We began our service today watching this video (you’ll have to forgive the title – the content is redeeming 
)
Below are some of my reflections on the idea of “dancing with God.” Some of this came out in the sermon this morning.
Gregory of Nanzianzus used the term perichoresis, an image of a dance, to describe the mysterious union of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Clark Pinnock, in his wonderful bookFlame of Love, writes,
The metaphor suggests moving around, making room, relating to one another without losing identity. The divine unity lies in the relationality of Persons, and the relationality is the nature of the unity. At the heart of this ontology is the mutuality and reciprocity among the Persons. Trinity means that shared life is basic to the nature of God. God is perfect sociality, mutuality, reciprocity and peace. As a circle of loving relationships, God is dynamically alive. There is only one God, but this one God is not solitary but a loving communion that is distinguished by overflowing life (31).
Pinnock is focused primarily on the Holy Spirit in this particular book and goes on to say that the Spirit is the “ecstasy” of God’s Triune life. The term ecstasy means to “stand outside oneself.” Thus, it is the Spirit that makes the “triune life an open circle and a source of pure abundance” (38). The Spirit is the creative juice of the Trinity. Pinnock writes,
The Spirit is essentially the serendipitous power of creativity, which flings out a world in ecstasy and simulates within it an echo of the inner divine relationships, ever seeking to move God’s plans forward (21).
It is important to begin here because there is no God outside of this. God is God as revealed to us in this way – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit in loving, mutual, intentional relationality. The Persons of the trinity are caught up in an eternal dance of reciprocity so intertwined that at times it may seem difficult to tell who is who. They move with such choreographed harmony. The love emanating from within cannot help but create, and so, the Spirit “flings” out new worlds because it is the nature of love not to harbor and hoard but to expand and create.
What does this mean for us? God has from the beginning been wooing creation to dance. The community of God desires community with us. You and I are being courted. The love that created us and our world is the same love that desires to be in fellowship with us. Those of us who have responded to the wooing of God, the Church, are then called to reflect this perichoretic ecstasy of our God to the world. When we worship in “spirit and truth” we appear to the world to be united as one, bound by love, dancing in harmony and flinging out new creation from within our midst. A church in step with the Triune God is a church that does not hoard what it has to herself but, like the day of Pentecost, bursts through the doors of sanctuary to enter into a world full of possibilities. We call others to dance with us.
Our worship ought to reflect this dance. If I were designing a sanctuary today I would be sure to place the baptismal font at the entrance to our sanctuary. In this way, we are reminded both as we enter and as we leave that we are children of God the Father, that we are in covenant with this God and that through the waters of baptism we have been immersed into new life – we are new creatures! The saints gathered enter through the waters and are then greeted by the Lord’s Table, the altar, which is front and center. It is here, in the Eucharist,that Jesus the Son of God has promised to meet us. At his feet we lay down the idols that have cluttered our imaginations and feast on real sustenance, the body and blood of our Lord. Here we confess our sins, make peace with God and neighbor, find forgiveness and nourishment. We are once more filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered for ministry, so that as we pass by the waters once again we are flung out into the world to be dancers, to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ to invite others to enter this dance between Font, Table and Creation.
This is what this dance might look like for the church….
What a joy it is to be invited to dance with God.
Benediction: May the waters of baptism you just touched remind you today that you are a cherished child of God. May the supper we just ate remind you that you are redeemed and nourished by the blood of the Lamb. And may all of Creation remind you that the Holy Spirit has invited you to dance. Let’s dance.
Matthew 24 – JESUS IS COMING
This is the 7th letter (e-mail) some of you have received since 10\299. God’s Messages have remained constant.
On 9\248 God’s message was to get out of the city by 10\108
On 10\108 God’s message was Ezekiel 24
Events that occurred on 10\108 – 1. Stock market crash 2. Personal 3. S.D.A. World division met in the Philippines and launched Bible going around the world.
God’s explanation of what happened on 10\108 is Ezekiel chapters 3 – 7
Operation Global Rain – a call for all S.D.A. Churches to pray for the Latter Rain during 2006 – 2008 was ordained of God for Revival and Reformation.
A series of CD’s on Matthew 24 released by Pastor Stephen Bohr from Secrets Unsealed Ministries revealed symbolically portrayed events paralleling my church’s experience from May 2006 through October 2009 [3 1\2 yr] period.
119 – The Shut Door – as it was in the days of Noah –Luke 19:42-44
6\15\10 God revealed that the Bible going around the world was the Abomination of Desolation
mentioned in Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 and Matthew 24:15
1\22\10 Bible was in Haiti on the day of the devastating earthquake. God’s message was Isaiah chapters 24 & 25.
8\11\10 August Issue of Adventist World Magazine pg.3 confirmed the abomination. The Bible was
desecrated and idolized. More information followthebiblesda.com.
On 6\26\10 God revealed more light on Ezekiel 24, God’s message given on 10\108. Vs. 1,2 interprets Jan Paulson’s 9th year of his reign as SDA General Conference President was in 2008, the year the Bible was launched going around the world. The 11th year of his reign ended in 2010, the year the travelling Bible was completed. Other scriptures to consider, 2Kings 25:1,2; Jer. 52:4,5.
On 9\28\10 God revealed light on Daniel to confirm the abomination and the outcome. Daniel 12:9-13
9\28\10 God’s confirmation to send this message. Devotional Book “Ye Shall Receive Power” 9\28 pg.280
A Dual Representation Daniel 2:37-42, and Rev.2:1 read the E.G. White quotation from the Study Bible. Also “This Day With God”12\18 pg.361 and “Ye Shall Receive Power”8\13 pg. 234. Quote – “If the student of the Word would take the truths which God has revealed in the leadings of His people and appropriate these truths, digest them and bring them into their PRACTICAL LIFE, they would then be living channels of light.
