I have observed tattoos for as long as I have seen tattoos.
I didn't think much of them for myself until this past week.  Having artwork done on me
became a thought just under a month ago and the need grew with our developing ministry.

Yesterday I sat for artwork and received two markings.  On my right wrist a cross in the likeness of the cross on my property,
and on the left wrist a fish that shares the same nuance of the cross.  The work was done by a tremendously gifted
artist at our home.  Speed is an artist much like I am.  We came to know Speed through our sister Mary.

As I have gotten to know Speed over the past days, a rare value of the relationship continues to manifest itself.
As I was once very jaded and cynical, so is speed today.  This jaded cynicism isn't morose negativity,
but rather more fuel in seeking truth many don't know.  Both of us know through experience that our own desires to be generous
have returned us loss of possession, finances and self respect.  We both know the reality of slow death.  We both have considered
contemplations of ending the pain.  We share a brotherhood.

Yesterday Tracy posted several pictures of the work in progress as well as the finished result.  As the comments and feedback came,
one individual remarked that God doesn't like it when we mark ourselves or cut ourselves.  There is law given in Leviticus
which speaks to marking of the skin.  It speaks to other actions that were not to be done from the same offering.  As it was said and written
being the covenant with Moses as the law giver it was also under the covenant of Abraham to the nation of Israel.

In as much as the criticism was partially right from the words of the old testament, the statement offered to the illustration of my art work is a
representation of abundant ignorance in the light of the new covenant Jesus left us concerning the Grace of God.  Although I don't know the individual that left the critique I pray that wisdom of God will be a blessing to her.  I would also pray that in that blessing the virtue of judgement would become clear.

Before I sat for the artwork Tracy and I visited friends that were having mechanical difficulty.  They are a young couple raising beautiful children and
struggling as so many of us are in lacking sufficient resources to overcome troubles of these days.  Needless to say the vehicle has been extended life for transportation.  Tim and Sarah were extremely grateful for the help and I was blessed in a provision to labor after specifically commanded by Jesus.
Works and deeds are the proof of great faith.

Both interactions inclusive of Speed and that of Tim and Sarah gave me even greater revelation from the Holy Spirit.  All involved know God in their own manner.  All have known the agony of rejection, failure and being beaten down in this life.  All are very skeptical of religion.  They clearly articulate
the hypocrisy within the religious communities so that they themselves choose to avoid any such involvement.

In my scripture study today.  Matthew 23 clearly and concisely explains the Gospel of Jesus concerning just how the hierarchy of the religious body
fails at promoting His spoken truth.  For reasons I'll never know The Father has interrupted my life.  For the past three years I have examined the dynamic of how men make the truth of God's moral guidelines their own little kingdom and in doing so deny the word of God's truth to so many that
would chose well if they were ever given the simple choice to make.

How is it that those who know of God and live with intentions of God's goodness by His morality haven't heard the simple Gospel of Christ?
In the past week I have served those which abhor religion.  This number of the same type of thinking people is impossible to imagine.

I have been prompted to do things that are completely in-congruent to my past.  This art work is just a part of that.  The underlying reason is a silent statement that offers a message to anyone that can see that God is on my flesh.  For those that have eyes to see, it will be abundantly clear that the work of God on my flesh came by an artist who has the Blessings of God on Him.  Speed can't believe this just yet, but in time he will have to make an informed decision about my claim.

Religion Free Ministry, which Tracy and I are laboring sees all as children of God.  It just so happens that in this inception of formation we all serve
each other as Jesus said to do.  Not one penny has been exchanged for the mechanical work or for the tatt work.  A form of barter from divine wisdom
in brotherly love is in operation just now.

Prosperity in God's wisdom concerns health of the spirit all of us possess.  The remedies needed for spiritual strength are being applied in God's loving grace.  We are all taking the burdens of our individual needs and sharing them for the benefit of God's instruction through serving each.  This answers the question of how so many know religion and hate it. When we align ourselves in Loving God we serve the first five spiritual commandments of God and we simultaneously serve the civil laws of the second five commandments in speaking and doing Jesus' commandment of loving others as we love ourselves.

My brother Speed was in a very dark place.  Through his creative abilities light is overcoming that darkness by the hope of Jesus' salvation.  
His handiwork in artistry cut God onto my flesh in an exquisitely fashioned permanence of walking on this earth. 
There will never be a day wishing the art work wasn't there.  It is work of mastery that will make other artists take note.

My brother and sister Tim and Sarah will move forward in loving their children curious of God's will for them and seek instruction for the responsibility
of that job.  All will come to know the gospel of Jesus not through the little religious kingdoms of man presuming God's authority or destiny, but they shall come to know the Gospel of Jesus by a Religion Free Ministry.  The only requirement of this ministry is actionable service of agape love for others
as Jesus commanded us to do.

I am convinced that the fullness of what man considers as prosperity is void of God's desire for spiritual prosperity.  I am even more certain that once
spiritual health prosperity is realized by all that are mentioned in this post from the truth of Gospel; no longer will the darkness of man's prosperity
be an issue.

What Speed or Tim and Sarah might conclude for later times in their lives is between them and the quest of truth.
What I am sure of is that for our interactions they may still hate religion, church and church goers, but at least they will know the truth
of brotherly love for living as Jesus meant it to be and grow.  Not because they heard it from a sermon, but because they participated in
blessings of God through the Christ Jesus.


MH Petry