“…….and you say WE POOR CRITTERS are to carry the Good News?”

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Lenten Journey Complete- Day 48 – EASTER
Biblical Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Thank you, Terri, for the Invitation to join you ~~

Cloaked Monk

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8-Apr-12: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

 

Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“…….and you say WE POOR CRITTERS are to carry the Good News?”

 

 

 

 

 

No longer in fear of tumbling rocks and falling sprocks down into the gorge;

Dear critters did march along in song and perch with tong upon their path.

No more did critters guess to wonder at the Winged Ones songs to forge

This fellowship of questers and besters of all the steep places could strath.

 

“Oh now we singies of our suppers and our duppers on yon crest.”

“Oh, now we skippies and hoppsies and never minds any of the rest.”

“But wait, wait, ye loving critters, know ye not of your next test?”

“For now ye must save the breath and find the talk of Good News so blest.”
 

 

 

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“……and you say DEATH is defeated?”

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Lenten Journey – Day 46
Biblical Scripture: John 20:1-18
Open Invitation to Join Terri from

Cloaked Monk

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7-Apr-12: John 20:1-18

 

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and you say DEATH is defeated?”

 

 

 

As all friends tumbled and stumbled and leapt and crept every so high,

Each friend, each critter and unfolk, pondered and wandered in mind of each.

As all friends loved and helped and pushed and pulled each the other with sigh,

Each friend, each heart, each mind, each soul ever throbbed with joys to teach.

 

 

“Oh, Dear Crow; oh Dear Brid, oh Dear Fly, mayisnt we be too near the edgies?”

“Oh, Winged Ones so high, do ye not leadsies usses far to close to cliffsies?”

“Ah, ye faint of heart, ye never minding of The One, the Risen o’er all dredgies!”

“Know ye not, The One has gone afore ye in death and won and risen so spiffsies!”

“……and you say we must love each other ALL THE TIME?”

　

　

　

　

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Lenten Journey – Day 45
Biblical Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-8
Open Invitation to Join Terri from

Cloaked Monk

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6-Apr-12: 1 Peter 4:1-8

 

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), 2 so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God. 3 You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. 5 But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.

 

7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and you say we must love each other ALL THE TIME?”

 

 

 

Now in comfort, now in humming quiet, all friends marched on.

Now in safety, now in unity, now moved past all breakers.

So critters and unfolk trod on the upward path, neath wings of Son.

So all eyes, all ears, all hearts pointed ever past all rocks,all fakers.

 

 

“So weuns go fastees, weuns holds fastees, weuns scold nasties!”

“No, no, ye scrumbling bumbling tumblies, “cried down Old Crow.

“No, no, ye hardy, tardy questers all! “buzzed Bluesy Dragonflysies.

“Ye must EVERMORE, EVERMORE love, love, love ALL as Bro’!”

 

“……and you say THE ONE will stand up for us?”

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Lenten Journey – Day 44
Biblical Scripture: John 13:21-32

Open Invitation to Join Terri from
Cloaked Monk

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5-Apr-12: John 18:1—19:42

After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” 5 They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and you say THE ONE will stand up for us?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

All friends, all critters, all unfolk, all ears, all Crookeye, all nose

Did pull and stretch and reach and screech in the upward way.

All questers did gather just one breath to catch, a ‘fore they goes

More steeply, more peeply, scarce knowin’ whether to sway.

 

 

“Oh, did ye hear that shout, that bout of blunder o’er yonder?”

All huddled in worry o’ rough bodies burstin’ through rock.

“Oh, now ye must march on, ye friends, ye must not ponder

“To stop or wander, for The One just now forded ye a block.”

“……and you say we can run FASTER holding onto each other?”

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Lenten Journey – Day 43
Biblical Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3
Open Invitation to Join Terri from

Cloaked Monk

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4-Apr-12: Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,

* and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of* the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,

* so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and you say we can run FASTER holding onto each other?”

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh, pant, oh rant, oh smattering cant” friends called to each other up the hill.

“Oh, smartee, oh lordee, oh paining in the bootee is weuns,”screeched the questers.

“Oh, hushee ye, saveee ye breathees ye, “called down Big Bluesy Fly in thrill.

“Know ye not, if ye pushees each to’other, ye gets to running faster, ye besters!”

“……and you say we have no wisdom except HIS?”

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Lenten Journey – Day 42
Biblical Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Open Invitation to Join Terri from

Cloaked Monk

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3-Apr-12: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and you say we have no wisdom except HIS?”

 

 

 

All walking in line now, all quiet now, are our friends in stronger quest.

All critterly minds so pointed towards the light, so focused on the right.

