Category Archives: Service

Bow Shots to the Fleet!

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USS Enterprise leads ships of the Enterprise C...

Image by Official U.S. Navy Imagery via Flickr

I listened to two men on a radio show.  They were presenting themselves as financial advisors.  One of them went off on his soap box a while.  He was recalling the oil spill in the gulf and mentioned the situation in Greece.  He pointed out how the media was trying to lead us into a belief that the world was going to end.  His point was that though bad things happen, all is well on the western front (so to speak).

I felt there was something wrong with what he was saying.  I pondered the point he made in my soul and came away with this:

 A fleet of ships has been given the task of venturing across the ocean to a far shore.  They were sent on a specific task to a specific place, a pin point location thousands of miles away.  On either side of the fleet are waters teaming with pirates, hidden projections in the waters, storms which tend to draw or push the fleet off course, and many other hazards.  Their navigator, on the lead ship, is the son of the father of the owner.  So the sailors aren’t willing to disrobe him of his duties, though he sucks at his job.  There are friendly ships guarding the fleet on the right and left.  So when the ships tend to drift off course these friendly ships shoot across the bow of the fleet’s lead ship.  This lead ship sends back messages that everyone is to correct their course.  Having corrected their course, the Captain and officers of the lead ship again turn to the stupidity of the navigator.

This is how it is for the world.  They drift into sin and forget who’s in charge and the orders they have from Him.  Yet, in His mercy, He directs troubles to threaten our way.  In fear men turn back to what is right.  But when calm comes again to their path, they begin to drift back into sin.  What will God eventually do to those who act this way?  He does not desire to have people who must be led by a ring in their nose.  He is looking for willing participants in His ways.

By His Grace.

No Fault Assurance.

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Mouth

Image by timbobee via Flickr

Some speak lies, and sincerely believe them to have substance.  Some speak trivia, and consider themselves intelligent.  Some refuse to speak, lest they be shown for the fool they are.  And some speak judgments against everyone who speaks, so as to build themselves into something they are not.  Yet some speak about what is True, and that from God’s perspective.  Of all the speaking, or non-speaking, that’s going on there is One who judges our words.  And I am constantly put into mind that to speak the truth according the the Living God (that is as a testimony to His Righteousness) he who speaks will not be found at fault for his words.

Men will use their tongues as whips, lashing others into oblivion.  But God will judge our words.  Wouldn’t it be wise to strive to make your speech Eternally oriented?  We can rest assured that if we speak that which belongs to God we will not fall into fault before Him.

By His Grace.

got love?

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As I sought to worship with the Lord one morning, I had a most wonderful experience.  A feeling of acceptance began to roll over me.  It started as a peace and ended up in great tears.  Beautiful, wonderful, peaceful, pure, and full, are words which begin to describe the experience.  The Lord had come near. 

Still marveling at the experience, I hooked my trailer and began to drive my route.  As I drove through town I noticed people walking.  And for the first time in my life I saw them as the Lord sees them.  There are a number of radical differences between how we see people and how He sees them.  There was no judgment against them.  He considers no fault at their door.  He knows their plight and desires to relieve them from their burdens.  He doesn’t notice their appearance.  Yet He knows the very grains of dirt their feet crush as they walk.  He knows where we are at all times.  He would help them do what they are doing (if, indeed, what they are doing is struggling to do what is good).  Forgiveness and an embrace of love is waiting right at the end of their nose, if they would just reach out and take it.  In short, He desires to Love all of us. 

Many see the Lord through the eyes of do and don’t.  In this perspective Love cannot flurish.  But a few, who have been touched by this Great Love come to understand Him from an entirely different perspective.  All of a sudden, nothing I encounter matters.  This is how those who Love Him can endure such horrible beatings.  His love swamps them with marvel as their captors engage them with impliments of torture.  This is how His children can endure the loss of anything and still echo back to God’s Holy Throne, “Thank you Lord, for all Your Holy Love”.

There is a horrible story in the book of Matthew.  I’d never seen the impact of this story like I do today.  You’ll find it in Matthew 22: 1 – 14.

