Monthly Archives: November 2014

Be a Willing Disappointment

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The letter to the Hebrews, in the New Testament, tells us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.  Because of the context, we often associate that great crowd with humanity.

Though it is true that no man lives in complete isolation from his brother, it is also true that the great cloud of witnesses comprises far more than the men who live on this planet.

There will be testimony in eternity for what we have done.  The Angels witness our actions.  The Trinity is personally witness to every single detail.  And let us not forget the enemy.  Even the demons notice.

Doing what is right is often a severe irritation to humanity.  But those we irritate here, are considerably few, in comparison to those who will witness the totality of our life.

Let us therefore consider the majority.  If we need a provocation to do what is right, let us live a life of innocent irritation.  When they cuss and yell and scream and squirm, let us not understand the reason why.  Let us set our focus on the majority of witnesses.

And if you need further provocation to do what is right, let us mention the one who has irritated us. 

As we love doing what is right, we are not tempted to do what is wrong.  And if we cannot be tempted or averted from our love, we may be sure we are irritating the one who has irritated us.  Fine, let us be a willing disappointment!

By His Grace

God Born Habits Rescue From Dereliction

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I was just thinking of the things that the Lord Jesus has taught me over the years.  Above all other lessons, the lesson of creating habits has been the most useful.

He has caused me to make a habit of doing the things that don’t normally need to be done.  So that when they do need to be done, they are just a natural extension of my normal day. 

By this he has also taught me to notice when things are not right.  If I go about my tasks in a habitual manner I notice when a piece of it is missing.

By this he has taught me to be a somewhat righteous worker.  I mean, the habits he has taught me to employ, are the habits I am told I must use by those who pay my wage.  I make less mistakes.  I don’t cut corners.  And by the habits, I generally make a good use of time.

You may think that man can learn this by himself.  Perhaps.  But that is not the general rule is it?  And why would anyone think that?  Are they trying to avoid a relationship with the living God?  Likely.

There is so much more to say about how the Lord Jesus has rescued me from folly and the insanity of dereliction.  But if a man will approach him, and ask to be taught the things that matter.  The Lord will show him these things.

If you too could have these, why would you not ask him?

By His Grace

Divorce

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“It’s too hard to stay here.”   So says the one who thinks divorce is an option.  They think the pain of abuse is too much.  They think the lure of lust is worth travail.

My friend, you have no idea what waits for you in the night.  You know nothing about the pain you will feel when you look at your children’s faces.  You have no idea how painful it will be to remember your former spouse.  You have no idea what you are throwing away.

The joy of one year will fade with explosive quickness.  You will never be a part of the next family you try to join.  You will always belong where you were!

But you will not listen to my words.  Though they are the words of one who knows, you will not hear them.  You have already made up your mind in some fantasy you embraced.

And if you are foolish enough you will continue to embrace this fantasy, regardless the regret your heart gives you, you will be faced with a severe choice.  Your heart is cold and callous now.  Foolishness will turn it to stone.

You will not love with open heart.  You will love by ritual and habit.  You are cutting yourself deeply and the scar will never leave.

You married for the wrong reasons.  You think your ignorance gives you license.  What you are purchasing is a license to death. 

You should stay and learn.  You should clear the rubble and work to build a strong foundation.  Once you have made the step, you cannot go back.  And you will soon desire to go back.

The warning has been made, what would you do?

By His Grace

Inexpensive Poverty

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It affects us all; the infection of want.  And a world of commerce which lowers the prices of goods aids in its own decline.

The rich get richer, while the poor become more greedy.  Empty houses fill up with shining objects.  Thus lives are lit on fire with trouble.  Thus invisible greed takes shapes we can hold. 

Financial ruin brings poverty back home.  But this time poverty lives in a house filled with shining objects, and greedy eyes.  But it is not just shining objects which bring poverty.  Moral decay is worse.

A society that does not divide between righteousness and sin, is bound to bring eternal poverty.  The lust for women is set on fire by inexpensive clothing, jewelry, perfumes, and makeup.  The lust for the man who has a nice car, clothing, house, and purchased social position, sets ablaze the wayward wife’s desire.  And all of this a godless society promotes with abandon.

The children learn early that divorce is an option.  No longer are they taught to work out their troubles.  Mommy and daddy prove that righteousness can be attained through the back door.  The children are taught to bind quitting with their vows.  The word “vow” becomes diluted and worthless.  The once stable world spins out of control.

