This sonnet is a perfect postscript to Trinity Sun(satur)day. It is written by poet, priest, and rocker Malcolm Guite. My favorite line is, “to sing the End in whom we all begin” In this poem, Malcolm ties the creation story with the story of the Trinity. (Just little like John’s Gospel.)

In the Beginning, not in time or space,
But in the quick before both space and time,
In Life, in Love, in co-inherent Grace,
In three in one and one in three, in rhyme,
In music, in the whole creation story,
In His own image, His imagination,
The Triune Poet makes us for His glory,
And makes us each the other’s inspiration.
He calls us out of darkness, chaos, chance,
To improvise a music of our own,
To sing the chord that calls us to the dance,
Three notes resounding from a single tone,
To sing the End in whom we all begin;
Our God beyond, beside us, and within.

This week we roll full steam into the long green season of Ordinary Time. having spent these last months telling the Story of Jesus, in the months to come we tell the Story of God’s People. Of course, it is the story that goes hand in hand with the story of Jesus. Happy ordinary time!

Philip’s request is bigger than he realizes when he asks Jesus to “show us the Father.” He doesn’t know that his question, and Jesus’ response, is a signpost pointing toward the Trinity. Similarly, John, recording Jesus’ response, is laying the groundwork for how all Christianity will understand God.

Jesus’ simply says, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” - John 14:9

The center of all that is, is God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And God is love.

Robert Jenson’s little quote below, is a brief and helpful summary about the life of the Trinity and our encounter with God.

The whole doctrine of the Trinity can be explained by simply remarking that Christians pray to the Father, with the Son, in the Spirit, and are convinced that by so doing they are properly caught up in the story that God lives with his people. - A Theology In Outline

The Trinity is not an explanation. It is the gift of prayer.

"Like a cow at a new gate" is an idiom that describes someone who is confused, hesitant, or unsure about a new or unfamiliar situation. It evokes the image of a cow standing before a gate that has been moved, unsure of how to proceed.

The Wheatland Mission has never been accused of being Pentecostal. Nevertheless, we are empowered, encouraged, and guided by the Holy Spirit. In the same way that the Holy Spirit was sent to the disciples gathered in Jerusalem, so the Spirit of God, is sent into our lives, our hearts, to pray through and for us.

Jesus invites us to call God Father, and the Holy Spirit, prays to the Father on our behalf.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. – Rom 8:14-17

When our words, and our voice, fail us God’s Spirit speaks on our behalf.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. – Rom 8:26-27

For some reason, the links often don’t work in the email. Please go to our Substack to get the rest of the stories! I’m giving the entire URL in case the link doesn’t work! — https://wheatlandmission.substack.com

Bishop Todd Hunter is a regular here because his brief articles pack a punch. This one is no different. It is a great discussion on the Holy Spirit, perfect for Pentecost weekend. — Receive The Person

Jesus is a man. (And by man, I mean a human male.) Yet, God is beyond gender. The Holy Spirit’s pronouns are “he” most of the time, and “she” the rest. — In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit- Mother of us all

The Wheatland Mission is a supporter of The Treehouse, a ministry that serves moms and babies in need. Not only do we support them financially, but we also have board members and former employees as a part of our church. (Tamara, Hayley, and Amie.) This is hot off the metaphorical press! — What’s Your Ministry? Supporting Moms, Strengthening Communities

Evagrius said, “He who pray is a theologian and a theologian is one who truly prays.” He was on to something we need to retrieve. — A Liturgy for the Study of God

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Darjeeling Limited, Royal Tennebaums, The Life Aquatic, and Grand Budapest Hotel. Wes Anderson is one of the funniest, oddest, and most heart-felt movie makers of our today. One critic thinks his newest movie, The Phoenician Scheme, is a modern version of The Hound of Heaven. — The God of Wes Anderson

Some things should be made by hand, slowly, even laboriously. It deserves that kind of attention. Here’s a story of how “big wafer” ran some sisters out of the communion bread making business. — How Nuns Got Squeezed Out of the Communion Wafer Business

Yes, it is a Christmas song. But, it is also a Holy Spirit (pneuma = breath) song. Enjoy!

