Press On: From Prison with Joy series - Christian Lindbeck (Phil. 2:5-11)

Hard times comin',
push back risin',
hurricane whistlin' -
stand strong, my child.


Prison walls may be rough,
cleanliness a forgotten dream,
but these bars
can't keep joy out,
can't keep joy out!



Whatever's comin',
whatever's here,
be worthy of Him, my child.

He let it all go:
all riches and fame,
all security and comfort,
even His very life,
even His very life,
to gain us back
as His own.

So let it go,
yes, let it go,
there's nothin' you
can give or do
to earn His love.

I had it all,
all the world could give,
but I let it go,
I let it go for joy!
Christ suffered for us,
I suffer for you,
for joy, oh yes, for joy!

 Hard times comin',
push back risin',
hurricane whistlin' -
stand strong, my child.

It's worth it all
to let it go
and let joy in,
just let it in.

Open your hands,
fingers spread wide,
and let the world fall through,
let privilege, power and need
fall through,
let go your right to anger
and unbridled greed,
let fall your ego,
hates and fears,
let go your future,
release the gears;
let yourself tumble through
as you grasp hold of
and hang onto
Him who'll see you through
no matter what,
no matter what!

Hard times comin',
push back risin',
hurricane whistlin' -
stand strong, my child.


Don't look behind,
press on!
Don't believe the lies,
press on, children,
press on.

For All of Us: From Prison with Joy series - Tim Knipp (Phil. 2:5-11; Gen. 3:1-3)

Crafty whispers
nudge doubt
to center stage.
Sin catapults 
like a wily court jester
into the spotlight,
somersaulting
in dizzying circles.
Like gods,
we were formed
as self-portraits
in flesh,
but we reached too high
incurring the fatal flaw -
a defacing tattoo.
Our inheritance,
a world out of kilter.

The very Son -
a natural God -
did not reach
for high status
but assumed the flaw,
had it imprinted on His flesh
where it festered
and smoldered
until He was tossed
on Death's pyre...
for us.
For all of us.

Creator God,
dressed in man-skin,
wooed us;
risked the ravages
of sin;
stripped off royal robes
and knelt in the muck
and filth
we wallow in.

He kneels there now,
body bruised,
welts rising and oozing
on His back,
bloody holes encircling
His forehead - 
a scarlet crown.
Look in His eyes
as He smiles up, 
hopefully,
awaiting your response.

God is Like Jesus - Tim Knipp - From Prison with Joy Philipians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5-11

In your relationships with one another,

have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the very nature of God,

did not consider equality with God

something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in the appearance as a man

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death---

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Laying Aside Crowns; From Prison with Joy - Christian Lindbeck (Phil. 2:1-4)

 

Strength plus competition
equals triumph (we hope) -
the winning is all
and losing,
nothing.
Or so American 
culture believes,
loving champions
above all else.

Paul's biceps bulged
with Roman citizenry,
correct family lineage,
and zealousness for the Law -
yet this champion status
was set aside,
considered nothing
beside the treasure
of Christ's acquaintance.

Christ - the Lord
of the Universe -
champion of champions,
was Paul's example;
stooping down
among the detritus
of human existence,
shedding his regal rights,
turning earthly values
on end:
     meekness becomes strength,
     joy comes with suffering,
     loss is gain. 

Paul says,
if you appreciate
God's family
to which you now belong;
if you truly care
selflessly for one another;
then fill me with joy
by thinking as one
in this area:
that we are united
soul-to-soul;
that underneath
skin and bone,
our blood pulses
as on;
that God's purpose
may lead us.

Throw out 
shallow pride.
Elevate others
above yourself,
and love,
love,
love one another.

Try this formula:
humility plus love
equals joy,
and see if it is not
infinitely more
fulfilling
than personal strength (power)
applied for personal gain (power)
and worldly success (power).

You will bring
Shalom 
to a world writhing
in the grip
of cynicism
and one-up-man-ship,
fear
and degradation.

Will we choose
the dead-end road
of personal interest
or follow Christ's
example,
empowered by the 
Spirit,
and with true humility,
lay aside
our crowns?

Not About Me: From Prison with Joy series - Tim Knipp (Phil. 1:19-26)

Facing a fearful future event,
or suffering,
or loss,
can overwhelm,
shake foundations
and crumble
flimsy faith.
I trust my God -
like Job, who knew
his God
would vindicate him
on the final day.
I will not hang my head in shame
before Him.
What happens, happens
and it will happen
for God's great purpose.
My life, my death
is not the issue -
but how my life
or my death
can further God's truth.
See I live for Him,
and when I die,
I will be with Him:
win-win!

I live not
for personal fulfillment
or (American) dreams
of success -
but for God's good pleasure.
So suffering and death,
rather than obstructions
or rips 
in the tapestry
of happiness,
have meaning
and purpose 
in a plan that
encompasses
a thousand universes.

Life is Christ.
Death, a door 
to my inheritance.
Its not about me.

Joy, unpursued
perches
on my shoulder
and sings to me,
night and day
as I release
my grip
on self.

Be real
and ask for prayer
when in need.
Open your hands
to receive God's spirit
that alone
can lift you
above the struggle.

To live is Christ.
To die,
gain.

Free in Chains, Philippians - From Prison with Joy (Christian Lindbeck)

Restricted access -
chained to a wall -
I am free
and joyful!
God's great plan 
is in motion
because of my imprisonment -
can you not see it?
The weight of 
deprivation,
like a fulcrum,
raises God's Name 
even higher - 
isn't that great?
Without even trying,
I have infiltrated
Rome's Special Forces
with the message of Christ.
And even against
an atmosphere of animosity
to our faith,
most Christians here
have crept out of hiding.
Even those against me
still speak the name 
of Christ to discredit me -
and all advertising is good 
advertising. 
I couldn't ask for more!

Faithfulness under duress,
like rich compost,
results in much fruit.

In the eye of the storm:
rehearse truth and envision
the big picture,
then put faithfulness into
practice -
doing reps to build up
the muscles of endurance.
Celebrate what follows.

Neighbor-Love - Stories of the Kingdom series (Tim Knipp) Luke 10:25-37

Despised
by calloused habit
and supercilious
attitudes,
Samaritans were
considered
disposable
by Jews.
Strife strafed
interactions
again and 
again
over centuries.

When interrogating
fine points of
Jewish Law,
one asked,
"Who is (and isn't)
my neighbor?"
In Jesus-style,
a story will suffice.

On a dangerous stretch
of road - or dark alley 
amid the stench of garbage -
a man (Generic Joe)
is attacked.
A Jewish priest sees
and looks away
but a despised one 
(Samaritan, no less),
feeling gut-wrenching
compassion,
is moved to action.
Go.
Do like the Samaritan.

Neighborhoods have
no limits on love.
Every human being
is my neighbor.
Racism is the antithesis
of neighbor-love.
Artificial boundaries
are abhorrent to God
and must be exposed
and torn down
by all who follow Christ.

Look first within.
Acknowledge and let go
of privilege and 
entitlement -
not God-given rights,
but man-made constructs
designed to perpetuate
the illegitimate legacies
of those in power.

Pray for and with
compassion.
Then act
like the Samaritan
who exchanged
hatred and fear
for loving deeds.