The Strong Man

The third blog I ever wrote was called "Can We Have Peace in the Midst of a Storm?" It was the work of some research I had been doing for a presentation I was giving as a participant in the women's ministry of Northshore Church. For this presentation, I studied the story of Jesus calming the storm. Each of the three Gospels that record the story provide unique insight into the event and I wanted to find a way to combine all the details to get a clearer and more complete understanding of what happened. So I examined each account and merged the three retellings as best as I could, keeping as much of the original language as would not be overly repetitive and yet would continue to make sense. The result of that work can be read here.

What I found when I joined the stories absolutely fascinated me. I wanted to go through the Gospels and do the same thing with every story I found retold in two or more places. However, I didn't actually do this again until recently, when a dream inspired me to once again research a particular event. I relived the same fascination doing this work that I had when I researched the calming of the storm. Because of this, I hope to do this at least once a week and, maybe, post the result.

I hope you find this as interesting as I do.

Jen

BINDING THE STRONG MAN
Matthew 12; Mark 3; Luke 11

Then He (Jesus) went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”

Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Him. Now He was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see. And all the crowds were astounded and said, “Perhaps this is the Son of David!”

The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul in Him!” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!” When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “The man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” And others, as a test, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.

So He summoned them and spoke to them in parables. Knowing their thoughts, He told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand, and a house divided against itself falls. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished! For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges. If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”

“How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. No one can enter a strong man’s house and rob his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can and will rob his house.”

“Anyone who is not with Me is against Me, and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters. Because of this, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. I assure you: People will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they may blaspheme. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin. Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.” because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Posts

I find it interesting that I can never tell which blogs I post will generate comments and which will not. Oddly enough, the blogs I post that really feel like they cost me something generate no comments.

I'm not sure what this means.

Either A: no one reads my blogs, B: no one finds the above-referenced blogs (the ones that cost me emotionally) interesting, or C: no one wants "to go there."

Anyway, as a blogger (a very intermittent blogger), I'm not really sure what to with this? Do I stop writing those particular kinds of entries? Or does someone out there, who doesn't want to be known, get something out of those entries (even if it's just to see how odd I am)? Or do I need anyone to read these at all?

Of course, I do write with the hope that someone will read. After all, I have a diary for what I don't want read and I certainly don't need to blog at all.

I guess I long for connection. After all, being a stay-at-home/homeschooling/business owning mom keeps me busy enough to have a non-existent (well, almost) social life.

(Sigh)

...Till my next installment of the continuing battle with my need for approval...

Tuesday, May 1, 2001

Tuesday, May 1, 2001

"They say I am
But I am not

Failure
Unequipped
Psychotic I am
Strong I am not

Weak
Hapless
Stupid I am
Well I am not

Tired
Lazy
Mean I am
Good I am not

Wife
Teacher
Mother I am
Human I am not

Some things cannot be said, some things are best not said, and some things won't be said. Am I growing? I am certainly suffering pains. Why do I not learn? Why do I grow tougher with each trial, instead of wiser? Knowing is not enough. the ignorant man can be excused. I cannot.

Why fight a losing battle? I can't win. Slave is my birthright. I was born in chains I could not yet feel. Now that I can feel them, I have grown too big to shrug them off.

What good do two selfish people give the world or each other? Why do I not change instead of stretching my limits?

Where would I go? I would come right back. I would walk out of one prison and into another. There is no freedom in life. I made my chains, why not like them?

I don't think I can be happy. I always find something wrong. Why did I bring a baby into my miserable existence and just how am I going to **** him up?

He deserves better parents."

Wanting to record a dream into my diary, I came across some words that drew me to this entry. I don't often remember how this felt. Truly, our minds strive to remember the good times and forget the bad. For this reason, I am so glad that I, at least occasionally, record my journey in a diary. I can look back and see where I was in relation to where I am.

I have been set free.

Life isn't easy. "Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away." (Psalm 90:10) Even today, I face challenges that seem so far beyond my capabilities. But since I met Christ, I am wiser and tougher. I am less ignorant than I was then, but no longer bear such guilt. I am not fighting a losing battle I cannot win, I am fighting a winning battle I cannot lose.

Yes, I was born into slavery, but I have been purchased out of that and adopted as a daughter. I have traded my chains for the yoke of Christ, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. My husband and I have been changed and do give to the world and we have found the freedom in this life that I didn't believe existed.

...And I know happiness.

Thank you, my Jesus, for taking me as yours and giving my children better parents.

[So Jesus said the the Jews who had believed in Him, "If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)]

...And for the record,...

[John 8:33-35 "We are descendants of Abraham," they answered Him, "and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus responded, "I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. Therefore if the Son sets you free, you really will be free."]