“Oh, we gots it now, we knows it now, we so muchly betterly bright in rest.”

So did critters swell of chest and mark the crest of next peak so high in the light.

 

 

“Wait, wait, ye foolish critters!  Ye make not your own light, ye block real light!”

“What mean ye, cans’t bean ye, Old Squawker?” did all critters keen on high.

“Why, ye must know now how ye brightest light, ye greatest sight, all blight!

“Ye must see now, must wait now, on the Bright, the ONLY bright, from HIS SIGH!”

 

“……and are you SURE we need to throw this old scroll away?”

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Lenten Journey – Day 41
Biblical Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-15
Open Invitation to Join Terri from

Cloaked Monk

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2-Apr-12: Hebrews 9:11-15

 

11 But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

15 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and are you SURE we need to throw this old scroll away?”

 

 

 

Now and again and over again did critters mull and skull o’er the lessons of Crow

and Bird and Fly and Raggedy One and all critters so marked and sparked by this quest.

Now and again, then again did one critter hum to the other about what to stow

and what to toss over the crested side of trip and struggle and buggle calling for their best.

 

“Oh, lookee, lookee, ye blinding bats of critters, what be this, what see this old skin?”

“Oh, kick that ol’ skin o’er the side, ye wonderin’ folk,” called down Ugly Bird.

“Oh, no more need for such an ol’ scroll,” agreed Old Raggedy,”‘Tis no bettern tin!”

Agreed Old Crow:”Ye have new scroll, new plan, new print for life bought by Living Word.”

“……and you say we must bow down in order to be higher?”

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Lenten Journey – Day 40
Biblical Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11
Open Invitation to Join Terri from

Cloaked Monk

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1-Apr-12: Philippians 2:5-11

 

5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

7 but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

8 he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and you say we must bow down in order to be higher?”

 

 

 

So friends all circled round to sup and sip and dup and dip all fusty and dusty.

So critters and unfolksies sat and plopped and popped berries and nuts alike.

When just from out a big cracked rock crawled the ragged one all musty.

“Oh, kneel with me, serve with me, lower ye selves with me such lowly tyke.”

 

 

“What keens ye, what means ye, now heal-led crawler so smalling?

“We ‘uns ready to serve, ready to help, we need not go lower–no, no!”

“Ah, but do ye not know,”cried Raggedy”, that we must be like Him in calling!”

“We must kneel and serve all bowed down,iffen we be raised High with Him to glow!”

 

“……and The One stopped on His Death-Road to HEAL someone?”

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Lenten Journey – Day 39
Biblical Scripture: Mark 10:32-34, 46-52
Open Invitation to Join Terri from

Cloaked Monk

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31-Mar-12: Mark 10:32-34, 46-52

 

32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”

46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When heheard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and The One stopped on His Death-Road to HEAL someone?”

 

 

 

 

So the friends hummed and bummed along in such altogether joy.

So the friends summed up all the love and light gathered along the way.

So the critters and unfolk and newly-joined ragged one all fee like the boy

Who flapped his ears and hugged his donkey and tugged no more to stray.

 

 

“Oh, ye ragged one, ye taggedy-splaggedy one, how ye be strong so long?”

Did one friend, then t’other seek to know of new friend so ragged, so happy.

“Oh,”cried down Crow and Bird and Fly,”did ye miss The One, all strong,

“Stopping in His Death Road to heal and love these rags back to clappy?”

“……and you say if we stop arguing, we can shine brighter?”

 

 

 

 

 

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Lenten Journey – Day 38
Biblical Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18
Open Invitation to Join Terri from

Cloaked Monk

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30-Mar-12: Philippians 2:12-18

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmuring and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. 16 It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you— 18 and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“……and you say if we stop arguing, we can shine brighter?”

 

 

 

So now friends be climbin’ high and sparkin’ sigh after sigh.

So now critters be rockin’ and rollin’ ’round rock and rill.

So now unfolk be leaning’ and keenin’ all up and up so high.

So now all questers be pesters for Crow to give ’em a thrill.

 

 

 

“Why ye not happy to be so sappy with life on this hill?

“Why ye not diggin’ down into critter heart for joy of this trip?”

“Why ye dim your life on this path with so much murmur to kill

“The new light, the new stars, right out of your eyes to slip?”

 

 

 
“Oh, Crow, oh Bird, oh Blythy-fly, all winged ones up there!”

“Ye beesies so righties when ye tellsies us of so wrongelly words.

“Oh, guiding wings, flap and dap down more such wiselings to bear

“Alway and e’er more in smilin’ face so our lightsies not be curds.”