Warm Up

Off the beaten track.

Off the path of the beating.

Off the common path.

Off the established path, to the path of the establishing.

For I am making my own way.

Chart a course upon the uncharted territory.

Venture forth into the fields of harvest.

For I have given you a new means of transportation.

For what was once so manual shall now become automatic.

For that which once required so much effort shall now be automatic.

For I am pulling you forward.

For I am moving you forward.

You will find yourself moving without effort.

For I am giving you a chariot of fire.

For it roars beneath your feet.

For it snorts flames of fire.

For it terrifies your enemy.

For it rises up beneath you. It rears up in great enthusiasm and power, with expectation of the victory to come.

It pulls you forward.

For this is no ordinary means of transport.

For this is not a familiar thing, yet so familiar to you.

Yet there you sit upon the stage.

Flames of my fire all around.

And then you hear the words “Whose side are you on?!”

And find yourself on my side, leading the charge.

For my army awaits your command to say “charge!”

And as far as your eye can see behind you and all around chariots of fire.

Straining to hear your word.

Take this land.

For you shall take this land that I am giving you.

Advance into the cold place, the uninhabitable place, the place lacking my warmth.

And it shall break out before you on the right and the left.

Fields of my fire.

For the harvest is plentiful but the harvesters are few.

Advance and light my fire.

For there shall be fireworks, works of great fire.

And it pours out across the land.

Like a match struck upon the driest kindling.

Release my fire.

For this is my version of a warm up.

Deuteronomy 20:1-4

WHEN YOU go forth to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

And when you come near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the men,

And shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies. Let not your [minds and] hearts faint; fear not, and do not tremble or be terrified [and in dread] because of them.

For the Lord your God is He Who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you.

2 Kings 6:16-17

[Elisha] answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them.

Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.