Happy new year 2014-01-01 11: 03

The last sentence is more then the previous.   Christ Jesus will be all in all; to those who are willing and those who are not.

We may remember but we cannot re-live.  It is only give unto man that he may live in what is.  Why then do we all struggle so hard to live in what was?  And how do we know that our memory is clear?  How do we know that we remember with fullness of understanding?

Who can change what has been done?  We may do again so that we may rectify what we found wrong.  But that does not change what has been done.  It only "does" again.

The past and the future are equally beyond our grasp.  In our memories we are helpless.  And the future looms as darkness.  Man is utterly helpless.

God in His wisdom created time; moments of "IS" come and go relentlessly.  Like a singular spike in an eternal line of doing.  Who has ears to hear this?  Who is willing to understand?

If a man has peace in what was it is because God has had mercy and forgiven.  If a man is not afraid of what is coming it is because he trusts the promise of the Holy One.

Anxiety lives just behind us and just in front.  But true peace is found in what is.  As long as we strive to live in what we remember we will face anxiety.  As long as we brace ourselves for what comes next anxiety dresses us as a garment.  But peace is found in faith alone.

The name of the sovereign God is "I am that I am".  He alone owns what was.  And He does with it what pleases Him.  He alone owns what will be.  And He alone does what pleases Him to do.  Why then do his people live looking backward or straining forward?

Since we cannot change what was, we are forced to either live in anxiety or receive His peace.  And since we cannot know what comes we are forced either to live in anxiety or to receive His peace.  Both require faith.

God is.  Therefore if we follow him we must also live in what is.  To do otherwise only brings doubt.  And if that is the case he is right to refer to us as "ye of little faith".

Leave what was in the hands of he who is.  Likewise leave what will be in the hands of he who is.  Strive only to do in faith.  In this you will find immeasurable peace.  In this you will come to understand that his burden upon you is light indeed.

Who can decipher the deeds he has done according to what is true?  And who has known the mind of God that he is sure of what will happen next?  If we are that tiny then why do we not believe?

God alone gives true understanding of these things.  Philosophers and poets have given their whole life to understand these things and to write them.  But those who are in Christ Jesus find themselves living them effortlessly.

Let the world work with their hands to provide what will be.  Their folly is evident.  Let the world build their filthy temple on the foundation of what was.  They build on nothing.  But let God's people understand.  We do not build at all.  We trust in the Sovereign Lord.  His name is Christ Jesus.

The world condemns the Lord's people because they dare to dream of something the world cannot attain; God with us.  Yet to anyone who is willing to believe, this hope is standing ready to give.

We believe and are saved.  We believe and he teaches us.  We believe and become.  And all who believe say Amen.

Let those who doubt consider their plight.  Let the foolish become wise.  The door is standing wide open.  Let all who will humble themselves come to the Lord and receive this magnificent hope.

But let all who will continue in doubt continue then in doubt.  The Lord's Way is written in the blood of His Holy Son.  God is righteous and true.  His judgments are without fault.  And his kingdom moves forward without the slightest impact of the lies of men.  And the harvest of God will eternally separate!





The War of Necessities - 2014-04-30 08:43

I am nothing and I am no one.  I have seen clearly the wickedness that is within me.  But for the hope of Christ Jesus I remain worthless, anonymous and wicked forever.

I have seen the way of men.  By means of simple necessity, they are forced into slavery.  They must eat.  They must provide shelter.  And they must belong.  So they become victims of the greed of others.

On top of that, as if a poisonous frosting on a cake, men have devised ways to take advantage of the necessity of others.  They have conceived in their heart, "I will rise above at the expense of my brother".

So they give profitable work, and social belonging, to those of lesser ability.  In the interest of profit for all, so they say, they quickly demand too much.  A man is placed where he does not belong by the engine of greed and vanity.

Fear races across this world that we may perform the things for which we have no resource.  Hundreds of thousands become taskmasters, while millions become slaves.  And the slaves say, "If I do not perform a task as is required, or do as they say, I will lose my place".

With smiles, rewards and contrived encouragement, ("I care for you!") the taskmasters provoke to produce.  And production is made, at the expense of your freedom.

