Category: Updates

Only 1800kms to go

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by Martin Scott
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We are en route – honestly we are. Just took a very important detour:

‘Home’ to Freiburg

The detour is simply to spend 2 days with Yannick, Jenny, Pheline, Samuel. A family we have known over the last decade or so. Honest, earthy, pray-ee type people. Why detour – to be with them, but also following the incident with Paul where he was ‘dragged out of the city… he got up and went back into the city’ we are absolutely standing with them for that. One more day here in an open city – and open of course to all kinds of spirituality. A creative, innovative city, alive with and for young people.

And a great piece of advice on the side of the kiosk: ‘pray… love… eat… sleep… repeat’. Wow – we can all do that and wherever we live would be healthier for it.

Another day here and then through Switzerland and into Italy, stopping one night (somewhere) and then on the following day to the old border between ‘the papal states’ and ‘the kingdom of the two Sicilies’. On the west side that border ran roughly half way between Rome and Napoli. The kingdom of the two Sicilies had two centres – Napoli and Palermo and was very active during the Bourbon reign – the royal line from Aragon in Spain. A few weeks ago we had a call with Jenny and Yannick (where we are currently staying) who both contributed that when we crossed a border there was to be a meeting with angels… we sensed immediately this was not a current border (France / Italy for example) but an ancient border. Research and up comes this ancient border. In Scripture angels are encountered at borders (see the travels of Jacob in and out of his land. Who knows what that will look like, but if there is a contribution that heavenly servants of God are to make to these two ‘close to clueless’ earthly travellers we are up for that.

Anyway that is 2 days away… and I must quickly get a shower as the next few days showers might not be accessed on a daily basis!!!

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An adventure

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by Martin Scott
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Gayle and I are deeply privileged, we have a roof over our head, food on the table, health to explore… and… and… I write that because we are set on an adventure and are beginning to plan. In November we plan to jump in our van and drive to a place where we have no connections and have never visited but plan to spend some months (six?) there. I hope this post will fill in some of the background without being (too) boring in the process!

Cutting to the chase we are looking at arriving in Sicily early November.

We came to Spain with the overall invite to play some small part in uncovering the Pauline Gospel – neither of us are smart enough to know what that might be but hope as we play our small part something will be uncovered. The Pauline Gospel is of course deeply political, as the vision is of a new creation becoming visible (and I do think that at least merits a tattoo so wonder what that should look like, I digress!). The vision was so enthralling that even certain geezers who would not benefit from the fulfilment were significantly on board (look up Asiarchs).

In May this year we were invited to Malta and loved spending time with Adrian and Pauline Hawkes who had invited us there. We read Acts 28 numerous times as obviously Paul had been shipwrecked there and a little encounter with a snake, as well as significant healings – all on his way to Rome, where he of course had nothing to give account for, but a certain Caesar most certainly did (Caesar is ‘lord’… Paul did not think so!). Amazingly we read that on his way to Rome he moved from Malta (in an interesting boat, which is the same boat the ekklesia of today has to travel in) to Sicily (Syracuse).

Coincidentally we live in Oliva on ‘Calle Isla de Sicilia’ (Sicily Street – not sesame street!). We have often wondered if it meant anything.

In April – big month as Gayle increased her number of years on the planet, thus narrowing the gap between us – we were involved in rolling up an ancient map where Spain and Portugal were the head and within hours there was a total blackout across the Iberian peninsula. On that map we note that Sicily was the orb in the hand of the Queen of Europe – the orb, the symbol of the globe – with the cross over the top indicating subject to Christendom. So that has bugged us since that time.

Anyway in our small minds it has led us to focus on Sicily for a few months and give rise to the conviction that we need to get on our skateboards and get over there. It is unlikely we can do much if we do not stay for a number of months.

Much more to say – some of which might be made up in our heads (how can something so small make up so much?). And I guess as it develops over the next 7 weeks and then unfolds I will write it up here on this site. At a practical level our apartment in Oliva will be empty and if you – or a connection – might think they could use our apartment here that could help us somewhat with regard to rent we will pay in Sicily.

