“A tiger in the tank” (Nee Chapter 7B/10 - normal Christian worker – sexuality)

On reading Paul about our sex
Relations – how to live (that's next),
I'm baffled by his turn of thought
Amidst the context where he walked.

For each and every worldly way
Around the globe, that each I'd say
Requires a re-adjusting thought,
Like guidance from the folks who've taught –

Us – going back to base once more –
Like Paul himself, whom folks adored
As one who knew them from inside
Their cultured ways, “where they reside” –

But also knew from whence he'd come
His Jewish roots (from Jewish mom)
And rabbis' famous in that day –
A Pharisee, "well taught", we'd say.

So as a guide, he worked from root,
Not sources spawned from root, forsooth –
Paul models for us how it's done,
Once we've such current tasks begun.

For we're to bridge from first to next –
Go back to basics – oral, text,
Which still abound on Internet
With language tools, far better yet –

Than any from the years gone by,
It's there for all – but ask the "why",
For that will focus up the task
Paul guides us through, if the we'd but ask.

For cultures mix around today,
Far more than Romans, Greeks, who swayed
The culture-groupings of their day –
We're mixed, in flux, "third cultured" way.

So, Holy Spirit, this I hear,
Between the lines of Scripture clear –
Return and scoop from former bin –
"The rock whence hewn" – from there begin.

Let ethics flow from ancient times
With water fresh, not filthy brine,
Into our needs for guidance here
And now, today – make new life clear.

Like, God brought Abe to front of class,
Taught him His ways, which he then passed
Within his tribal-cultured group,
Four thousand years – evolving soup!

Then Christ, You trained up folks to jump
Your cultured boundary from the stump
Of ancient cultured-ways stripped down –
Salt, light, and leaven – outward bound.

Then Paul made a jump to Europe's groups;
Now other cultures in pursuit
Of bridge into their cultured needs,
Seek "bridging-folks" with "Kingdom-seed".

Not answers to old Europe's needs,
But help for here, as Spirit leads
Us into our new-truthful ways,
Just like for those where Scripture says –

"I give to you what I received;
My Jewish roots give what I feed
To you as well, as Christ allows
Me to press on, and show me how.

Paul was not called to southern lands
Like Thomas was (we understand),
But up to north – Paul's former kin;
So too for me – where I begin –

And where is that for me, I ask?
“Bush, rural, urban" with my task
Of bridging, through third-cultured ways,
To "Giver-group" cut off today.

For they're excluded from the herd;
They're written off, which is absurd,
But deeper yet is aspect here –
"Fresh word for us, with guidance clear:

From days surrounding birth I came
Into this task, for it's the same
Today as when World War was done,
When split took place – from whence I come.

Such is my task from Matthew six,
Which calls to me – "I'd like to fix
The rift which caused such grief at time
I was a child – be there assigned.

"Not as a driven-leaf by wind
That blows these days where folks begin,
But as assigned, some task to do,
To ease that pain, with guidance new.

In this I'll know when task is done –
Like any wish-list task begun –
"Once you're where I am, you will see
My interest drop" – that's guide for me.

Thanks Holy Spirit for that.

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