 1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

   4“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

   5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

   8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

   11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

   13“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

   14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Take note of verse 11 and 12.  Who is this man?  He is one who understands the Lord is love and that the invitation is open to attend.  But he does not love the Lord.  His purpose in attending is to escape the estrangement from the Lord of Life and Love.  He’s there because he is cheating.  Though he understands the nature of God, he did not dress himself in this Love which he knows God offers and demands from His people here on earth.  Where are his clothes?  And how did he think he would go unnoticed among all those others who shine so brightly?

I testify that the Lord is Love.  But He reserves the right to limit enterence into Heaven according to His wisdom.  No wickedness will enter eternity.  On the other hand, He is offering you that beautiful gift right now.  Are you ready to work with Him to transform your heart and mind?  Are you willing or even able to put down your tools of sin and war?  If you take an inventory of your willingness and realize you’re not able to join Him in this Holy war of transformation, reach your heart toward Him and beg for His gorgeous wisdom and mercy.  Now is the day of transformation.  If you wait for heaven to do the will of God, you will become like that one who was not dressed for the wedding.

By His Grace.

Come On, GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!

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Such import is being given to how we should.  They tell us we should evangelize!  Don’t sin!  Read your bible!  Go to church!  Don’t cuss!  Don’t drink!  Don’t be a glutton!  Pray!  Love your enemies!  Forgive!  And on it goes till even the best among us are sick of the WORDS!!!!!!!

What’s the problem?  Well, where’s the engine for all these things?  You’re telling people to do God things.  So go ahead and keep telling people to be godly.  Watch your hopes for them be dashed and dashed. 

The engine to what you’re telling them to do is the power of Jesus in a man.  You yell at the top of your lungs that men should be what God demands.  But you fail to mention that they will accomplish none of this without the power of Jesus in them!  What you propose is that “religion” will cause a man to become godly.  IT HAS NEVER PRODUCED ONE GODLY MAN!  It is Jesus who produces His requirements in those who meet His expectations.  But “God forbid” that man should have to give up his pride and fall on his knees before the Most High God!  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

By His Grace.

What We Believe Matters.

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Political commentator Glenn Beck at the Time 1...

Image via Wikipedia

I respect Glenn Beck‘s “ministry”.  I know that in the world of media he stands out rather loudly for the best man can aspire to under religion.  Glenn will often refer to the doing of good on the part of those who care about what is right.  And I find no direct fault with the world seeking what is good.

But I hear something missing among his words.  Though it is good to pursue righteousness, there is a certain righteousness on this earth which man will rarely aspire to accomplish.  What is “good” among men might not reach to the “Goodness” of God’s perfect will.  Glenn is promoting that “We will be the key” to positive change toward righteousness in this world.  I am forced by the word of God to differ.  Man will never be the key toward the Righteousness of God.  God’s will alone can accomplish the eternal and therefore perfect Righteousness. 

While Glenn will encourage others to reach up toward God for help, it is more on the order of “enlightenment”.  Perhaps it would best be summed up as, “Lord, help me do the right things”.  And in one respect, this is a right request.  If we are asking that we might understand and do the Will of God, we are in the right vein.  But if we are only asking that God bless the work of our own hands we stand slightly amiss.

This difference of belief could be considered subtle by most.  But in the end, only those who do the will of God the Father will be allowed entrance into His peace.  What is the will of God the Father?  To believe on the Son of God, Jesus.  To obey Jesus’ commands to do everything Jesus tells us to do.  We are not set aside to redeem the world.  That is to say we are not saved to retain human implements of freedom on this world.  We are embraced in the blood of Christ Jesus to be implements of the will of God.  It is quite possible that man’s freedom will be dashed by God.  And I find this latter idea holds a great deal more water than manipulating government policies so that we can do anything we please. 

What we believe matters!  Who we obey and serve matters.  Believe in the directing of Jesus and you stand on solid ground.  Believe in the “goodness” of man and you stand amiss.

By His Grace.

One World Charity

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Do you recognize the difference between “One World” charity and Christian Charity?  It’s easy.  Listen for the name of Jesus.  Look for the glorification of the God who made us.  In the One World approach, you’ll hear nothing about God.  But you’ll hear a whole lot about how good man can be when he does good things.