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Two links: Kenarchy Journal and a podcast

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A couple of links today… A short while back the Biblical (Old Testament) scholar Walter Brueggemann passed away. He could not be classified into a narrow box – not surprising as he never allowed the Bible to be classified into our personal small box. A while back (2017 I think) Pete Enns interviewed him. Here is the link to the podcast:

Episode 301: Walter Brueggemann – Resurrecting the Bible in the Mainline Church (REISSUE)

Second link is to the current recently published Kenarchy Journal (Volume 7: Perfecting Love):

https://kenarchy.org/perfecting-love/

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The clock never lies

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In Europe this past weekend the clocks were advanced an hour… personally I like the artificial time with lighter evenings ahead, and in Spain we are actually 2 hours ahead of solar time due to small aspect of Spain being aligned to a certain dictator in Germany’s past! Not a good reason but the outcome sits well with me!

For the past 2 years I have been seeking to understand the relationship of the clock that never lies, tick tock, what we can call chronological time, and the timings of heaven when there is an inbreaking – what we might term ‘kairotic’ time (made up word). Time and space are related both scientifically and also biblically, so I am aware that those two elements – boundaries and time – will always be under threat. And right now they are seriously being threatened at a global scale. Compounded by voices that call for a return to ‘Christian’ values, so often meaning back to christendom, rather than a return to Christ. We do not need nor desire a return to Christianity but a return to Jesus, with many of needing a new birth experience in order to perceive the kingdom.

We see issues of timing in the encounter at the wedding (John 2) with Jesus seemingly needing to adjust his view about it being his hour; we have the classic regarding the Isacchar clan who understood the times (kairos in the LXX) and what Israel should do; we read that Jesus came in the fullness of time…

Without some kind of shift and alignment of the clock / calendar to heaven’s agenda we are into a protracted season of conflict and darkness. We might be headed there anyway, but if there can be an alignment we will get through this time. All goes to say I plan to put out a video in the next days that might take this further – and with all the wisdom I have(!!!!) what more do we need? (Please no answers to that as I am only too aware that my middle name is not ‘wisdom’… but if we all have a little bit of sight we might just see a little more than we did yesterday – maybe).

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‘Open’ Zoom Date

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by Martin Scott
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I have set the next Open Zoom date for Tuesday, February 4th, 19:30 UK Time and the focus will be on the direction of movement in eschatology. The centre being from heaven to earth and the goal being the restoration of all things (‘ta panta’, the ‘all things’ of creation).

If attending please either read the pdf that I have written or watch the video that I have recorded. (The pdf is in greater detail and includes a critique of the ‘secret rapture’ / Dispensationalism.) Please read / view one or other…or for the keenies both! Here are the respective links:

Eschatology_directionDownload

Love how the video captures me looking speechless – must have been something so clever I said that it blew me away?

If planning on attending the link for the Zoom meeting can be found here:

Open Zoom Feb. 4th

I hope we can focus at some level on what would be the practical application to life if we held to an expectation of ‘God/Jesus arriving’ rather than ‘we departing’.

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Podcasts… Joseph Steinberg

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by Martin Scott
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My mate, Martin Purnell, hosts ‘Off Grid Christianity’ podcasts interviewing all sorts of interesting people (including the very famous Noel Richards… but includes me in so that Mr. Noel stays within boundaries!)… He recently did two interviews with Joseph Steinberg. Joseph is the CEO of International Mission to Jewish People and grew up in a Reformed American Jewish family who were opposed to any thought of belief in Jesus. Part 1 gives a wonderful insight into his family background and his amazing conversion… part 2 is on his understanding of the land the people and the current Middle Eastern conflict.

Theologically (he said he was a Calvinist!) and on issues of the land I would go a different direction, BUT his passion for Jesus and the centrality of Jesus means these two podcasts compelling listening. Easy to listen to and very inspiring.

