Monthly Archives: June 2014

It Matters Greatly

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When one stumbles openly he does not stumble alone.  A sin is done in the presence of many, ( small or great) and the great clamor arises.  A spiritual noise is heard.  A frothing of the water comes to be.  Many who were watching stumble also.  Our foolish example has caused the fall of many.

It is wise to watch ourselves for the sake of many.  Some believe it is their choice to obey or disobey.  In one sense they are correct.  But every unholy disobedience that is done in public is sure to cause many others to stumble.

One may say this is not new, this is well known.  If that is true then why do so many cause such an uproar?   Why is there such turmoil in the family of God?  Every man is not his own keeper.

Love does no injury to his neighbor.  Love considers his brother’s welfare as primary over his own.  Selfish behavior does not care.  Selfish behavior does not even consider.  And so it is necessary to speak of these things.

This is not an attack against anyone.  I mean only to waken understanding.  The age we live in is full to overflowing with wicked behavior.  Many Christians have adopted such teachings as their own; as they have received the teaching, so they do.

Consider those who once made the good confession.  (No names or actions are necessary here.)  You saw them stumble.  You felt the sorrow in your soul.  And if it did not cause you difficulty, you knew well, it did not land so softly on others.

The obvious admonition is to watch ourselves.  What we say matters.  Where people can find us matters.  What they see us doing matters.  What music we listen to matters.  What we let our eyes see matters.  As a man is, so he teaches.

Love of self

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Man does not have to love God.  You’re more than welcome to consume the things of this world that he has created for your benefit.  And no one can force you to thank him. 

You’re more than welcome to live your entire life without thinking about him and pondering eternity.  You can choose to live in the deepest of wicked behavior, or the greatest of social graces.  You are not forced to consider your life before his Holy eyes.

You don’t even have to think about your own death and what will happen after.  There is an eternity.  But you don’t have to ponder that.  It will come and take you when the time is right.

But if you hate him now, what will you do after this life?  Have you scoped out heaven and found yourself a place to live where God is not?  Perhaps you plan to purchase a piece of land on the edge of heaven, far away from his throne.  Have you thought that there may not be such a place?

For now you can ignore him.  You can thrive just fine with what he supplies, for he sends rain upon the just and the unjust.  But what will you do when the entirety of heaven and eternity contains the vibrant, glorious and radiant beauty of God?

Everyone you will meet will be singing beautiful songs about the God they love.  But you would hate them.  The song of selfishness you sing now is the song you want to hear.  But no one there will understand your words.  And the melody would be like a squeaking hinge or fingernails on a blackboard.

It’s okay, don’t worry.  God has reserved a place for those who hate him.  But the provision is made up of things you now despise.  No delicate banquet for you to attend.  No fine clothing to attract attention.  No loving family to support you in your folly.  No beautiful parties to attend.  No entertainment to distract you from your hours. And no possible hope of release.

You don’t have to love God now.  But that won’t change when you die.  If you don’t love him now you won’t love him then.

You can fill up your life with selfishness.  Its ok.  He has prepared a place for such as you.

Eyes in the Night

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I rose before dawn, as is the habit the Lord has taught me.  My little dog lingered with me while I dressed.  I asked her, “Do you wanna go out?”  Her excitement answered in a mute yell.  Down stairs we went.

Now, it’s not my habit to turn on the porch light when I let her out.  But darkness seemed really dark this morning.  And it’s not my habit to go out and stand on the porch when she ventures to the grass.  But I did both this morning.

We stood there in the silence of 4am.  But a soft “huff” broke the silence.  I thought it was a deer, sounding her alarm.  Then it came again.  “That’s not a deer.”  It was too short and lacked the same thrust of larger lungs.  As I listened, four glowing eyes came racing across the tiny road and were headed down the drive way right toward my little dog.

It was the fox!  And not just one, there were two!  With their razor-sharp teeth and trained violence of a hungry warrior, they intended to consume my dog.  She wouldn’t stand a chance.

Without a thought, I flew up my arms to out stretched position and gave a loud “huff” (somewhat like a growl).  I no longer saw the eyes.  They had turned faster than I could blink.  I heard that familiar scream they make.  Both of them screaming in fear as they turned like lightning and ran away.

No fear attended my dog.  Only a slight startle at their screaming retreat.  She came up to me and just sat waiting to go back in.  She was done.

No fear attended my mind or heart.  The Lord had given me immediate wisdom, strength and peace.  He had waken me for this display.  He had wakened my dog’s desire to go out.  She doesn’t always want to go with me on those early morning excursions.

