Old Dog V

Back to: The Vulgar Prophet (Lesson 2)

Impedimenta (Lesson 3)

Bob Neumann, 7.17.2001

Lesson 3

Sometimes when things start you really have no idea where the PATH you walk will take you. This seems to be one of those. Many weeks ago an “old term” kept jumping in and was asking for time to sit and study. As usual the issue of original meaning/purpose verses modern vernacular and usage created a glaring rift in understanding.

Part of the importance i was “discerning” might have been based on an AWARENESS of “divine humor”. How THE MASTER enjoys using “terms/words” with multiple depths and meanings. For years i have listened to preachers /teachers talk about getting “nuggets” of GOLD out of their study of scripture. Most of these people talked about personal rhema…little revelations that we all need to help us in our WALK. Most people find these “nuggets” because they were there to be found. It all goes back to present reality. “OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD” is scripturally accurate. But if those 6 words become your Christian “mantra” it easily occurs that ABBA’S NATURE will be limited to us because of said “mantra”. It boxes ABBA in. AWESOME has limited meaning…but it is a nice “label” for those who do not want to operate with HIS OTHER ASPECTS…. OMNIPOTENCE … OMNISCIENCE… OMNIPRESENCE… HOLINESS…. ETERNAL …. and many others.

Being OMNISCIENT means ABBA knows all we will ever need throughout our lives/walk and places them where and when we need them. Being ETERNAL helps because HE has known since before the creation. Being OMNIPOTENT mean simply….ain’t nothin’ can prevent or stop HIM….except us. Our freewill….

That is where i am now. For several weeks i have wanted to share about “IMPEDIMENTA”.… a “term” i kept getting in my spirit….and THE MASTER used several times.

At the same time HE had spoken to me about as ARMY on the march and the IMAGE of “LIVING OFF THE LAND” was placed heavily upon me. In “christianese” many call it a “burden” when GOD hands us something that we “carry” or are told to “pray about”. In many ways this fits that mindset, but the last 3 days has taken it beyond the simple to profound.

Yesterday and last night i have been hearing a “song in my spirit” sang years ago by Sally Klein O’Connor. To me it is very intimate and personal. It speaks of the troubles and trials we face just growing and appearing insurmountable. Even using that big “4 dollar word” tells me and anyone who reads this how deeply this has affected me. Maybe because the “stuff” i have had to deal with the last few months has often seemed impossible for me to deal with. simply because it was. In the natural i could not/should not have made it through.

That is where the SONG comes in… whenever the walls are too high…the road too rough… the demons just too damn big and many i hear HIM SING….”COME UNTO ME FOR MY LOAD IS EASY….COME UNTO ME FOR MY BURDEN IS LIGHT….EVERY VALLEY YOU HAVE EVER WALKED THROUGH, I WAS RIGHT THERE BESIDE YOU…..I WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU”.

Yea, it’s “just” a song….and HE IS “JUST” A SAVIOUR…. i wonder what kind of “crap” HE sees me walking into next, and has gently been preparing me. I can’t help but wonder because i remember what HE HAS TAKEN me through ALREADY…..and everything really points forward….doesn’t it?

Yesterday i had one of those “selah” things. A VISION….where i do not see or hear MY MASTER address anything specific….but the PURE SMELL AND TASTE was a WONDER TO BEHOLD.

I was sitting on a rise of ground just over a path. The path was tree lined and had all kinds of bushes and stuff growing on either side. I sat with my alice pack at my side and a rifle in my arms. It looked like a perfect place for an ambush or a “hit”. So i sat and waited, just watching.

Shortly later i saw a woman casually walking, carrying a large “basket” on her head. She had some kind of simple tribal dress on and was barefoot. Her movement was not a staggered walk under he burden, but a rhythmic glide that shouted out to me. She was carrying her load without a thought about it. I watched her walk and within moments there were others with different “loads” all were carrying. All moved with their load, along the path. All in balance and with purpose.

Then i saw another woman, and she was carrying a “stick” across her shoulders and hanging on either end was a basket filled with stuff. Like the first woman she moved with her burden, but was dressed in “pajamas” and wore some type of sandal. And like before one became many and after awhile the path was empty and i waited. Everything balanced and with purpose…..

