Category Archives: Hope

The Firm Distinction

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The water of a well worn river rides on rock. It spent it’s time gouging out the temporary. It has found its place and has no need to seek another.  

The River of Life from God has gouged out the temporary among us. He not only found his place upon the permanent rocks, he has become the foundation of the Waters of God.  


People use cute phrases to sum up what they call “good things”. But that’s like assuming that sand can be a good foundation for a permanent river.  


No one is good but God alone. No good thing exists but that which is the will of God.


What should we do about this? Doesn’t God say that he will give us wisdom without judgment? Doesn’t he command us to make a distinction between what is holy and what is common? Doesn’t God expect us to pray earnestly for all the things that are good?


Does more need to be said?

Questions

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They say, “yes”.  

“We live in a land of shadows.  Reality and forever is beyond our comprehension.”  


They say “yes”.

“Eternal reality has come to walk among us.  He brought the incomprehensible to live in our language.”


They say, “I’m not sure”.

When the Lord promised to bring beauty to the ugly.  Though true light was brought to us we prefer to live in shadows.  


They say, “I don’t know”.

When they wonder, “Does this apply to me”.


It applies to everyone. How are you not included? And if we have been included, how can we possibly remain silent and timid?


Is it wicked for a man to eat a marvelous meal in the comfort of his home while the beggars crouch around his steps?

The Undeniable Cruise

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The waves beat against the hull of the ship.  With a silent and determined anger;

With gluttony for autonomy,


They desire “unimpeded”.  


See how the steel says, “No”.  

See how they are forced to go,


Dissipated.  


How the strength of their ruin is utterly devastated.  


How, with present Will

pressed against them, 

they turn to white frothing.

At the majesty they encounter;  

They turn to –

Mere nothing.  


Like they do as the wind whips them up, 

in small measure 

The sea is dotted with purity.  

Yet:

With impassable Will

All is turned back.  


“You will not pass.  

I cannot relent.  

I move through your midst,

My strength never spent.”


Be still!

Cease your work!

Bow to Me!

My people will pass


Speaks The Maker He.  


Move Holy Spirit.  

Move through my soul.  

Be the ship that carries 

The desire of Your own will. 

As it has been from old.  


Be in me the strength of your love.  

Keep me on the

“Inward side.”

The Compulsion We Call Love

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Vanquished are all restraints:

When we see the Living God for who he is.  

When we see ourselves properly for who we really are without him.  


That is to say:


By ourselves we are not love, we are only a compulsion to gather support for one another in our plight. And this compulsion we label love.  


But God has loved us first. This is love:


From his place of never ending peace, he came to walk among the beggars of compulsion. From his place of unity, he came to be torn apart by the fickle mind and hands of man.  


Then, amazing multiplied by amazing, he offers to take us in.  


He is love.  

Zachariah chapter 7

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If you ask The Lord a question, regardless how seemingly legitimate, are you able to understand the answer? If you understand the answer are you willing or able to give it room in your heart?

Does our will lean toward the will of the Living God in Jesus, or have we created our own religion full of self-sacrifice?


Are we then dis-heartened by God’s refusal to answer? Are we surprised that our religion of self-sacrifice is not acceptable before the Living God?


Consider the value of the sacrifice of Christ against anything you can do. Bottom line, who’s sacrifice is saving you?   Consider how far you intend to go.  Consider what your eternity looks like.  Consider what your version of paradise must be.  


Here is a more poignant question: “Who then is your God”?

Useless Women

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What’s called an argument can have two meanings. One is a volatile debate between two people who are not willing to see eye to eye. No, this is a bad thing. The other can be referred to as a substantiation of something true. Yeah, that’s what I’m about to do.  

The arguments for Christ are irrefutable. They can be denied, but that’s always at our loss. They can be taken wrong; that is to say, they can be taken personally as an offense. But that’s to misunderstand the entire purpose of such an argument.  


Here’s an interesting argument for Christ.  


The young man is out to seek a wife. He’s a good looking young boy, so there’s a lot of very beautiful and talented women who want his company. What should he choose?  


If he considers himself an ugly and useless young man he’ll choose wisely. But if what he’s looking for his beauty and talent and lots of joyful unions, he’ll choose wrong.  


When a man or woman except the gospel of Christ, they are taken into the house of Christ. From that vantage point they are shown numerous marvelous things. They become part of the bride of Christ. Then they are sent out into the world to be useful to their husband. They are to help him add to his bride. 


What if they consider themselves beautiful and talented? Won’t they become just as useless to their husband as all the beautiful women who chased after the young man?