So it has been from the beginning.  So it is now.  Fear breeds defensiveness.  Every man builds a fortress.  And regardless the face they wear, every man is enemy to another.  The friend against a friend.  A father against his son.  A son against his father.  A mother against her daughter.  A daughter against her mother.  Siblings tear at one another. And all are in the process of dying a needless death.

The battle is encouraged by necessity.  As long as there is want there will be war.  There is war between the nations.  There is war between the countries.  There is war within the cities, towns and villages of this world.  There is war within groups of men.  And there is war within the families.

All of this to ask a simple question.  Is there remedy?  The answer is yes.

The world will continue in this futile, ceaseless and horrific war.  But each man can cease a war like life.

You do not have to fend for yourself.  You do not have to wake every morning preparing for battle.  You do not need to endure sleepless and fitful sleep.  You do not have to put on hatred as if clothing.  And you wear selfishness for no reason.

The answer is not a method.  A method would require too much of you to perform.  You would have to study a method.  You would have to learn by practicing a method.    None of which the the world gives you time or resources to do.

The answer is the kingdom of God in Jesus, the Holy One of God.  You may ask, "Is it really that simple?"   The answer again is yes. 

He is not religion, organized or individual.  He is the Son of the Living God.  He is willing and able to release you from this war of necessities.  He is willing and able to release you from your own guilt and greed.

The world has told you that God is in heaven.  The world has told you that God cannot and does not help man in his basic necessities.  Or that if he does, it is in the small measure.  Yet you cry out when you have need.

I testify to you as one who has been released from the war.  I do not speak to you as one who does not know.  He provides everything I need.  And he never fails. 

He is called Emmanuel.  Perhaps you have heard the name.  The name means "God with us".  The world has lied so that you will not understand.  For if you understand their grip is torn away.  So they continue to entice you with lies and promise of worthless reward.

Those who are in the kingdom of God find themselves progressively released from the war of necessities.  Though the burdens of this world are placed upon them they find they have strength where before they did not.

He provides for those who are hungry for provision.  He provides for those who have come to understand they have no strength. 

Are you hungry?  Do you recognize your weakness?  Are you courageous enough to call out in faith?  Has the world reduced your pride so that you can look up for help?

His promise is to provide.  It is impossible for God to lie.  He will keep his promise.  And those to search for him in truth will find him true.

But do not think he will provide for you what the world calls necessity.   He will appear to provide what you need.  He will not appear to provide what you want.  Greed and vanity have no place in the kingdom of God.  He has give you life.  He will also provide everything you need.

Those who ask for the trinkets of this world will be turned away.  The world may give you such things.  But it will also demand an accounting.

Have you truly had enough of this war?  Are you ready to receive the things that God is willing to give?  Then simply humble yourself and ask.  Place yourself at his mercy.  When the time is right he will give you strength.

All day long men and women are entering into the kingdom of freedom in Christ.  They are finding the freedom to live.  All the while you suffer needlessly.

It has been so since the days of John the Baptist.  And it will continue until the Lord returns.  But cowards and the faithless will never enter the kingdom of God; they will never taste the freedom of Christ.

Has the world reduced your pride?  Have you reached a place of hopelessness so that all is this is left is for you to call out to God?  Are you strong enough, courageous enough, of faith enough. to call out to the Holy One of Israel?  If so, you will find him pleasantly willing.

Such Birds travel south when it begins to get cold in the north.  There they eat and sleep in comfort.  But has winter dissipates, certain birds return to the north.

Immediately I understood.  God showed me a parable of the gospel.

God has made creation as he has made it.  The birds are given wisdom according to His will, that they may not gather together in comfort and security. 

Certain numbers of birds are compelled to be courageous vagabonds.  They hate the gathering together in warm security and plentiful food.  They prefer an arduous flight north.  They are not like their other brothers of a feather.

As it is among these birds, so it is among men.  God gives wisdom to some and calls them to become courageous spiritual vagabonds.  They cannot stand the mass of men.  They are compelled, by the very nature God has given them, to seek a different place.

They themselves are men.  But there is a distinct difference.  Such "called out" men are not afraid to risk death for what is better.  They do not count themselves as different.  They simply are.