Off Grid Christianity – Episode 78 (Part One) – Joseph Steinberg
Off Grid Christianity – Episode 79 (Part Two) – Joseph Steinberg
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A reminder… Zoom tonight

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by Martin Scott
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There is an open zoom – all welcome. It is the second Zoom on eschatology, with a focus on Matthew 24 (Luke 21; Mark 13 parallels). It will be helpful if you plan on coming if you have either read a pdf that I wrote covering this chapter with also Paul’s cryptic comment on ‘the man of lawlessness’:

The pdf is here:

The Second Horizon

or watch a video (interview):

The Zoom link is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5728039267?pwd=NEozVVM0Z1NJSDFKKzNwdG9KUDc5dz09

ID: 572 803 9267
Passcode: 5GkMTA

And the time is 7:30 UK time.

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At last!!

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I have today completed and uploaded the next pdf on Eschatology. It focuses on the ‘second horizon’, the fall and destruction of the city of Jerusalem and Temple in AD70. I do not believe there is any justification in trying to make the words of Jesus in Matt. 24 / Mark 13 / Luke 21 fit in to some future time (as related to us) but that he spoke to the future of the disciples who were hearing his words, and he makes this clear with all the signs he gave would be fulfilled in the generation alive at the time. I end with Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians on ‘the man of lawlessness’ with the suggestion that the time frame he is looking to is the same one that Jesus gave. The first horizon was deeply unexpected as it was initiated by the death of Messiah. They could not imagine that could take place; the second horizon was to occur over the 40 years following.

Click to download / read (pdf format).

Eschatology: The Second Horizon.

I plan next week to record a YouTube video to accompany the pdf. The video will be simpler with a more of an overview, the pdf digs deeper.

If you wish to find other pdf’s and the one that precedes this volume go to:

Extended Articles

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A Christmas Podcast

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by Martin Scott
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Of course you are interested in this ‘Off Grid Christianity’ Christmas podcast, Noel Richards and I (never know when it is a ‘me’ or an ‘I’) with Martin Purnell as host. A bit of fun but also a little bit in there about the Imperial world that Jesus entered… Here is the blurb from the site:

Another year over! Martin and Noel re-join me for this special festive podcast with yet another quiz before we tackle some questions that might tax your brain cells! So please sit back, enjoy and listen to some laughter along with some silly facts plus serious statements in which to ponder. If you’re feeling lonely over this Christmas period, you are not forgotten and we trust that this episode will make you feel part of the conversation.

Off Grid Christianity – Episode 67 – Christmas Special 2023 with Noel Richards and Martin Scott
https://www.accessradio.biz/podcast/off-grid-christianity-episode-67-christmas-special-2023-with-noel-richards-and-martin-scott/
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Want to journey on a zoom?

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by Martin Scott
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A long term project!!! I am beginning a set of videos / articles that will be on eschatology.

I plan (and what can go wrong / get delayed / discovered I have bitten off more than I can chew??????) to put together material on Eschatology. The material will be two fold:

Short videos and a more detailed pdf. I have made four videos that serve as an introduction. Two are already uploaded… hopefully the second set of 2 will go up early next week. These are introductory as I am convinced that unless we have some basis on which to grapple with the ancient literature that we call the Bible (it was not written to us but for us) we might just make 2+2 = 666!!! Hence these 4 are basic but foundational – the final one will be to expand on how the ‘one horizon’ of Jewish future is split into ‘multiple horizons’. (I made a series of podcasts some 14 years ago – so I thought it was time to update.)

The videos and the pdf’s will be one element, then the second part will be a Zoom meeting. I think the Zoom evening will consist of 15 – 20 minutes input, then discussion, feedback. Before the evening either a viewing of the four videos should be done and / or reading the pdf.

The first two videos are here (the following 2 will be up by early next week):

And the pdf is here:

Eschatology: Introduction.pdf

I am setting two dates – they will be repeats so it is not necessary to attend both evenings:

Tuesday September 12th 19:30 UK time

Tuesday October 10th 19:30 UK time.

And I will also be doing Zooms on Book 4 ‘The LifeLine’:

The first one will likely be Oct. 11th. Let me know if you wish to join – either you have done previous volumes with me; or if you want to join I can give you a summary of the first three. Please email me if you wish to join so as I can add you to that mailing list.

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