Fanatics


We pay competitors a handsome reward to abuse their bodies. For the sake of entertainment we push them to the limit.  

How many people have pulled up a lawn chair to watch the Christians struggle? The most competitive sport in the world is serving the living God’s holy son. There are billions of critics and not a penny is shed to the competitors.  


Curiously, just like people call themselves a fan of a certain team, Many will tell you they are a Christian but exhibit no ability in the sport.  


Just thought I’d add that perspective to the days thoughts.  

A Little Here a Little There


Every once in a while, mama would take me to the five and dime in Salem Oregon. We would walk through, buy a few things, and then she would take me to the tiny restaurant. I always had a hot chocolate. I was too young to remember what she always ordered. I suspect it was coffee. And didn’t she loves her coffee.  
We didn’t go there on Monday. Or any other day during the week. It was always on Saturday. But I remember when that changed. And I remember it made me happy.  

One time we went there on a Sunday! I remember the year when America broke it’s pact with the sacred day. And yes it made me happy.  

It was a small change in the fabric of America. But it was a dynamic change that introduced all these things we see today.  
They didn’t love God enough to even give him a time of rest from all their greedy pleasures. And once they took the small step, seeing he did nothing, they went on to gain more for themselves.  
I grew up despising God’s ways, just like I’d been taught. And I see how ashamed I am of the life I led. But here I am writing about the reason why America is so messed up. My testimony is that God has come to me to love me despite the things I did. And by the end of this writing you will see why that’s important.  
Every time someone turns away from God a little, a little more turning away is coming. I remember the year America turned away a little and I have seen it plummet from there. They are not finished turning away a little more. I wish I had a better word for the people of my own country. But they don’t offer any further truthful choices.  
I don’t want to leave today’s writing as if on a sour note. I want to leave a specific encouragement: return to God and he will return to you. Throw off the teachings of society and return to the things that are good.  
I know the odds. But It is right to say the following. It is not too late for America if they will strive to return to God. And isn’t this a strategic time? I have it on good authority that Donald Trump will be a just president. Justice will be his focus. What an opportune envelope of time for America to reach to the God of justice.  
As a nation we may well be finished. I can’t say I trust my fellow citizens ambitions. But I didn’t write this primarily for the nation. The primary purpose of this writing is every individual who will read it.  
What is the first and greatest commandment? Isn’t it that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart and all our mind and with all our strength and with all our will? Then we will be able to love our brothers properly. 1, 2…… not 2, 1. Get the Commandments in order. Or the chance of anything changing is nihil (A Latin word meaning nothing).  
Don’t just know about him. Come to know him. As long as we are ashamed of him he will be a shamed of us. Brothers and sisters, I assure you that matters.  

Belief Matters


What is it to believe in Christ? Is it just being righteous in some kind of religion? Is it just a clean conscience? How am I going to speak the answer I see?

If you believe the Living God has forgiven your sins. If you believe that you will live forever in a perfect body. What kind of joy you should fill your every day? What kind of love would you be pressingly anxious to deliver every moment in this life? I guarantee you it’s not the same joy and love the world talks about. They try to motivate each other all day long, but nothing ever changes does it.  


Look at this. These are just words. And that’s how most people take them. That’s not what they’re intended to be. They are the promise of the Living God in Jesus his honorable, faithful, righteous, and beautiful Son. And it is impossible for God to lie. They are words that are sealed with the blood of Christ, as if a wax seal on the scroll.  


Yes, I talk about God constantly. It’s because of his promise. And I would do it a lot more if I wasn’t shut down every place I turn.  


People say they believe in Jesus. There are a couple of definitions about believing. One definition is believing like a demon, “Yeah, I know God exists. And that doesn’t make me all too happy”. The only thing such a creature ever sees is sorrow and trouble. He thinks all there is to life is sorrow and trouble. He thinks all there is in eternity is sorrow and trouble. He thinks God is nothing more than sorrow and trouble. It’s no surprise that people who believe like the demons struggle in their faith and religion.  


Demons have a religion too you know; avoiding the Son of God if at all possible. They practice absolutely everything but what is good. They are eternally devoted to being utterly useless. And there are billions of people who follow their example.  


The other definition has to do with believing that God cannot lie. If he promised eternal life and forgiveness of sins, it is as if it has already been done. Such a creature lives for one specific purpose: to receive the things of God’s joyfully extended promise. And in the receiving there is a phenomenally generous giving. It’s impossible to shut that kind of person down.   


That’s what a Christian is. It’s got nothing to do with religion. It’s got to do with an enormously thankful heart. It’s got to do with the developing love for the One who has given life.  


Yeah, these are just words. But they are endlessly full of potential. Who will dare to believe? And how can such a believer be afraid of what others will think? Everyone will do what he has purposed in his own heart.  

The Reason


The Lord Jesus has not so much saved us from something, but he has saved us to something.  

Yes, he saves us from the anguish of our sins; the guilt of the mind, and the waywardness of the heart.  


But more, he saves us to praise his Holy Father. We find obedience comes easy because we have learned to love him. That love brings us to joy no matter where we find ourselves.  


It is said that the lord Jesus loves humanity enough to die for them. But he died for them and loves them because he loves his Holy Father more than everything else.  


He wants us to do the same. Appreciate creation. Strive to do what is right. Be joyful in the work of Christ on your behalf. Be patient in every affliction. But it is the Lord’s desire, that we do all of these things for love of the Living God. 


Here we see life in a myriad of form. But Jesus lives in an endless symphony of life, that IS his Holy Father. That is what he loves. And he has died to share it with us.  


Religion tells us to see it only from one perspective; “The work of Christ covers my sins”. But love for his Holy Father teaches us the reason why.  


And that same love is the central power that enables us to claim righteousness as if we own it. God’s people love him because God has loved them first.  


Psalm 22

22. I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.


23. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!


24. For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.


25. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.


26. The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts live forever!


27. All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,


28. for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

“Fill Er Up”


​There was a man who was in the habit of filling the tank on his car with just enough gasoline to get where he wanted to go.  He was careful to calculate.  And for years he was successful.


Then the day came, that inevitable day.  He waited for an hour in Sub-Zero temperatures while the road was cleared so he could proceed.  He ended up 9 miles from his next refueling.  He froze to death as his car laying in the ditch alongside an empty road.


He had a good idea as long as things stayed stable.  But it would be impossible to call his habits wise.  What, inside his pee size brain, told him this world was stable enough to act like that?


God calls every single human being to honor his Holy Son and become a servant of Eternal truth and life.  I don’t say this to judge but it is a proper question.  How many people fill their soul with just enough God to get through the day with some form of prosperity?


There is coming a day for every person, and likely more than one, where their personal religion will not suffice.  God is life.  How much Life do you carry with you?

Three Advantages


​    The ones who love God have three things happen to them.
     They are despised on this Earth while they love the one who made them.  Somehow such open love is considered illicit.
     But when they leave this place they go to be with the one they have loved so dearly.  They are ushered into Eternal Joy with open arms.  For they have proved they love him more than these.
     And the third thing that happens to them is most fascinating.  Their name, their words, their actions, are all rolled onto a pedestal called Legend.
     Man is curious.  He will despise and kill his enemy, then he will raise his enemy to Legendary status.  With the same words he uses to lie, he now tells fanciful stories about this one who is no longer among them.  By this, the work of God’s people is multiplied many-fold.
      In these three things, the love of God is greatly glorified.  See how the wisdom of God works to glorify love, life, righteousness, Justice, compassion, grace, and mercy.  And all these things are in the being of his holy and righteous son Jesus!
So be it.