Such things are on display for all men to see.  All creation resounds with the story of Christ Jesus.  Look with understanding and you will see.

I paid for the fuel and walked back to the little truck.  For some reason the man had not left.  Instead he was on his way back into the store.  And so we passed again.

This time the man's aversion was radical.  There was no question he preferred any place but there.   Frankly, I was surprised he did not turn around and get back in his car.

Neither of us spoke a word, the first time or the second.  His pain was so obvious I did not desire to add to it by saying hello.

I wear a dark blue ball cap.  On the cap are the words "Think Eternity", and a small cross.  The power of those words and the symbol that accompanies them caused the man his obvious anguish.

As I drove away I pondered the man's life.  He has friends.  He has relatives.  He has those who love him.   He has a history and a reputation.  In short he has what he considers "a life".

But if he cannot bear two small words and a symbol on the hat of a man, what will he do when he is face to face with a blazing glory of God?

That man is the most pronounced reaction I have ever seen.  Most people avoid my eyes.  But I have never seen anyone react that violently on the inside.  It gives me cause to ponder who I am becoming, by the strength of God within me.

I am like the filament of a lightbulb.  What chases the darkness away is not the glass.  It is the blazing fire within.

The filament does not perceive what happens beyond its light.  And it does not command or control those who live in darkness.  The filament simply blazes light.  And it does not consider its value.

The value is perceived by he who placed the light.  And it is used by those who live in darkness.

We are the light of the world, by Christ who lives within.  We testify with words and actions.  But the testimony within us speaks soul to soul.

Every tree is shaken.  Excuses evaporate like a drop of water on a hot burner.  And the hearts of men are starkly revealed.

May God receive the bounty that is rightfully his.  All glory to the Father through the Son, by his people and the might of His Holy Spirit upon us.  Amen.

It is simply so because those who have read the Bible have closed their mouth.  Those who have understood the mysteries of the Bible have kept silent.  They raise children and do not teach them.  They had ignored the plight of the strangers around them.  And by their silence, they have not taught themselves.  For where they were silent, sin was not!

But many will say, "I have read the Bible I have spoken of the Bible but they will not listen".  If this is true then let me provide an opportunity for consideration.  Do you understand the following text?

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17)

Can you explain what Jesus intended when he said, "Then the sons are exempt."  This passage should not have mystery attached.  It should be easily understood, not only by the teachers in the church, but by the body of believers also.

There are several layers of understanding in this tiny passage.  And this is just one passage of thousands that are misunderstood, or not considered at all.  Why is this?  Why has America thrown the gospel away?  Is it because Christians have not understood the intricate beauty within the Scriptures?

I propose that they have not understood the intricate beauties of the Scriptures because they have fully understood the intricate beauty of enticements from the world. 

In the 50's and 60's, the church watched in horror as their children cast off the Scriptures.  But as they watched, their children did not perish or suffer.  The children gained ground and prospered! So the parents began to cast off the Scriptures themselves.  En masse they yearned after the things of this world.  And the beautiful intricacies of the Holy Word were left behind.

Make excuses for them, many scholars will.  "You have no empathy for those people.  America had suffered under two world wars and the Korean Conflict.  Death had taken their sons and they no longer had the stomach to watch them go. They were tired and wanted relief.  The advent of innovation not only promised, but delivered.  The enticement was not their fault".

Things are as they are.  I do not write this post to debate my empathy for those who have sinned.  I have written this post to ask the question, "Why has America not understood the Bible and the beautiful intricacies there in?"

But take note of the attack such questions raise.  An earnest seeking for the answer is never the response.  It is always the way of a perverse people to accuse he who asks.  It is always the way of a perverse people to find excuse.  America is perverse and unholy!  I only asked why. 





If, Then - 2014-05-02 11:30

* If we have received the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

* If there is the slightest hope that we will live eternally in the presence of God. 

* If there is a transformation within us after we have accepted the promise of the gospel. 

* If there is a fear of the holiness of God within us.

* If the love of God provokes us to give thanks.

* If we have enjoyed the fellowship of the body of Christ. 

* If we have read any portion of the Bible and understand it fluently.