As Nebuchadnezzar, God has raised up the Seventh Day Adventist Church, called His people to be faithful as Daniel and the three Hebrews, gave them brilliant minds if they remain faithful to be a testimony and a light to the world. God blessed the Church with marvelous light, The Spirit of Prophecy, revealing to the Church the future and everything we need to be ready for Jesus’ Second Coming. DANIEL 2:28,29. God raised up the Church and made it the head to be a light to all the other Denominations. DANIEL 2:37&38. The Church has departed from her high calling and rejected light and allowed all sorts of creeping compromises, lowering her standards and has become like the heathen religions. Jesus will now step in and bring to an end the Great Controversy between good and evil. DANIEL 2:31-35. Read Daniel 2:-47 – “A Reflection of Light” [notes from the EG White Study Bible]
DANIEL chapter 3 – Bible going around the world from the Philippines [the plain of Dura] The image of gold was set up. Papal and pagan customs have infiltrated the church, Dan.3:8 with counterfeit and heathen style worship. The virgin Mary [Fatima] going around the world. God still has a faithful few who upholds the high standard of the Church.
DANIEL 4 God still has a faithful few who have not bowed their knees to baal. Read all the EG White notes on chapters 4. It will appear like the Church is about to fall, it will not. “Maranatha” 7\14 pg. 203
DANIEL 5 – God’s Word is His Love Letter to us. It is not a toy to be played with or worshipped as an idol, taking sacred things and making it profane – celebrating the Bible going around the world. Daniel 5:1-4. God described the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Revelation 3:14-21. Because of your unfaithfulness, God has pronounced sentence upon you. Daniel 5:22-28.
DANIEL 6 THE DECREE – Church and State will now pass a Sunday Law to destroy God’s people. Dan.6:12. Many unfaithful ones will leave the church. A few [144,000] not a literal number, will be found faithful.
DANIEL 7&8 Description of world events, past, present future, as understood by the church, leading to the Sunday Law. Sunday is the false Sabbath. Saturday is the Sabbath Day 7th day. Exodus 20:10,11; Rev.1:10.
DANIEL 9&10 To the faithful God reveals secrets. Amos chapters 3&4.
DANIEL 11& 12 Events leading to and during the Sunday Law. A TIME OF TROUBLE UPON US.
On 9\15\10 God’s call to quit my job to do Medical Missionary Work and telling people JESUS IS COMING AND A TIME OF TROUBLE IS UPON THE WORLD. Now that I won’t have enough money to purchase all the materials needed going door to door, I put together 4 daily readings on one sheet of paper from the Book Maranatha – Salvation and the Sunday Law – to give out. I went to the Staples store to make copies. There was a prepaid card in the machine. I ejected it and placed mine. For now I copied 100 totaling $9.13. I took the prepaid card I found to the cashier and told her it was in the machine. She spoke to the manager and took the card back to me and said I have it. $13.45.
9\30\10 As of today I am officially out of my job. I will follow God’s leading to be a Medical Missionary. God will provide. He will use the simple method to finish the work as He demonstrated at Staples. “The Upward Look” 9\30 pg.287 Getting Ready for the Latter Rain. “Gifts For God’s People” 9\30 pg. 281. “Reflecting Christ” 9\30 pg. 287
This message is to go to all the world. Pass it on. “Ye Shall Receive Power” 9\28 pg. 280. “This Day With God” 9\30 pg. 282.
9\30\10 Matthew 24:15-21; Daniel 12:1; Revelation 7:14.On 2\9\11 – God’s Message Genesis chapters 18 & 19 Jesus coming to save the righteous and destroy the wicked. Confirmation in devotional “Christ Triumphant” 2\9 pg. 46 & “My Life Today” 2\9 pg. 44.
On 2\10\11 – God’s Message Ezekiel chapters 28-32 Judgment on Egypt – present situation fulfilling as predicted in scriptures.
e.g. Ezekiel 29:4 – his people turn against him
29:16 – Treaty with Israel? Will end
30:12,13 – military rule, no leader
31:11 – President forced out of office 31:12 America and other nations alienation and call for resignation. 32:9&10 – surrounding nations fearful of same situation occurring in their country.
On 2\12\11 -God’s revelation Matthew 25:1-10 represents Operation Global Rain. General Conference President’s call for Revival and Reformation is referred to as in Matthew 25:11,12. It is too late. A greater measure of God’s Spirit will fall on those who have already receive it. It is falling on hearts all around you but you can’t see it. There will be false revivals.
On 2\13\11 – God’s call to give this message. Ezekiel chapters 1-3. God’s first call to give the last 7
messages began on 9\248. On 10\108 God’s message began with Ezekiel chapters 3-7.
God is now bringing to a conclusion the fulfillment of the messages. Why the judgment? Ezekiel chapters 6. The desolation was foretold Ezekiel chapters 7.
On 2\13\11 – Dream – Court in session, time for a verdict. God’s answer for meaning of dream? Isaiah chapters 37-40. Read all E.G. White notes from the Study Bible.
Sabbath School lesson for this quarter. JESUS WEEPING. Luke 19:41-44.
On 2/14/11 – Daniel chapters 11&12. Egypt – Dan.11:8,42. Heb.11:7 & Gen.9:10 –Noah. Heb.11:30.