He had brought us to the place of confrontation.  The foxes were ready and hungry enough to challenge the presence of a man.  My little dog was ignorant of their bloody intent, enough to remain still.  He caused me to know exactly what to do and at what moment to do it.  Then He dressed me with understanding as I peacefully sat to consume my first cup of coffee.

There is a hungry bunch of foxes who prowl throughout the world.  As He has protected me and my dog this morning, He protects all His children all night and day long.  HE  IS FAITHFUL.

Praise came from me as understanding came from Him.  Fearlessness is the outcome of such teachings.  But it is not the fearlessness of a warrior.  It is that lack of fear a child has when daddy is walking with him.

Praise God for Jesus, His Righteous Christ!  Let all creation praise the One who has overcome.  God alone is good and true.  His Holy Living Word is fully dependable, true, faultless in righteousness, full of mercy and love.  The Living Word is the very meaning of “Grace”.  May His Holy will be done forever.  Amen!

The Ship of Humanity

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I am the only man who knows what has made me.  It has taken a lifetime to write the book I have become.  And it will take the perfection of eternity to read it.  This is so for every man woman and child. 

I have been wickedness.  I have endured wickedness.  I have taught wickedness.  And with all this I have brought great destruction in my years.

Before I was saved I tasted some good things.  Some good things were done for me.  Some good things I did for others.  The difference between right and wrong was shown to me very clearly.  The perspective I hold was taught by unique variety of wickedness and truth.  Thus I have become a distinctly unique creature.

Regardless my head long plunge to death God has raised me up.  As he used Pharaoh to refine his children, so God uses the wickedness of men.  (If you do not know the story of Pharaoh you will find it in the account of Moses)

Many men believe that their wickedness belongs exclusively to them.  They think it is protection and gain.  They think they stumble about, wreaking havoc as they please.  But God steers the great ship of humanity.

Every man has become what he is.  Through a variety of sources he is made to be.  It is when he is awakened by the holiness of God, that who he has become becomes useful. 

The hardness of Pharaoh’s heart grew from childhood.  There is no possible way he could know he was being used; or, if you will, set up.  Moses was sent to instruct him in the sovereignty of God.  And only God knows if Pharaoh finally understood before his death.

You, my friend, can be used by God.  He does not need what you have become.  But he can certainly put it to perfectly good use.

Perhaps you have been a gentle man.  God can use that.  Perhaps you have been a warrior against society.  God can use your rebellion.  Perhaps you have been one to fully involved yourself in the things of men, for the sake of perceived good for all.  God can use that.  Perhaps you have loved wickedness and inspired others to do the same.  You understand the ways of this wicked world.  God can use that. 

God is in control.  Regardless the chaos of men, God is saving souls.  Why not let him save yours?  You certainly need him.  And he can certainly put you to good use.

Surprise!

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Men plot in their heart and in their mind they devise means of gain.  They believe such things are hidden.  They think they can do these things in secret. 

They whisper together in inner rooms.  They carefully lay out the plan.  ” We will keep this to ourselves.  When it has come to fruit then all will know.  But it will be too late for them, and we will gain.”

Thus men conspire against the people and the Lord.  The people are caught unaware.  But the Lord has seen from its inception.

“Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:24)

Do not be deceived all men will answer to God.  The wise consider these things with trembling heart.  The violent greedy give it no thought at all.

CS Lewis has said that in the way of salvation, on the day when all things are revealed, there will be surprises.  He was speaking of who will be saved and who will not.  But there will be stark surprises for many who thought their sins were hidden.   The sad thing is, those who plot in secret will never read this post.

Eating Worms

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“The early bird gets the worm.”

Perhaps you have heard this saying.  If you have, it is likely your mother who has told you this.  She was trying to get you to take responsibility.

But as I watched the Robins this morning, I took note that they began to sing long before there was full light.  Just how early do they need to be to get the worm?

Is it that the Robins are the ones to search for worms while the other birds search for bugs or seeds?  In this case the saying is another name for Robins and their kind.  So much for a process of productivity.

My mother could just as easily have told me to become a Robin.  Though I do not give praise to myself in that I might have understood.

What strikes me more about the saying is that we use the vagaries to inspire one another.  By the nature of man’s limit we reach for things that are untrue to teach what is true.  It is not this way in heaven.

Here we must teach a child or an immature adult by using stories and half truths.  They are not capable of consuming the fullness of truth.  And even those who teach in the ways of the world are not fit to teach the fullness of truth.

I am simply struck by the vast chasm of difference between the ways of Man and the ways of God.