“Of Cultures In Societies ” ( )

Lord, I don’t get what’s going on
Twixt You and I, so strange a song –
“Please wait” is what I hear from Thee
“And you will get it, presently”.

I start to comprehend some parts –
That evil-one still gets his start
Within our hearts with simple things;
Long years of this, disaster brings.

We’re born into this grimy mess;
Add on, the parts which we confess,
We hardly put a dint in this
In “Fourscore years” ’neath Kingdom’s bliss.

Your patience is amazing here –
To You, at least, it must be clear;
But to our eyes it’s all a mess,
This interwoven recklessness.

We’ve got our cultured ways to view
What’s “Not acceptable to You.” –
Approximations of Your truth
As apprehended on each route.

But I’m aware it’s not Your truth;
At best, it mixes at the root
Of life, with culture, big or small;
Third culture’s mixing most of all.

So “Moral compass” is not there –
It’s gone, or is beyond repair
Since someone “wrenched its needle out”,
Or “made it spin in futile route”.

“Stu, culture’s norms now fall away,
So folks must grope by light of day,
Or in the dark before the dawn
For way to go – where they belong.

For culture’s loss is end of view
Of what’s for me, what’s best to do,
As ascertained in days of yore;
No compass guides – what culture’s for.

“For culture gathers up its norms
And mores, guides, and social forms,
So newbies have some place to start
As they on road of life embark.

“You’ll note I used a family
To bring the Kingdom-word to thee –
From Abe, to Europe’s many clans,
Its culture I use in My plans.”

But now it’s all mixed up, I see –
Confusing to the likes of me;
Some say it’s “Relative”, not “Truth”,
As each endorses favored route.

“They’re right, yet not quite right at all –
For you-all live post-Adam’s fall,
And think you know both right and wrong,
When it’s more how to get along –

“Within some social grouping there;
But take a different view – compare
Yourselves not with ‘The other group’,
But ‘Better than your former route’.

“Do that within ‘society’;
In your case all are somewhat free
To ‘Work out one’s salvation’ there,
‘With fear and trembling’ – sure, compare –

It with your neighbor down the block,
As you engage in daily walk;
For dirty hand cleans dirty hand,
As all do life in freedom’s land.

“Think back to Yongi Cho’s kind words
Which you and others one time heard –
A place to try to live (you’re free),
To strengths and weaknesses now see –

“Applied to each ‘Way’ in the world;
Away from endless global swirl
For now, at least; so press into
Your task at hand – your culture’s view.”

Lord, that is helpful – database
Of Scripture, prayer, and daily race
Of life – experience for each,
Gives us new ways – let’s Spirit teach.

So “Rights and freedoms” give the frame
Within which context we can tame
The demons of each culture’s blight,
As You, through us, old satan fight.

So what I hear is, “Watch the frame –
Ensure it lets all play the game
Of growing up in dojo space,
Against ourselves in human race.

“So Kingdom-layer’s where we can stand
To do the sorting task at hand;
And social context is the frame
Where we can live results of same.

“It says in Scripture, there’s no rule
Against the best of life, though, “Fool”
Is label used to those who do
Such acts of love from Jesus’ view.”

“Stu, that’s what “Kingdom-kiss” is for –
And open-ended view, so more
And more can enter, look around –
Gives room for Spirit’s work profound.

“All done as your own paper-trail,
Pulled from your efforts – where prevailed,
Or where you did not overcome
Some dojo-aspect; have some fun –

“As you engage yourself each day;
Pass on results as bits of play
Laid out as Spirit leads the way –
Say what the Spirit has you say.”

Lord, what of “Money”, “Power” and “Stuff”?
“Stu, you’ve got far beyond enough
To do this task, why each one has –
Dig in; do life; skip razzmatazz.

“For such is joyful way to fight
Old satan, as he twists the right;
Untwist it, set it back My way,
Then live results out day by day.

“See what transpires for you and wife –
Your family – there shed your light;
Then shuffle on to better space
If it’s too tight to run your race.”

Okay Lord, thanks for this.

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