Shared Liberation

A quote I got from Sara Groves blog that just seems to resonate with me:

"If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. - Aboriginal activists group, Queensland, 1970s

Wow! Who, needing help, really wants to be "less" than his helper? And who, giving help, should feel greater than the one he is helping? But the brotherhood of being liberated with the one you are liberating... and being liberated with the one who is liberating you... that is beautiful!

The Dumbing Down of Jennifer Landeche

Somebody told me I made them feel stupid. He said, "You know, other teachers, they may know like way up here, but they make you feel like they only know a little more than you do."

If he was the first person to tell me this, I would say like "So what!" But he's not. He's like the 2nd or 3rd person to tell me that this year.

So, I've made my mind. For the next 30 or so years of my life, starting today August 26, 2009, I'm making a New Year's Revolution. I'm gonna try really really hard...

to be dumber!

Anybody got any hints?

Cannibals

For those of you who don't have children, let me share a little of mine...

So, my husband Steve and my oldest, Stephen, were sitting on the sofa watching King Kong. For some reason they started talking about the natives and Stephen told Steve that they were cannibals.

Steve, being Steve, said, "What do you mean, candles?"

Stephen replied, "Not candles, CANNIBALS."

My husband then asked, "What are cannibals?"

To which my 8 year old, having seen too many old Tarzan movies, explained, "You know, those black people who like to eat white people."

...

What would life be without kids?

Motherhood

Usually, we just tell Seth to go get "in his spot" and take his nap and he is good enough to listen without complaining (too much). Other times, however, he wants company and sometimes it just feels good to lay down with him.

Today was one of those days.

I wasn't particularly tired today, but I just wanted to lay down and hold him. He is growing so fast and, as much as I want to see him grow into a man, I want to keep him sweet and little. So, I layed down with him and held him in my arms.

As I put my face next to his skin, and breathed in the smell of a toddler who has played in the sun, I thought back to the first time the smell of my child was extremely significant to me. During my second pregnancy, I wondered how alike or how different my second son would be. Would they look alike, would they act alike? Would they love each other, would they hate each other? Would I be able to love them both... and love them equally? I was so afraid that we would not be able to handle these issues. After all, I was an only child, and my husband rarely speaks to his brother. But, as soon as they put Austin in my arms, I was shocked. He smelled... just... like... Stephen!

I'll never forget that moment. It was the first time that I ever realized there was something that made us, as a family, different. Odd as it sounds, we smell alike. But as we grow as a family, I realize it's not just the smell. Since we have brought in a new family member, someone who is not blood, I realize that there are so many ways we are alike. We have a family culture, habits, preferences, ways of relating to each other and handling new things that come along. My children are each quite different, but they, and we, are linked by things that identify us as "family"; things no one can change or take away from us.

But back to Seth's naptime. I love watching his little fingers. Seth, like many children, loves to feel soft things. He has two silky blankets that he sleeps with... and sometimes drags around. But he likes anything silky, and tags on clothing will do just fine when his blankies are not around.

His hands are beautiful. Pudgy, but long, little fingers that gently caress the blanket. Fingers that work back and forth as little fingertips enjoy the softness between them. Dimples that come and go as knuckles flex and extend. And sometimes, he takes his little hand and rubs it across my arm. Back and forth, my forearm feels as soft and warm to him as his little hand feels to me. I know that one day soon, I will miss this intimacy.

As I watched the gentle blue light coming through his curtains and falling onto the soft skin of his face, I wondered if God sees us this way. Does He look at us and see the vulnerable beauty that I see in the baby face before me? In our weakness and scars, does he see the same small body needing protection and heart needing love that I see in my little one lying down for his nap? If God loves me, all the time, with a love greater than the love I feel for my children at moments like these, then what do I have to fear and what do I have to look forward to? As I try to think of the words to write to express that sentiment, of a love my heart can't even imagine, I'm not sure those words exist. I only taste it in moments like these; before the waking world steals the feeling away. Before life and responsibility come in and fill my mind with distractions, smothering the love in which I wish I could remain.

I desperately want to see my children grow up... and at times I try to rush the process. But I truly hate the thought of it. I really love them as they are now; not perfect or perfectly obedient, but each beautiful and still innocent in his own way. I think that maybe I'll be able to enjoy them at each stage of their lives. Each stage brings its own joys and sorrows. But I'll desperately miss them as babies and toddlers.

I do have hope, however. The future of a parent is to become a grandparent. When I can no longer gently kiss my sons' baby skin and smell their baby smell, I can look forward to the soft tiny body of a grandchild. May all my daughters-in-law love me as a mother; and I, them, as a daughter. May God grant me many grandchildren to kiss, and sing to, and take naps with. Thank you, God, for giving me more children than I ever thought I wanted. What would I have done, or been, without them.