The wicked man never wonders why he does what he does.  The greedy man simply reaches for “more” to massage his aching conscience.  But time moves by and the cost increases.  Time goes by, and the expense of poverty increases exponentially.

The life span of a man does not give him the luxury of finding righteousness by mistake.  As if we stumble over a stack of 100 dollar bills as we walk down the street.  The odds of finding righteousness by happenstance are billions to one.

Blessed is the man who is concerned by his wickedness.  Blessed is the man who wakes in the night for fear of what he has done.  Blessed is the one who allows himself to feel burning and consuming regret.  Blessed is the man who panics for the sake of his wrongdoing.  This one has the potential of learning to do what is right.

Blessed are those who have never tasted wantonness.  Those beautiful souls who have patiently endured with what they have.  Blessed is the one who considers greed a sin, and keeps his hands to himself.

The proverb still rings true:  every man will reap what he has sown.  But a godless world teaches that this is a lie.

By His Grace

Sweet Dreams are Made of These

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I was at a truck stop scanning in my papers while I listened to a song that was playing.  The song is “sweet dreams are made of these”, by the Eurythmics.

I’ve heard that song hundreds of times before.  But the power of what she was saying dawned on me like the rising Sun.

Everyone is looking for something.  That must mean we are all compelled to search.  And she’s right.

The variety of religions in the world range from obedience to what they call holy law, to the abuse of self and others.  Regardless, men search as a compulsion.  This is proof that there is something to be found.  Even the atheist searchs diligently to disavow the search.  But his activity proves there is something to be disavowed.

How happy then is the one who finds it?  How secure in his way, does his life become?  And what great peace should overshadow him 24 /7?

Christ is the answer.  He is the one that is provoking the search.  The errant things men do are caused by their misunderstanding. 

If you would have what everyone is looking for, search diligently into the things of Christ Jesus.  You are compelled to search. Why not search what is true?

If a man can’t find the truth he’ll create his own series of lies.  But I testify that the Living God is alive among his people in Christ Jesus.

By His Grace

From My Point of View

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From my point of view, God is indescribably great. 

Some may call my point of view theology.  But in saying that, I think they would have a hard time nailing down what I believe.  Even I would have a hard time finding supporting scriptures.  But then I’m not a scholar.  And my knowledge of Scripture is usually pointed in the direction of application, not theology.

What I believe has come to me by Bible reading, faith, prayer and diligent observation of God moving in my life. 

In the way of Bible reading, I am relatively fluent.  But there are certainly masters of the art.  I may well remember what it says, but I likely can’t tell you chapter and verse.

I say faith.  I’m afraid you need a microscope to find mine.  If faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain, how much can I hope to brag.  The Rockies are still where I found them.  The Appalachians are still filled with trails to hike.  And there are still enough hills in America to hide gigantic wheat fields.

As far as prayer is concerned, I am no prayer warrior.  I am more the man who will pray as he knows, and ask to be taught.  It is here that God has revealed enough to make me able to walk as a Christian. 

I am no prophet as some define Prophets.  And I am no teacher, but for the fact that we all teach by the way we act.

And as far as diligent observation goes, I see with what bleak eyes God has chosen to give me.  I watch the wind blow.  I listen to the words men speak.  I take note of the way of men as opposed to the way of God.  And I even listen to the birds.

All of this was written to admit I know nothing.  All of this was written to avoid a war of words and ideas.

With all that said let’s get back to the idea of how great God is.

We are a product of an answer to an accusation.  The accusation is that God demands too much and does not provide sufficiently.  (this is the specific belief that may draw conflict)

How great is God?  God is so great that he allowed an enemy to amass, in a place that he willingly created. 

God is so great that he entered this mass of enemy.  He assumed their form and there was nothing beautiful about him that he should be desired.

God is so great that he willingly taught this enemy about a way to live instead of die.  All this he has done knowing what would happen. 

God is so great that he allowed his enemy to take him by force. 

God is so great that he did not complain while they mocked and beat him. 

God is so great that he allowed them to strip him of all his glory.  He let them flogg him to the point that he was no longer recognizable as a man.  And in this he made no complaint or accusation.

And here is the crowning achievement of the greatness of God:  that when the Word of God assumed his place as the rightful King of kings, he reached down to his mass of enemy, and continually offers salvation for those who hate him.

Yes God is great!  Men may dispute his existence.  But for those who believe, he is the supreme power of salvation.

Oh how my soul wants to continue.  There are so very many reasons why God is great.  But I’ll leave this to stand. 

May the spirit of God strengthen, convict and convert as the will of God dictates.

Amen!

By His Grace