Tag Archives: Religion & Spirituality

While in the Going.

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Jesus

Image via Wikipedia

When I am gone from this Place of Testing.  There will be a few left here who will miss me.  That is the case for most all people.  And I think of what I would like to leave them with (as a last and lasting thought).  It needs to be said that Jesus is able to lead anyone into a life worth living.  Hope is the only thing men have to lean on in both times of trouble and times of prosperity or peace.  This hope, if it is founded firm in the Lord Jesus, will carry anyone through anything.  This is my last word to leave with the ones who continue on in this Place of Testing.  Remember how I lived among you.  I stumbled and clawed my way through this place.  But in the end I found, or more accurately said: was shown) the Lord Jesus.  This is how you should search your way through.  Listen to Him.  Do what He says you should do.  He will lead the willing.  And remember, cowards have no part in the kingdom of God.  Strengthen yourself for His sake!  Eat what you’re given.  And share what you can.  Be His.  This will be enough.

 

By His Grace.

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.

Holding God in Contempt of Man’s Aspirations

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A scattering of "brilliant" cut diam...

Image via Wikipedia

All the world will hate God’s people.  Because it is God’s hatred for what the world holds as “highly valued” which divides the world and God.  Godless and ungodly people aspire to gain what they cannot keep.  God continually calls for all people to lay aside those aspirations and search earnestly after His Riches. 

We are created.  He is the creator.  But the world will hold God in contempt because He does not recognize the royalty of man’s foolish lies. 

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.

The Light’s On. But Where’s the Understanding?

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HEAVEN

Pondering the life I’m leading, I’m struck by the difference between the mind-set of the world and the awareness of Jesus in my life.  To the world, ownership and identity are the primary reasons of life.  They chase after absolutely everything that can be grasped by man.  But the Christian will learn to abhor these things and become consumed with the Spiritual things.

Sports, sex, houses, land, title, friends, and money are the objects of the world’s affection.  But righteousness, pleasing the Father in Heaven, evangelism, prayer, and watching against sin are the objects of the Christian’s affection.  Every moment is consumed with the things of the Lord for the Christian.  Yet the very last thing a worldly person wants to do is ponder religion and God. 

This difference is never so plain as when, after a time of reflection on the things of Heaven, I talk to a worldly person.  Our conversation will be sharply divided.  No matter what we talk about, I am headed toward the connections between the things of this world and the things of God.  Yet the worldly person will stop his thinking at the things of this world.  To him, life is simple and radically confusing.  To the Christian, life is never simple or confusing.  God is primary to the one who has accepted Jesus.  Jesus is the stench of death to the worldly person. 

I feel the strain every time I talk with the worldly person.  And it causes me to yearn for isolation again.  But isn’t this the state of affairs?  We are not our own.  We are bought with a price.  And we no longer belong to the system of understanding this world craves.

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.