Slow Dance with a Dead Body


It’s a really weird title, isn’t it. It draws a mental picture that probably shouldn’t be in our head. But think about the following.

Don’t we get kind of miffed if when we talk to someone they absolutely ignore us? And what if someone came to you like this: looking at the ground they mutter your name numerous times, appeal to you to listen to them, then repeat those two actions 20 times. At some point you just give up listening, turn away, and leave them as they are. It’s not that you despise them, you despise what they’re doing.

Do you think the Lord Jesus is different then we are about this? Effective prayer is real conversation. Ritualistic words are pretty much useless. Either he is our friend or he is just God.

Ancient Obscurity 


What is ancient? If something is ancient is it useless? If a people are considered ancient are they also useless?

This generation:


Enjoys peanut butter,

Knows nothing about the personal life of George Washington Carver.  (or the Aztecs for that matter.)


Enjoys peaceful civility,

Knows nothing about Moses.  


Has a firestorm of social trouble,

Knows nothing about Adam and Eve.  


Considers themselves far advanced above every other civilization,

Knows nothing about the Living God who provided all Good things.  


Is taught that the body is the proper center of man’s attention,

Knows zilch about Christ Jesus.  


In your estimation are these things too harsh to write? Prove the value of these words yourself. Make it a point to start a conversation with millennials. What I’ve written here is extremely kind.  


What’s the point of bringing this up? Whose job is it to step out of what is called ancient and prove to the millennial’s that we are viable human beings? Perhaps in conversation we could bring up the usefulness of the generations past.  


I realize that this writing may be completely useless in itself; being of ancient intent.  

Do It!


You may say in your heart, “I’m ready to start talking about Jesus every opportunity I get”.  But if you haven’t been doing it, you and I both know the reason.  You’re afraid of what people will say about you.  You’re afraid you’ll lose your job.  You’re afraid you’ll lose your friends and your social position.  You’re afraid your family will suffer. 

Now, for the sake of argument, let’s just say you and I sat down together to discuss this.  In the course of conversation, you made it clear that you think you’re ready.  You’d have to excuse me for not getting all excited.  If you were ready you’d already be doing it.

Count the cost.  Once you begin there’s no turning back.  And I know you’re aware of that.

Count the rewards.  Once you begin,  God will bless you in his work.  He will give you things to say.  He will give you specific things to do.  He will fill your heart with wondrous things, and his blessings will be a natural overflow that you won’t be able to stop.

Let’s say you lose your friends.  If they don’t love God, weren’t they lost already?

Let’s say you lose your job.  Do you really think God can’t provide what you need?  Isn’t that the very reason you say you’re a Christian in the first place?

And you see how my excitement dwindles quickly.  You know, the problem is not that people are afraid.  The problem is who and what they love the most.

Chitchat


She came over to me to chitchat.  So, against my desire, I did chitchat.  We talked about dogs.  We talked about family.  We talked about public schools.  We talked about spanking.  We talked about survival, regardless the upbringing. Finally, we got to my desire.

We were talking about the foolishness of children.  And I found occasion to tell her about how the book of Proverbs turned my life toward God.  But before I could finish the first sentence, she said she had to leave.

She left.  I Shrugged my shoulders.  But the encounter made me realize something.  I don’t want to chitchat.  I don’t want to talk about politics.  I don’t want to talk about our problems.  I don’t want to share in the ritual of blame.  I want to talk the language of Heaven.  I want to talk about Jesus.  I want to talk about the solution.

There are two languages that people can use.  One is limited to the things of Man.  The other is limited to the things of God.  Most people are not capable of talking about the things of God.  But the one who loves the language of Heaven can talk about them both.

Define freedom.

Talk About My Dog


People ask me what kind of dog I have in the truck.  I tell them it’s a hairy dog that sheds.  But how I would love to tell them what I’m really thinking.

“Why do you ask me what kind of dog it is?  I think it’s visually obvious.  It’s a dog with a hairy body.  That’s what kind of dog it is.”

What they want to do is strike up a conversation with the owner of the dog.  Got it.  But why can’t we talk about things that really matter?

I’m not into social competition.  BECAUSE: No matter what I say, someone’s bound to judge me.  If I do drugs, the druggies love me, but the straight folks despise me.  If I’m a straight dude the druggies hate me.

If I say something vile, the vile will love me.  If I keep my mouth separate for pure words, the vile despise me.  And often times before I open my mouth I am hated simply because I exist.

The question about the dog has to do with competition.  If the dog is of “special” breed then the conversation is noteworthy and admirable.  But if its just a hairy dog that sheds, there is no value to the conversation at all.  The speaker goes away empty-handed and disillusioned.  The people aren’t interested in me.  They’re searching for noteworthy information.

This is true with everything that man has or doesn’t have.  This is why I am not into social competition, and I sincerely prefer to speak of heaven and the Holy Son of the Living God.  But no one asks me, “What kind of God do you worship”.

The funny thing is, apparently no one but me even thinks about this.  Really, is it funny?

Blazing Beauty


Peace is found when a man understands that the warnings of God are lovely.  Chaos, turmoil, double-mindedness, and the like, abound in the peaceful conversations of men.

The conversations Man loves are rarely acceptable before the Holy Throne of the Most High God.  Godly conversations among ungodly men, are as rare  as a humming bird who loves to fly upside down.

Do not bless where God has not blessed.  Do not welcome what God has driven from his throne.  Rather be a blazing light to a people who live in utter darkness. 

Speak the truth in “The Holy Love”.  Draw a boundary between what is godly and what is not.  Do not be like those from whom you are being taken.  Rather become like He who draws you out.