I am awestruck by the poignant imagery in the lyrics of Oh, Sleeper. Forgive me if I've been talking too much about them. Their lyrics and music inspire me so much. I would like to explain more about what the lyrics mean to me. Refer to the last post to see the lyrics. You might even want to open it in another window by clicking here.

The first verse talks about having a life run by an oppressive, harsh ruler. The singer portrays this with many repeating vocals. It signifies confusion and disorder. Just like the life that doesn't have the one true God on the throne. The 'god' that most people have, takes away from people. He claims their joy, their money, their family, their dreams, their life.

The first chorus is a like a war cry to look at the big picture. It is a war cry to destroy the works of the devil's hold over our lives. This single line in the song made me look up the role of our God as the destroyer.

JESUS THE DESTROYER
Get To Know Him

Psalm 143:12*
And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.

Psalm 145:20
The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

1 Corinthians 15:24-26
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Ephesians 2:14-16
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Hebrews 2:14-15
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

James 4:12
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy.

1 John 3:8
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Revelations 17:17-18
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.
The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth."

I am a big football fan and I love how football is able to bring strangers together onto a pitch and unite people to a single purpose. Sometimes in the process of meeting new people, you may chance across a few people who are so skilful, fast or strong that you can't help but think to yourself, "I'm glad he's on my side!"
Can you see the Wrath of God in these verses? Can you see that His Wrath is not directed at us anymore? He uses it against those who come against us. I'm glad I'm on the same side as Him!

The chorus goes on to say, "plant the seeds to reclaim victory." Can you see the symbolism here?

Mark 4:26
And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.

Mark 4:30-31
And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth…”

In verse 14 of this same chapter, Jesus says that a sower sows the Word. The seed is the Word.
Plant the seeds to reclaim victory! That is the rebuilding process!

The next phrase catches my attention. You cannot find content in the arms of constrictors. Growth cannot occur in an environment of doubt, disbelief or condemnation. Have we become constrictors to younger believers? Are we people who facilitate growth?
Are we so content with what we have that change cannot occur?
God has given us His image imprinted on a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Obedience sparks off miracles. When you obey what the LORD says. The way to achieve it is opened. You made the waves to meet my foot. Just like Jesus did for Peter.
The reference to the bishop is made in a previous song, "His Name Was Bishop", in the album. About how greed, pride and lust cause him to fall.
The archers are also referenced in another song. "We Are The Archers"
They are portrayed as reinforcements from the Captain (God).

~~~Building the Nations~~~
I've found the pit to find yourself surrounded.
To the husbands and daughters, brides and sons,
You put a tyrannic terror up on his throne.
He's collecting blood like diamonds from all.
Behind this door we face a war... its claiming more.

Step back and take a look around you because we will...
DESTROY! REBUILD! Plant the seeds to reclaim victory!
On this day we will...
DESTROY! REBUILD! Plant the seeds to reclaim victory!

Though struggle we'll press on.
Mark my words, you cant find comfort in the arms of constrictors.
Lift back the scabs of content and prepare for change.
The doors swing wide, and we're drawn inside.
The gold stained bones give off the light.

Oh, I found your prints on a fleshy pulse.
You made the waves to meet my foot
And all the siren songs that ring on and on and on.
I watched your vipers bring down the bishop and bait the chains to leave me hit.

Well I've brought all the archers, we lit all the pyres, and we've come to...
DESTROY! REBUILD! Plant the seeds to reclaim victory!
On this day we will...
DESTROY! REBUILD! Plant the seeds to reclaim victory!

Through struggle we press on...
We are the army of the far from perfect.
This is the call to tear down and rebuild this world.
| Oh, Sleeper - When I am God |

Today is the first monday out of school. Although its the term break for the rest of the Rhema, I still miss school and my classmates. My 2nd year has been definitely more enjoyable because of the dynamics of the class. There are more people in the room because they've combined the 1st and 2nd year students into one class.

There are so many things to think about and consider when doing life. Its getting slightly overwhelming. If I cannot rely on God totally, then I would simply crash and burn. If my relying on Him signifies laziness then I'm lost already. My life belongs to Him and is devoted to Him because I know no other way.

Daryl, don't try to piece everything together. You'll just make a mess of things. The way I gave you the glimpses of the different fragments of your life to come. The same way will I bring them into fruition. I will bring them to pass.
Keep your heart right, Keep your heart after me.

Untame Your Tongue

JAMES 3:1-13
I’ve always heard James 3:1-13 being preached or taught as taming the tongue. Most of the people that I’ve talked to seem to agree with this stand. Even the heading of this passage in my bible states "Taming the Tongue".

I was just meditating on the words during a teaching session. While reading the passage, it began to dawn on me. Where does it actually say to 'tame the tongue'? James doesn't ever use the words 'taming the tongue'. In fact, in verse 8, he states that "...no human being can tame the tongue."

People would then reply, "no man can, but God can!"
My question is then, why would He want to? When God created man in the beginning, He gave Himself a pat on the back! The whole man was good.
"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31

So why does James say such negative things about the tongue? Is he really speaking negatives about the tongue? In verse 2, he says that the Perfect (mature) Man does not stumble in what He says and is also able to bridle His whole body. To me, this is a picture of Jesus. Only Jesus was faultless with His words. James seems to be setting the benchmark here in his half-brother, Jesus.
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ," Ephesians 4:15
Paul also seems to agree with James that the tongue should be used to speak the truth in love and thus result in us becoming more like Christ.

In verse 3-5, James is making the point that the size of the tongue in relation to the rest of the body does not determine the power which it holds. He does say that bits and rudders do direct the power.

Lets jump to verse 9-11. James says that a 2 different things cannot come from one source. Fresh water and bitter water can come from the same source. Fig trees cannot bear olives, grapevines cannot bear figs. What does this mean? Get rid of the bitter water! Bear the fruit which you were meant to bear! Do what you were meant to do.

Lets look through the passage again. This time taking out the negatives of the tongue and using it to do what it was meant to.

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire and no one can tame the tongue. With it we bless our Lord and Father. From the mouth comes blessing.

No one can tame the tongue. It remains wild and powerful. Its power cannot be lost but it can be directed. By speaking forth the Word, the tongue remains powerful and achieves something. It remains wild for His use. The great things in verse 5 refer to grand things, things that are done on a grand scale. It also refers to God's preeminent blessings.

Let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:25,29

The Truth, with love builds up.