Tag Archives: Jesus

Mental Fog

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When something really bad happens to us, there’s always a few moments of disbelief.  It’s like our brain goes into fog mode. 

Depending on the severity of the problem, that fog mode can last a couple of seconds, or up to a couple of weeks.  Some people never return to normality.

There are millions of people depending on Jesus to save them.  But they do nothing in return.  I guess they figure they’ll just walk through unscathed.

It’s impossible for me to come away with that kind of response to the gospel in the Bible.  There so many warnings to the faithless, the fearful, and the thankless.  One warning that stands out, really tall, is: “Cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers”.

How can you read that and have no response?  How can you read that and have no fear; the kind of fear that motivates?

I don’t claim to know what happens after death.  But I wonder if that mental fog will fall on those who don’t get what they think they’re going to receive.

Will there be a moment of incoherent oblivion, as the angels come and snatch him up?  Coherent thought returns just as he falls down into the pit.

If you won’t serve the Lord out of love, at least let fear motivate you.  We are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  It would be wise to begin somewhere.

You won’t serve Him in fear long.  He told us, and I testify it’s true, My Father will honor the one who honors me”.

By His Grace

Today’s Spartans

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“The Spartans”, refers to a group of warriors from the Greek city of Sparta.  Their vicious allegiance to their country has remained as near myth status even to this day.

Around the year 900 BC, Sparta decided to make an entire nation of warriors.  They would inspect each baby, as it was born, and decide if it was strong or weak.  If it was found to be weak, the male child was thrown outside the city to die.

If it was found worthy to live, the child was raised up until the age of 7, then it was taken and placed in a school of training.

In the school the child was taught the art of war, of ethics, and the elegance of poetry.  By this Sparta transformed its nation into a fearsome foe.  Even one of the poets of that day took note that, Sparta had dropped its walls of brick and made a wall of men.

Consider how many places the name of Sparta is used in sports.  Yet I contend that sports is not the only place where the Spartan rearing is used.

I have seen toys resembling cell phones and computers that are made for newborn babies.  Before a child can understand, he is introduced to a life of technological advancement.

Now please allow a leap of logic in the progress of this writing.

When a man is born in Christ, he is introduced to the things of heaven before he can understand.  He learns the songs of Christ, the words of Christ, the stories of God in Christ, and the behavior of the family of Christ.

If Sparta is renowned to this day for having created a society of warriors, how much more indelible is the family of God?

From the time of Christ to now, the people of God have been subjected to a myriad of humiliating attacks.  At its inception, Christianity was a bloody spot on earth.

Perhaps you have heard of how the Christians were treated in the first few decades.  They were captured and killed, thrown into the arena with wild beasts who would devour them.  They were ripped apart while alive.  They were fastened to stakes then set on fire.  Or all their possessions were forcibly taken from them.

As history moved on, there were other means the world used to destroy Christianity.  Even so Christianity has survived for over 2000 years ( and vibrantly at that).

The power of God, in His people, will not be subdued.  Yet the world keeps trying.

Look at how you treat your children.  Look at the things you teach them before they are old enough to understand.  Look at how you pull them away from the Holy Name of God before their ears perceive the meaning of your sounds. 

Take a look at how you have been ransacked.  Take a look at how the things of God have been ripped from you in the night.  Go in search your place!  Where is your prayer?  Where are the holy words of God?  Where is the power of the Holy Spirit in your house?  Where is the wisdom of God in your children?  Where is the wisdom of God in your elders?  Where is the fearsome independence borne by trust in God?  Where is your Holy faith?  It’s gone! 

The wisdom of Sparta, to raise child warriors, has not died.  And you citizens of the world are not even aware.  You think it great pleasure to introduce your children to the things that capture your attention.  And so you fortify your nations, States, provinces and cities, against the Holy name of Christ Jesus. 

All the while God selects your corrupted children, without asking permission.  He causes them to be his own.  When you perceive that they have been corrupted by holy things, you cast them away from you that they may die.

You have become valiant warriors.  You have dressed yourself, from infancy, to war against the things of God.  You are so indoctrinated with the things of this world, that you think it odd that anyone should stand against your unholy ways.

Yet all men will be brought before the judgment of the Holy God.  As Sparta was eventually thrown down, so will be the training of this world. 

Who has understanding to perceive these things?  Who even desires to understand?  This message is sent out among the people who do not care.  Their eyes and ears are drowned in the work of their own hands.  They are immersed in what is wicked and cannot see.  They have made an entire society of a people who war against God.

Yet if a man perceives what is written here, let him humble himself before God, that his understanding may be clearer.  The salvation of Christ is far more powerful than all the illusions of this world.

By His Grace

You Don’t Know

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You don’t know what you’re doing

When you avoid the things of God.

When you count them as trash on Wednesday;

“Castaway! I’m glad it’s  gone”.

Somehow you think it’s your duty,

To stay God the length of your arm.

You toss away His riches,

For you think he means you harm.

Then you flounder in your poverty;

Embracing hopeless travail.

When all he wants is to lift you up;

To silence your muted wail.

How great the riches of Christ in us.

How marvelous his love.

When once, like you,

We thought little too

Of God’s gift sent down from above.

But let our soul find him near,

And there’s no dam to stop the tears.

He chases out all our frantic fears.

Unspeakable, is the way he loves.

He appears without our asking.

We find our heart free of trouble.

No longer caught up in wasting;

We are freed from all our rubble.

But you don’t know what joy you miss,

As you forsake his gentle kiss.

How can I urge you more than this?

His love is free for taking.

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

At the Door

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If you leave me like I am, I’ll be filthy, naked and poor.

The fear of that assails me, so I lay me at your door.

Oh wretched me!  Oh Glorious you!  The rumors MUST be true!

Or I will die a dreadful death; forsaken by even you.

Now I will to cause my hands to bleed by knocking on your door.

What great surprise comes to my eyes you demand not such a war.

“Stand tall my child, and enter in.  My body was torn for you.

Come taste and see that I AM good; my promises are true.”

Oh sweet One!  Now I find that rest my soul has so long for.

For all you ask is a broken heart, as we lay at your door.

By His Grace

Consumed

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I look at myself, and I see the Lord Jesus.  But I don’t see myself in the same light as He.

For He consumed Himself with the Joy of obedience toward His Holy Father’s will.

I, on the other hand, am consumed with the effects of forgiveness, partial obedience, and the consequences of sins (both past and present).

What an odd comparison to find living in my soul.

 

Without question: Jesus Christ, the Holy Lamb of God, is King of all!  Indeed, salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb.  As it will be sung on that Holy Day, so it is memorized by compulsion today.