Suddenly the quiet forest setting began to fill with “noise” coming towards me….and i watched as a “third” woman came into view. But as she came towards me the whole image changed. Instead of a “dirt path” it was concrete. The trees became buildings and bushed were…well you get the idea.

I watched this “woman” come into view. She wore a tank top and some kind of slacks where the cuff is tight and about half way up her calves. On her feet she wore those 3-4 inch sandals that looked like they would fall off on every step. From her arms hung numerous shopping bags. Unlike the first two women where i just watched them walk by, i really tried to pay attention to this woman. She had one of those “do’s” firmly anchored in place, not one hair out of place. her sunglasses were like her clothes and sandals probably perfectly fashionable. she had plenty of makeup on so i would not even dare guess an age.

But unlike the first two who simply walked by, this one came to an abrupt halt…shopping bags swinging and purse dangling. I had to laugh as she dug a cell phone out of her hand bag and brought it too her face. What little “non-verbal” language i was picking up was intense. One hand firmly planted phone in ear and the other sat sealed to hip. As she began to tap her foot she slowly turned in a circle.

Two things i noticed…the shopping bags were definitely up scale…i saw a few names…and they were very light. And they got in her way as she moved. It was “obvious” she was not “getting” anywhere quickly and was not carrying much weight.

I guess it was at this point i noticed she was “POPPING GUM” as she appeared to be waiting on hold. My first thought was that “she was not happy” was emphasized when she dropped her “shopping bags on the ground and rummaged through her “handbag” with her free hand. I guess i was not surprised as she “lit” up and took a few quick drags. All this time i just shook my head and wondered. Instead of this woman walking and joining others “similarly burdened” the vision just ended with “her” standing, waiting……..

And that is where it ended….and the SONG BEGAN…..”COME UNTO ME……”

The only problem is the SONG is not complete……

Yes HIS yoke is easy….and indeed, HIS BURDEN is LIGHT….in comparison with my trying to “hump” all the crap and crud i have tried to carry over the years on my own…for my own reasons. What the SONG does not say is WHAT HE ALSO SAID in that scripture… “LEARN OF/FROM ME”. And i guess this is where we get to “impediments” and “living off the land”. We think of “impediment” as a “barrier” on our path.

The term comes from ancient Latin. Im….ped…. describes something that messes up your feet…footing. Impedimenta was the “baggage train” of the ROMAN LEGION. Their “long term” supplies. Engineering equipment. Siege weapons….etc… it also included the “auxiliary units” the LEGION NEEDED….forge and blacksmith, quartermaster, engineers, artillery, cavalry, archers and slingers, etc…. a full LEGION on the march held nearly 10,000 men and another 10,000 in their “baggage train”. The LEGION could march 15-20 miles a day….the carts and oxen 6-8. In 3 days time the LEGION could out travel their supply lines 30-40 miles. Back then that was a long distance…but it was maybe 5 days from your food rations.

And 10,000 men can not “live off the land”…..selah…. one man can and i have for several months…. but i had to bring “my baggage train” so i can “dig” in for a long stay….

One of the “images” of the SAINTS is THE ARMY OF GOD. All church types like and use it a lot. The only problem is their imagery is shallow and self-gratifying.

Is there a real “army” of GOD out there? Troops in ranks….moving “UNDER COMMAND” towards a set position where THE LORD OF HOSTS can make war on HIS ENEMIES?

Maybe it is because so few HEAR HIM say “COME TO ME….AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST”…. i have learned you need to rest and be ready to pick up HIS YOKE….and hump HIS PACK and accept HIS BURDEN…. and yes, HIS STUFF IS LIGHT AND EASY with HIM BEHIND YOU HELPING YOU…. but boy, how quick you can crash and burn when “you” decide to jump the track and go cross country. HE put the path down for us to travel with HIS STUFF….you know….HIS PATH…HIS STUFF…HIS ARMY…HIS BATTLE….HIS WAR….HIS PURPOSE….HIS KINGDOM and HIS GLORY FOREVER AND EVER.

AMEN

SELAH…..

And all we have to do is to “COME UNTO….”. maybe HIS WAY IS TOO EASY AND SIMPLE….

I still can’t figure…

old dog

Up Next: The Voice Crying (lesson 4)