Outside the Pigeon Holes

Here is an excerpt from a book I was reading recently. This passage made me wanna stand up on the table in the coffee house where I was reading and have church right there! A pastor I know recalls a Sunday morning Bible study at his church when the text under consideration was Genesis 22. God commands Abraham to take his son, Isaac and offer him in sacrifice on Mt. Moriah (side note for folks unfamiliar with the story: God stops Abraham from killing Isaac and then provides a ram for him to use instead). After the group read the passage, the pastor offered some historical background on this period in salvation-history, including the prevelance of child sacrifice among Canaanites. The group listened in awkward silence. Then the pastor asked, "But what does this story mean to us?" A middle aged man spoke up. "I'll tell you the meaning this story has for me. I've decided that me and my family are looking for another church." The pastor was astonished, ...

At a prayer training once we did an exercise in hearing from God in which we asked God a question and then wrote down - without editing - what we received. It took prayer, shutting off my head and listening for His voice to get the response. But I did write everything that I believed was Him. Obviously all of it needs to be squared with with scripture before it can be attributed to the Holy Spirit and not our own heads (or even worse!). And that is the step after this one. This was what I asked and the unedited response: Q - Why do we have to kill your creatures and eat them? Why do some animals have to do the same? A - I made all creatures. They are all mine. I do not ask everyone to eat of them. Your prayers of mercy over those that suffer and die at the hands of mass graves are heard. I tend to each one of my flock, I know that they hurt. All my children and animals hurt. It is not my way and will be restored at the time of my coming. The animals are special to you and that is one ...