Some of you remember the “Satanic panic” of the 1980s. Mike Cosper, who created the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast, has a newer one that explores that event. In truth, the podcast ranges wide and far around a lot of events from those days that contributed to an odd time in American Christian History. It’s fascinating, and not for the faint of heart. — The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Jesus Christ has created a church. His community is also known as his “body” because he is present in and through it. Therefore, the unity of his church depends more upon the one who creates it than the human members of it. In Christ, all of our relationships are mediated by him. Relationships are no longer person-to-person, but person-to-Christ-to-person. Therefore, we need not work hard at making someone into someone they are not, because Jesus is already on that job, transforming them and, more importantly, us.

While leading his underground seminary in the years leading up to World War II, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote his little book, Life Together. He explores the true nature of the church and Christian community. (This book was published in 1939, so take all the “hes” and translate them to “theys.”)

Because Christ stands between me and others, I dare not desire direct fellowship with them. As only Christ can speak to me in such a way that I may be saved, so others, too, can be saved only by Christ himself. This means that I must release the other person from every attempt of mine to regulate, coerce, and dominate him with my love. The other person needs to retain his independence of me; to be loved for what he is, as one for whom Christ became man, died, and rose again, for whom Christ bought forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Because Christ has long since acted decisively for my brother, before I could begin to act, I must leave him his freedom to be Christs; I must meet him only as the person that he already is in Christ’s eyes. This is the meaning of the proposition that we can meet others only through the mediation of Christ. Human love constructs its own image of the other person, of what he is and what he should become. It aks the life of the other person into its own hands. Spiritual love recognizes the true image of the other person which he has received from Jesus Christ; the image that Jesus Christ himself embodied and would stamp on all men.

It’s not about how Jesus escaped this mortal coil, but about how much more present he is to his people and the world, through his body, the Church. — Jesus Is No Escape Artist

N.T. Wright, as always, masterfully describes what Christians mean when we talk about the Ascension of Jesus.

From Calvinists to Charismatics, Lore Wilbert is grateful. This little article highlights the spiritual journey of a lifetime. Gratitude for every “wrong” move and every “right” one. If you’re not familiar with Lore’s work, you should be. — Thankful For All The Places That Brought Me Here

One teacher is begging for help keeping his kids off of the “electronic brain cocaine.” — My School Banned Phones For One Year. Here’s What Happened.

The newly retired Bishop Todd Hunter gets practical about the hate we hold in our hearts. We all know it’s wrong, but how can we begin to de-cultivate hatred? — Five Ways to Eradicate Hate: Let’s Make Room For Love

Geoff Holsclaw and Nijay Gupta examine the contours of Paul the Apostle’s theology, his emphasis on the love of God, and what it could mean for healthy spiritual attachments. — Anchored in Love: The Center of the Apostle Paul's Theology (with Dr. Nijay Gupta)

Go to Geoff’s site, Embodied Faith, and explore more about the psychology and theology of love and attachment.

You can follow Nijay on his podcast at Slow Faith.

This is a late addition to the discussion, but I’m on team gorilla. Don’t forget the psychological warfare. BTW, the “Dude” was a silverback gorilla.

… from one Silverback Gorilla vs. 100 men to …

It was initially promoted as 1 Christian vs. 20 Atheists. Jordan Peterson, who doesn’t claim to be a Christian, argues with several young atheists. The original video is, at times, aggravating and confusing. But, Russel Moore gives Peterson more credit. Maybe he’s on to something? Here’s the original — Jordan Peterson vs. 20 Atheists on Jubilee

Here are Russel Moore’s comments at Christianity Today. — Jordan Peterson’s Pause

“There is no God behind the back of Jesus…God is not one thing in Christ, and another thing in Himself. He has not shown us one face in Jesus Christ but kept his real face hidden from us behind the inscrutability of His unknowableness.”