Then is it proper to let fear keep us from sharing with those who do not have these things?

He showed me that victory is not only at the end of the race.  She hovers over the runners from start to finish.  With meticulous and unblinking eye, she watches with wisdom as men run.

-Ingenious attire escapes her view.  She watches not but actions.

-Baubles and trinkets, which divert a man's attention, are not even visible to victory.

-She pays not the slightest attention to those who refuse to run.

-Words spoken are not heard; the doing is observed.  For victory hears only the words of the Holy One.

-Then she kisses her children with a welcoming kiss at the end of their faithful and earnest run.

-Make no mistake, her kiss is a certifying seal.

He also showed me a man kneeling.  He was before a brilliant and never ending light.  The light shone directly at him and I looked to see how the light shredded behind him as if brilliant silver threads.

"Those are not threads of light."  I heard my understanding say.  Then I peered more closely at what trailed behind the man.  They were tethers brilliantly shining in the light of God.

As the man stood to raise his arms in praise I watched as the tethers on his back break loose.  But now that I knew what they were, I studied his form more closely.  Almost imperceptibly, his right heel was tethered by a rather large thread.

God sees all these things.  Victory takes note of them.  He who is victorious wins the prize.   Those who compete in error finish in error.

Then I heard, "Fight with vicious intent!  Those who coddle the sinful nature remain tethered to it.  What do you think?  Does victory take note of them?"

All creation, in heaven and earth, receives.   We who have nothing to offer back. Even what we do is expected service.

Shall we return love?  It is already diluted, for He gave freely from His generous heart.  But we return only that which is left over.

God sustains all.  Even the grave's foundation rests on a place He built and knows.  Hell is sustained by His Holy consuming Flame.  All life belongs to Him.  What belongs to man?

Sin? Does rebellion belong to man?  Isn't rebellion simply a physical admition that love does not belong to us?  What belongs to man?

Does God need our praise to be God?  Does He die if we are not thankful?   But we are born needy.  The first breath is of air He sustains.  The last breath releases to go to another place He sustains.  Is God ever lessened by man?

But our thankfulness makes Him more.  His Holy Kingdom expands as another returns in faith.  Love from man may be of duress, but something is made better by He who is everything.





The Race - 2014-05-11 11:26

The human race races.  Listen to the cheers of the crowd.  "Be first, conquer, achieve,  amass, gather and enjoy!"

To what do they compare victory?  Do they look at what they did not have when they were born?  Do they look at what they now have and consider it victory?

This is not the measure of victory that God perceives.

God is first.  He has set his Son as first.  His son has conquered.  His son has achieved all that can be achieved.  He has amassed all righteousness; for that is what he loves.  Even now he gathers men from among the seed of men.  And he is eternally anointed with the oil of joy from the living God.

How does the race of men compare?  They will have what is not theirs to keep.  They will have what is not theirs.  But he keeps because he desires his Father's Holy will.

Will you continue in the race of men?  Or will you relinquish your rights to gain what cannot be lost?

There is a race that requires no strength.  It does not hope for the things of this world.  The world will hold what is of the Spirit in great contempt.  But all things of flesh rot and fade away.

All the while men clamor to gain, heaven moves forward in true joy.  Beyond the grasp of man, beyond the vision of eyes, beyond the hearing of ears, the righteous worship God.  And it will not be taken away from them, for by the strength of Jesus the Christ they have overcome.

Who will cease the frenzied race?  Who will grasp with their soul what can never be taken away?  He is willing to give.  Who is willing to receive?





Righteous World? - 2014-05-11 12:03

I read the news and I see promising headlines.  Certain things are discontinued because the world has considered them obscene.

I used to be fooled into thinking the world had second guessed its war against God.  But age has taught me something valuable.

The world makes not one small step toward God.  It simply hauls back the things that are not acceptable among those with money.

They make no moves to become righteous.  Everything they do is simply a re-posturing in their greedy desires.

Those who see these things and feel a twinge of hope, are willingly deceived.  The righteousness of God continues uninterrupted.  And of the wickedness of the world continues uninterrupted.

Do not be fooled.  The righteousness of God is holy; the very thing the world hates with all its strength.  Holy provides no profit for the things of men.