Monthly Archives: October 2013

Commanded? Not really

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English: 4 days of Evangelism Training in Sout...

English: 4 days of Evangelism Training in Southern California provided by LivingWaters Ministry. Obeying the great commission of Jesus Christ. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone” Mark 16:15 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I will confess that, at first, it’s really difficult to summon the strength to speak publicly about Jesus.  But I will also confess that once you start it is impossible to stop.

He is so full of what is good, and the world around us is so full of what is evil.  To love him is to tell others.   It is not so much that we are commanded to go to all the world, but we find ourselves compelled to go to all the world.

What are you doing? It’s never too late.

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Freedom

Freedom (Photo credit: cheesy42)

You can only wear what we tell you.  If you dress differently you will be punished.

You can only say what is appropriate.  Inside those words is freedom.

We lay down the construct for social acceptance.  Those who live within it are free to live.  Those who do not live with in our social construct will find themselves persecuted, ridiculed, marginalized, and in the end, destroyed.

This is what the world says by all the things it expects from its citizens.  The great majority obey.  But there are a few who would rather die than submit.

I speak of those people who live under the construct of Eternity.  They recognize that the body is nothing.  It is as if the plastic wrap with which we keep our sandwiches.  It is like the cloud which brings the rain.  Once the rain has fallen, no one cares about the cloud.

Wake up and look about you.    Are you really free to live your life?   Or have you given them authority over everything you are?

To break free is extremely expensive.  No man can do it alone, for no man can afford it.  But when a man tries in the name of Christ Jesus he will find success.  You can be free to live.   You do not need to obey the world.

We Know We Know.

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If I say, “I know what is true”, you will ask, “Then why don’t you do it?”  What am I like?  I am like a man who needs to resupply his food.  He knows where the store is.  He has a car outside.  He knows full well how to start the car, drive the roads, park, and shop.  But he sits in his chair hungry and desiring.

 

The statement is true.  He knows how to get food and has the money and means to accomplish what he needs done.  But he chooses folly instead.  This is a truth about all men, isn’t it?  Folly attends our waking hours like some kind of black mold.

 

Your question is fully warranted.  But we must realize something here.  Asking “Then why don’t you do it?”, shows that you too know that it should be done.  We are all at fault for not doing what we KNOW needs done.

Unsure Studebaker Desiring Other Plans

Unsure Studebaker Desiring Other Plans (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

pitiful, ain’t it?

Dear Non-Believer (and other such creatures)

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Funny Chinese Child Playing Boy

Funny Chinese Child Playing Boy (Photo credit: epSos.de)

You approach like a child though you’re mature in your own eyes.  You wear skin just like me.  So, by this, I know your vulnerabilities.  Yet you act as if you’ll never hurt, fail or die.  We both know better, however.  You will, like me, do all three.

I speak of God and you turn your hating eyes toward me.  If I spoke of sin you’d embrace my words.  Doesn’t that tell you something about who you have become?  When you actually were a child such things did not inhabit the dark regions within you.  But you have embraced every lie as you grew up.

Well now you’ve encountered me.  And what should I respond to you?  I will laugh at the lies you think are so powerful.  I laugh because I know the One who is truth.  If I did not know Him I would have no support for my laughter.  But there lies a rub.  What good is it to laugh at you when you are in such helpless state?  Though I know you’re not likely to accept my words, I will explain (with earthly words) the beauty that is “serving the Lord”.

He is tender when we enter prayer.  His manner is humble and accepting.  He does not accept to allow us to remain full of lies.  But His teaching is incremental.  Where we find ourselves is addressed.  And suggestions are given to guide us away from sin.  His commands are life.  But He does not chide us for being foolish.  His words are filled with hope, therefore He is unlike any earthly teacher.

He is truth.  And if we admit our lies, He is faithful and just to forgive us our lies and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  We are allowed to enter into the presence of the Most High God through the effective cleaning of Jesus’ sacrifice.  I know you’ve heard those words before and they mean little to nothing to you.  I got that.  Let me try to put them in terms you can grasp.

The forgiveness we receive from Him is real.  One moment I’m feeling particularly filthy and worthless.  The next moment my soul feels happy and free.  And it’s not for just a moment.  It lasts all the day long.

If I trust Him I don’t need to lock my doors.  Not because He will restrain the thief, though that has been true often.  But because He causes me to cease desire for the things I would normally want to protect.  He causes me to desire the things you and I can’t see yet.   He teaches His people to live as if they are already present in heaven.  And according to the faith I can muster, that becomes the life I lead.

Lots of words my friend, lots of words.  The short of it is, Jesus is worthy of all our attention and devotion.  It’s up to you to respond.   Either you continue to hate Him or strive to learn to love Him.

By His Grace.

That Many! Really?

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This is a symbol intended to encompass polyamo...

This is a symbol intended to encompass polyamory, skepticism, and atheism. There are several symbols for atheists and many symbols for polyamory, but no other symbols for skepticism. Also, there are many different groups and symbols for the intersection of polyamory and spirituality/religion, but only one for poly atheists. Many atheists are also not skeptics and vice versa, so a symbol for all three was created for that niche group of polyamorous people who are both skeptics and atheists. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Atheists comprised an estimated 2.01% of the population.    US Population 316,668,567.    That’s 6365038.1967 who don’t believe there’s a God.  Likely?

 

Under times when there’s no threat to their life or livelihood, that’s a pretty fair number.  But add something into the social fabric where peace is seriously threatened and I’d bet that number would dissipate quickly.

The song

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Sheet music: "Beauiful Dreamer" by S...

Sheet music: “Beauiful Dreamer” by Stephen Foster (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One winter night in a tiny little country two men huddled near a fire at the kitchen table.  One was an accomplished musician skilled in various instruments.  The other was a poet, gifted with word craft.  He could speak beauty to anything.

Together they labored through the night and in the morning they celebrated what they had accomplished.  When the Sun had risen and warmed the little town,  the two men went out and performed their new song in the town centre.

The people came out to listen to the beauty of what has been created and were astonished.  Faces full of glee: they listened to the regal words.  These wonderous words described a people intent on the beautiful things.  And the music lifted them to heavenly appeal.

The people so loved the song that they ask the musicians to play it every morning.  They even drafted a law to pay these two men a salary.

Soon the little song had become  favored by all the people in the tiny country.  And the king announced that the song would now be the national anthem.

Every celebration the song was sung.  Every funeral, every wedding, every birth and every incident worthy of any note (no pun intended).

A day came when war was declared against the tiny country.  The neighboring King simply desired the land.  The tiny country’s  army fought valiantly.  And the national song was played on every Battlefront.

Alas they lost the war.  When the victorious King came in to take his new won land.  He gathered together all the magistrates.  His first order to them was that they bring these musicians before him.

When they arrived The Kings smiled at them.  ” I have heard your song on the battlefield and I myself have come to love it.’  The king ordered the musicians to play the song.

At the completion of the song the Kings face was awash with tears. To the amazement of all who were in attendance, the sobbing King ordered that all the citizens of the former country be killed.  “This song is far more worthy than the people who have loved it.  I now on this country, I now own this song!”

The moral of this story should be clear.  But looking around at humanity I can’t imagine how they would perceive it.  It is this:

Be careful what you create.  And be careful what you adore.   And if by chance you happen to create something beautiful and righteous, you would do well to live up to it.  Beautiful words and beautiful music do not make beautiful people.

By His Grace.