, expel gas and I wasn't allowed to laugh. Well I'm laughing now!

10. Some of the adults joked I was a real "BEREAN"....Acts 17:11 if you don't know.

11. 1 Corinthians 8:8 says this of food, but the principle is exactly the same.

12. In Matthew 23:13-15 Jesus seems to be making this point to some "rule"-lovers of his day. They were so bent on rules, that they missed heaven, lead people away from it- and were full of hell.

13. 1 Corinthians 8:1

14. If you haven't seen "Knocked up"- youtube the scene where Seth Rogan is holding the baby and tells his newborn daughter the story of how she came to be. Hilariously profound, but not really relevant to what we are talking about, just thought it would be funny to share:)

15. The imagery is as gross as it is funny. Will Ferrell does a sketch on SNL where he is birthed as a grown man. Youtube this after youtubing the above movie.

16. We shouldn't take this to be an absolute statement that there is a great divide (mmmmm Point of Grace) between the physical and spiritual. We are by nature a dichotemy of natures: Flesh/body/Physical and Spiritual. The dangers of over-emphasising one over the other is that if we put to much emphasis on the evilness of Flesh we become Gnostics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism) and if we become all about the Spiritual we tend to look down on others and have an escapist mindset of this world. It is reasonble to understand that Jesus simply meant here that Nic was only thinking in the natural realm of understanding and not in the Creative (or New Creative) realm.

17. John 3:1-8

18. I'll bet she was HOT!

19. Genesis 2:11-12. That's was probably Adam's pet name for Eve's special 'spot' and how Adam would have described it to his buddies:)- the monkeys that is.

20. Genesis 3:7. In 2:7 Adam becomes a living soul-being. He can see, hear, tastes, feel, smell. In 3:7 his eyes are opened. Something hellish, deathly, is going on here.

21. I am in no way imply that finite man could totally ruin the Infinite's creation. The creation is still good & beautiful and worthy of our attention. We are just talking about how the world is not how God created it all those years ago- exactly 6-10,000, not one second beyond that. Just kidding:)

22. I take this to be at least a tier of meaning in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when Paul writes "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is passing away; Behold (LOOK.....SEE) the New has come (is coming)!"

23. The Word in the ESV is "blessed", but it means happy. Not joy-happy! I know it makes for a good one liner to say-Christians might not be happy, but they have joy, but that just is lame. Happy is a great word. I am happy to use the word "happy" :).

24. In Matthew 18:3-4 Jesus says it another way:"unless you turn and become like children you will never enter (see) the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles themselves like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" -Children are pure, or perhaps we could say it like this: children are innocent (in a way that Adults have long forgotten). Another possible nugget: Could it be that by "greatest" Jesus meant-Children have the best eyesight? They see things way more enthusiastically. Watch kids w/ bubbles (again- see Knocked Up-great scene on this in that movie)! It's a bubble, simple enough, but to children such pure uncomplicated joy/happiness! Perhaps what Jesus is teaching us is that happiness isn't in having lots of stuff (children learn that evil from their parents) but enjoying the simplicity of life-like bubbles, a hot dog, our parents (their grand parents)-. Kids see things we rarely do (I know that is full of tension sense I've been talking to my eldest about how she sees things. Perhaps I should climb off my high horse and see things from her eyes also, perhaps not her but the youngest daughter:)

25. Romans 12:2

26. I say that b/c I live it-dissappointed when I focus on myself. My vision is never worse of what is going on in the world, specifically right in front of me than when I am LOOKING/SEEING myself, from mine own eye's view.

27. Stole that from my favorite Sister> Anne-Marie! She wrote in a paper I wish everyone could read about the male penis being shaped in an arrow [when in full blossom I assume:)] to point to the beauty of woman (wife) rather than be consumed with himself. It's brilliant!

28. I say constantly being renewed b/c the new sight is often too much for us. We aren't accustomed to seeing things so rawly. It is taking us a while to learn this new Vision, master it so to speak.

29. Luke 6:39 and Matthew 23 Jesus repeatedly refers to these Religious leaders and group as Blind, leading people

30. 2 Corinthians 4:6- I take Paul to mean that we are in darkness until God shines Light into our hearts.....i.e. gives us new birth, new eyes and new ears also.

31. 1 Peter 2:9

32. And Hear. A common idiom of Jesus is "if you have ears to hear, HEAR!" Matthew 13:9, Revelation 2:7,11,17,29 3:6,13,22 Apparently the kingdom is about SEEING, HEARING, FEELING, SMELLING, TASTING-1 John 1:1-3- its about all of life. Food taste better when it is enjoyed in the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth! Hugs feel better (and Sex for that matter). The Sound of criticism and encouragment takes on new life. The Kingdom of God/heaven is an ulternative Reality, the New Reality (versus the one Adam & Even introduced us to)The Realest Reality! And it is lived with all 5 senses being given new life. It is as physical as it is spiritual (or mental, or psychological or whatever other way one might reason). And it is as spiritual as it is physical. it is life in, with, through, for Jesus-The GOD/MAN! He was/is as Spiritual as one can be, and He is/was as physical as one can be!

33. 2 Peter 1:5-9