~ T.F. Torrance in The Christian Doctrine of God

Have you seen the pictures of Jesus’ feet hanging down from the ceiling? Or maybe a painting, and his feet are sticking out of the clouds? Without thinking about it, one might get the impression that Jesus is saying, “I am outta here!” or, “see ya, wouldn’t want to be ya!” or (for those of an earlier generation) “Eat my dust!”

Jesus is no escape artist. His Ascension is not a convenient way of escaping this plane of existence. It represents his exaltation as King, but what’s more, the Ascension is a promise. A promise of Christ’s presence among his people. Here’s a glimpse from Luke 24:44-52,

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

“Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” He builds anticipation into his disciples, bewildered as they were, that he’s coming back. As Jesus leaves, he doubles down on an earlier promise. From John 14:16-20,

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Nope. Jesus doesn’t escape by his Ascension. He’s not washing his hands of the world that rejected him. The Ascension is not about Jesus leaving the world; it is about Jesus thoroughly entering the world, through His body, empowered by His Holy Spirit. On Ascension Day, we do not celebrate Jesus’ escape but Jesus’ arrival by the Spirit.

The Bible and the book of Revelation are worlds unto themselves. Filled with interactions and relationships, with dialogue and argument. Rather than trying to apply Scripture to our “world,” we do well to recognize that our “world” is wrapped up in the world that is Scripture.

Revelation is strange and often scary. It is often taught as a handbook on how to escape this world with all its brokenness and failure. But it is quite the opposite. Instead, it teaches us something much more hopeful. (St.) Eugene Peterson says,

There is not so much as a hint of escapism in St. John’s heaven. This is not a long (eternal) weekend away from the responsibilities of employment and citizenship, but the intensification and healing of them.

We enter heaven not by escaping what we don’t like, but by the sanctification of the place in which God has placed us.

Temple, light, nation, and tree: In the midst of Revelation’s excess of images and metaphors, a picture emerges of how God is at work in our world, in the present, in our hearts, and in the world.

Some of the ideas around the Temple can be found in this Bible Project Video.

In recent years, Michael John Cusick has been a speaker at the Apprentice Conference. This is his website and podcast where he interviews folks we are familiar with like James Bryan Smith, Dan Allender, Brad Jersak, and even Philip Yancey.

He covers subjects such as trauma, attachment, mindfulness, marriage, and a variety of tools for spiritual growth. Dig in and grow! — Restoring the Soul Podcast

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Also, if you go to episode 312, you’ll hear a shoutout given to Wheatland’s own Matt Johnson.

… and AI is actually funny. Not sure if I say, “they or it?”

There are many charts similar to this one. We are blessed with an abundance of good translations (and some less than good). Read widely, compare, and consider what God says to us through Scripture.

This chart is from Wes Huff. Check him out here on social media or at his website:Wes Huff. (He has appeared on a lot of podcasts and other media. He was one of Joe Rogan’s better guests.)

A.J. Swoboda reflects on the life of Moses providing a fresh definition of hypocrisy. “… hypocrisy is when a person refuses to be integrated and adopts a deceptive pathway.” This Christian life is learning from mistakes, growing in the grace of God. — Being Teachable Through Mistakes

I’m happy to announce that they are back and real as ever.

A scholar familiar with the history of Gnosticism debunks the idea of Lost Gospels of Jesus that have been repressed. Not too academic, and in one place oddly graphic, it’s a clear-headed and informative bit of biblical research. — The Myth of the Lost Gospels

We all love the outdoors. And, the outdoors loves us back. Sometimes, too much. — Watch Your Step

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We all say it. “Christ is risen from the dead!” Plain-spoken, straightforward, and still unbelievable. We can attempt science-like descriptions of Jesus’ resurrection, which are all well and good and needed. But poetry, art, and the imagination are the best tools to apprehend something so amazing. Words will eventually fail us, but words, pictures, and music are what we have, and what is true in them makes them beautiful.

The poet Malcolm Guite has a series of poems on the resurrection. In this one, he reminds us that Jesus was once mistaken for the gardener.

Here is the original. John’s account is poetry too, more than mere words on the page.

11 Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. 13 The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” 14 As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus.

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!